Charles M. Williams, 62, of La Grange, Ky., a suburb of Louisville, is a native of Tidewater, Va. The painting that he's finishing is titled "Alzheimer's Green Chair." The subject is his later father, Jacob Williams, who succumbed to the disease four years ago. Williams said the green chair represents that place where victims of Alzheimer's disease can find their comfort zone and place of familiarity.

A Colorful Lesson on Creativity and Elders

By Lily Liu

Charles M. Williams first heard about the AARP Foundation's Calendar Contest when he was reading the March–April 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine. He entered his acrylic painting, "Colorful Lessons," into the contest. It shows his five-year-old grandson, Charles Williams III, coloring with the child's other grandfather.

A few months later, Williams was delighted to learn that his artwork had been chosen for the June 2010 calendar page: "I was truly elated to hear that this piece was accepted. I had hoped to find a place where many viewers could enjoy it. I can think of no better platform for it than the AARP Foundation," he said.

The Scene He Envisioned
The painting's intergenerational scene captures a special moment between a grandparent and grandchild who are engaged in a simple activity. Williams explains: "Almost everyone has enjoyed crayons and coloring books at least once in their life. I chose the title 'Colorful Lessons' because this piece is strong, in primary and secondary colors. If the viewer looks closely, they'll notice something magical with the color of the crayon each of them holds in relationship to the actual color on the page. Art is about a moment in time. It should, I believe, evoke emotions deep within the essence of the viewer."

Little Charles III is one of Williams' seven grandchildren. Grandpa Charles says with pride: "I cherish each moment with them when I visit Tidewater, Va. There is so much energy in the air when I am around them that I feel alive in ways that I cannot explain. I could have easily written the bumper sticker I once saw that said, 'Let me tell you about my grandchildren'!"

His Life Story
Since retiring from Ford Motor Company in 2007, Williams has been able to pursue his life-long passion—art. Earlier on, he had received a B.A. in fine arts from Norfolk (Virginia) State University (NSU) before he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After Airborne School, he was assigned to Germany as a Military Police Officer. When he left the Army three years later, he returned to NSU to pursue a second degree in education. In 1974, he became a teacher in Norfolk public schools.

Williams reminisced about how he balanced his career with his interest in art: "In 1976, Ford Motor Company made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Then, during a temporary layoff from Ford in 1980, I accepted a one-year assignment as the artist-in-residence for the Norfolk school system. That was a wonderful experience. I was able to interact and share art experiences with children in all grade levels and hone my talent, paint commissions, and prepare for art shows in a studio that was provided as a part of the program. I guess one could say that my career with Ford was only a temporary diversion from doing art on a full-time basis!"

Williams has been drawing since he was a child. His memories are vivid about how it all began: "I am the third of eight children. I remember many childhood days when I found myself in a corner of the house with a piece of paper, a pencil, and, if I was lucky, a couple of pieces of broken crayons.

"Upon completion of a drawing, I'd proudly show it to my mother or father, or an aunt or uncle. They invariably would compliment me saying, 'Oh, that is lovely,' or, 'You're a genius.'  I would walk away proud as a peacock, because the people whom I most respected and loved had given me praise and a desire to do more and be better. And it is because of them, and encouragement from many older people in my small, rural hometown, Hattonsville, Va., that I knew I would be an artist some day."

The Influence of a Mentor
Williams recalls the man who made a difference in his life: "It seems I was always the second or third best artist in school; therefore, I worked harder at it. Finally, in high school in Portsmouth, Va., I came under the tutelage of Evert Winrow. He was a dynamo and perhaps a true renaissance man. Magician, teacher, writer, painter, philosopher—but most of all he was my mentor. He took me under his wings and convinced me that I had unlimited potential." Learning through him, Williams said, "Art history became an important part of the art experience."

"One thing I learned then but would only realize later in life was, we didn't have the best tools or equipment in a segregated school system. Segregation is one of those ugly blemishes in the history of the United States. Therefore, we had to work and study harder if we were to compete," said Williams "Mr. Winrow believed that the world owed us nothing; moreover, we had to prepare and develop the tools of sensitivity so that we might know when an opportunity is presented. Along with that thought process, we had to possess desire."

An Artistic Sensibility Evolves
Williams spoke about how his knowledge about art evolved: "Art books back then were heavy on European, Euro-American, and Asian and Eastern artists. At NSU, one instructor gave us an assignment to do a paper on 'The Image of the Black Man in Art.' Even though I discovered some amazing imagery, I was even more fascinated to learn about certain African American artists who were true trailblazers. They include artists like Henry O. Tanner, Aaron Douglas, W.H. Johnson, Horace Pippin, Elizabeth Catlett, and, of course, Selma Burke, who is credited with designing the bust of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that is found on the dime.

"An artist I knew, and whose work influenced me deeply and on a personal level, was A.B. Jackson, a former art department chairman at NSU. I could go on and on and on about other artists and their influences on society and the world, but I will leave that to your curiosities. After all, the history of art is the history of the world—from those paintings on cave walls to the design of the cell phone and satellites."

Accolades in Retirement
Williams has participated in hundreds of shows and received awards on a national and international level. But 2009 is a year of firsts for him. Before he arrives at the AARP event in Las Vegas, Williams is displaying his artwork at one of the biggest outdoor shows in the nation. During the first weekend of October, the three-day St. James Court Art Show in Louisville, Ky., boasts attendance in excess of 450,000 people.

"Since 1999, when I moved to Kentucky, I have visited the show," Williams said. "And every year, my friends have urged me to be in it. I didn't want to apply for such a prestigious show and not put forth my best effort. Well, it's been two years since I retired, and now I am ready."

Reflecting on the honor of being a featured artist in the AARP Foundation's 2010 calendar, Williams said: "Elders in our society should be acknowledged, revered, respected, and appreciated as they embark on the newest phase of their life—self-fulfillment. Society needs to emphasize the reality of new adventures that place rainbows over the fields of our past.

"I'm grateful this calendar contest allows people to see that elders are more precious today than ever," said Williams. "Their history, calming force, and deep, abiding wisdom are evident in their strained hands, weathered faces, and challenged postures. The reality is, dreams may or may not have been realized, but for sure, their memories and works live on in all of us. And, just as 'the child is father of the man,' our elders are life's desire to continue."
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