Charles served more than 20 years in the Army as an Armor Crewman, retiring in 2013. After retirement, he sought out ways to express himself creatively, and in 2015 Charles began attending art courses at Pierce College. He went on to complete five years of intensive art instruction at the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle.

Charles was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease early in his fine art education, but painting fine art pieces while battling a tremor is a challenge that he faces head-on. Charles hopes that his art and his life story inspire other veterans to work toward their own goals even after they leave the supportive structures of the military. For more information about Charles and to see his work, go to www.charlesburtartist.com.