Charlotte McGraw Can Teach You to Create Creatures

By Tiera Suggs, director of storytelling for We Amplify Voices

Charlotte McGraw is a mixed media artist based out of Goodwill Art Studio, and she creates mixed media works of art, or creatures as she calls them. Charlotte and Aj Vanderelli have teamed up to lead Community Creatures, free art workshops with We Amplify Voices, held every other Friday afternoon.

Tiera: How did you get started in your art form?
Charlotte: The studio at UCP, United Cerebral-palsy of Ohio. I started with Cody Miller. He’s the one that pushed me, because I told him I didn’t do art. He pushed me into the art room to try, and I never came back out. That was probably about 22 or 23 years ago.

Tiera: Who influenced you as an artist?
Charlotte: Jean Paul Basquiat. He was mainly my inspiration. I’ve always admired his artwork. My type of art style is influenced by his art. He was an amazing artist, I loved the way he did his art. It wasn’t like any other art to me, he had his own flame to it.

Tiera: What question do you get asked most often about your art, and how do you answer?
Charlotte: “What do you be thinking?” It’s weird but it’s cool. When they ask me that, I’m just like, “I’m in my own little world.” I’m just in my own little world and things just pop into my head and I just go with it.

Tiera: What’s on your current playlist?
Charlotte: Oh, Charlie Wilson, Bruno Mars and Marvin Gay. Charlie especially; his songs touch your heart. I love his music.

Tiera: What do you do to relax or unwind?
Charlotte: Being in the park just looking around, chilling. If it’s too hot no, but yeah I love nature.

Tiera: What are 1-2 of your favorite things about Columbus?
Charlotte: Cap City Diner – it’s one of my favorite places to eat. Columbus Arts Fest downtown in the summer – I go every year. It’s so relaxing, and all the art booths they have, it’s just amazing.

You can make art with Charlotte McGraw at Community Creatures, a bi-weekly mixed media workshop every other Friday from 3-5 p.m. until Dec. 20, 2024. Register through the link above!

This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.