Artist working with new medium – mud

By Nancy Green

November 18, 2009 11:24 am

— Charles Jenkins, former Attala County resident now living in Hazlehurst, has gained recognition for his art focusing on pastels, watercolors and colored wax pencils. He has now added the use of mud to his list of mediums.
Jenkins said he saw a mud painting hanging in Rosedown Plantation while touring the home in St. Francisville, La. From this tour he was inspired to research and get involved in the process.
He was recently awarded a $500 grant from the Missississppi Arts Commission to pursue his use of mud in painting. “The individual artists across he state continue to offer their talents to prove the value of the arts in Mississippi. Their creation of art and participation in local events and activities helps to insure the economic success of their community,” said Malcolm White, executive director of the MAC.
In his latest painting experience, Jenkins said he mixes various ingredients with mud to obtain the color and consistency required for application with a brush. A watermelon slice was his first attempt and he used a mixture of beet juice and mud to obtain the right color. For a magnolia blossom, he used white chalk. He uses goldenrods, other flowers and berries to create colors.
Along with the searching for color ingredients he constantly is on the lookout for soil suitable for conversion to use with his paint brush.
As Thomas Kincade is referred to as the “Painter of Light,” Jenkins might be referred to as the “Painter of Color.”
Jenkins explained that his mud paint is applied to various types of boards which serve as his canvas.
His painting “Four Seasons” is an example of the myriad of colors he concocted to obtain the finished product. Three layers of sealer are applied when the painting is completed.
Jenkins has studied at Holmes Community College, Delta State University, University of Maryland, University of Oklahoma, and Mary-Hardin Baylor College. He also received training under Irene Bellinger of Cranbook Institute, Ted Kologie of Chicago Art Institute, Karl Heinbery and Giesla Roehi, in Germany.
He has illustrated children’s books and conducted numerous workshops for clubs and adult groups.
He has done a series of whimsical paintings with the “Dancing Turtles” the most popular. In his whimsical art, he said he tried to answer the age old question of what animals do for entertainment when humans are not watching led to his creation of “Art for Happi People!”
Jenkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ballard Jenkins of Thomastown, has been collected in 15 countries, 25 states and many private and public organizations.

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