Charlie Cooley

I once dreamed of being a cartoonist, but then the reality dawned upon me that it was really hard work. For a long time I tried to put aside my desire to make cartoons and be funny. I was going to be a serious painter, but I just couldn’t pull it off. My current work is the result of those opposing artistic forces. Over the years my work has evolved into small and simple imagery with titles that provide context and hopefully make you laugh. I most often work in acrylic and watercolor on paper, which I cut out and layer, while quite literally tying it all together with string, yarn, or wire. Because of my artworks' small size, various depths, and objects that frequently go over, under, or outside the mats I also cut my own mats and build my own frames.

Originally from Florida, I spent a few years in Japan and Germany before moving to Iowa City with my wife. After operating our business for over eight years and through the pandemic we decided to make a change. We now live on a horse farm in South Carolina.