Everyday Connection

Charles Leslie Gilchrist showed marked artistic talents at a very early age, drawing and painting constantly. His artistic career really began at the age of four, as he was already convinced of his life's path. His formal art education began at the age of 11 (1951). He was the youngest student ever taken by Genevieve Ingram Frickle, a well known portrait and landscape painter, living, working and teaching in Wichita. She developed his natural drawing talent and taught him to see as an artist. Charles' journey has led him to many places and careers from truck mechanic, racing engine builder, commercial photographer, graphic artist, and fine artist. In 1972, Charles reentered the Cleveland Institute Of Art and, while working full time as a commercial photographer by day, graduated from the night school program (1977) majoring in Intaglio print making. Through his studies, Charles discovered the classical concepts of open-eyed meditation and began to create Mandalas as a path to self discovery. Charles (now