08/28/2026
A Stoic "Desert Evening" by Charles Dayton, Oil, 11x14 in.
Charles was raised on a Wyoming ranch among the mountains, stoic people and powerful animals of the American West. He honed his drawing skills in college, but didn't start painting with oils until he was 26 years old. A chance visit by professional artist Karl Thomas proved to be pivotal. Karl asked to see samples of his work. Charles nervously showed the fresh paintings to the artist. After a long pause, Karl asked, “have you ever considered doing this professionally?” That was a powerful turning point. Charles has always appreciated that recognition of his potential. He began participating in workshops and studying art in museums and galleries. He also credits Cowboy Artists of America members Jim Norton, Roy Anderson, Grant Redden and Chad Poppleton with providing valuable direction on art's technical aspects. He has also studied with noted artists Dave Wade, and Jim Wilcox.
Although Charles was preparing for an organizational consulting career, he devoted his evenings to honing his artistic skills, often holding a child in one arm and a paint brush in the other. In the middle of a two-year graduate program, he finally acknowledged his need to paint. He acted on this decision by moving his young family back to Wyoming, to be near ranchers and cowboys who he so respected. His work has been featured in respected galleries as well as magazines such as Western Art and Art Collector and Art of the West. Charles wrote that, "The great redeeming feature of western art is the timelessness of its elements: the figures, landscapes and animals," Most of his painting reflect ‘quiet’ scenes of working cowboys and Native Americans in daily settings.
