Charles Guthrie
Richmond, Virginia
The latest project on your website "Cheat Death" embodies your 'evolving mentality' over the recent years, you state. In retrospect, what would you now say has affected you as an artist the most?
Over the past few years I've moved around quite a bit. I moved from Richmond, VA to New York City, and then to China. I also travelled non-stop to several countries and cities near where I was living. Sometimes it felt like I was "cheating death" just because there was never a dull moment. I was constantly experiencing new things and exploring myself. I think the self-discovery that came from all of that really shows in the work.
Do you think that one can get back to a former state of mind, when a new approach doesn't seem to work?
Yeah I do. Over time you find out that no matter how many places you go, or how much time passes, so many things in life stay constant. I think this also applies to work- it's going to reflect you personally in some way.
How would you say have helped internships in creative positions helped develop you your own work and style?
Yeah, interning taught me a lot about the ins and outs of the industry. I interned for Ryan McGinley, he's an excellent photographer and businessman.
Does an artist necessarily have to have formulated a 'voice' or 'signature' in advance, or would you say that this is something that is being developed in the course of the creative process(es)?
It's definitely something that comes out in the evolutionary process.
Are there any clishés about being an 'artist' or being 'creative' that you would like to avoid being confronted with?
Not really. I don't think I really outwardly show any of those characteristics.
Do you have a muse?
No.
Something you would like to achieve by the end of the year?
I'm going to be launching a project January 1 that I've been working on for quite some time. I don't want to give much away now, but it features a number of really skilled photographers and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes in the next year.
And things you set out to accomplish and already achieved or gave up upon?
I told myself I was going to travel one week out of the month, even if it was only 30 minutes away, to create work. But I find it harder and harder to make that happen with everything in my personal life and working nonstop on my new project.
Do you value traditions, in any area of life, or do you try to avoid them?
I was raised by a single mom, and she basically tried to reinvent so many traditions that she had with her "functional" family, but none really stuck around. It's something I think I'd like.
Where do you see photography as an art from in, let's say 10 years?
It's going to be interesting. I think it'll be heavily focused in digital work and the mastery of postproduction. I think it will be very accessible.
No clichés. Take a look at his work.
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