Chances are, anyone reading this has already seen plenty of Charlotte Thibault’s artwork – whether they know it or not! Thibault creates the illustrations, graphics and charts that you see in the Monitor almost every day to spruce up a story or clarify confusing information. But when she’s not helping you visually understand all the news that’s fit to print, Thibault turns her artistic inclinations toward brush and canvas.
When asked if she would contribute a painting to the 2013 Friends Program Charity Auction, not only did she say yes, but she knew just what her subject would be – a view of the Merrimack River as seen from Terrill Park.
““I love rivers,” Thibault said. “I love painting rivers. I live on a river! So it was the river part that really intrigued me.”
Working off a picture by Monitor photo editor Alex Cohn, Thibault took the Merrimack River and made it come alive with her oil paints.
“Painting is really about being able to see your subject,” Thibault said. “The more times you paint it or draw it, the better you see it. For me, it’s all about understanding the subject.”
Thibault, who studied painting under former New Hampshire artist laureate James Aponovich, was excited to be involved with this year’s auction.
“What can I say about (the Friends Program)? They’re a terrific program with a great reputation,” Thibault said. “I don’t give away a lot of my art – or donate it – but I thought this was a worthy cause.”
