It was this determination to shape his own destiny, combined with an artistic legacy that included a paternal grandmother who painted in oils and watercolor and an aunt who created fashion illustrations for New York City publications, that helped Pabst set sail on the course to becoming a professional artist. By the age of sixteen, the youth was already marketing misty ocean scenes inspired by the view from his home along the Santa Clara coast, and he also had several one-man shows to his credit.
Although a Californian by birth, Pabst’s memories of family vacations and interest in Indian lore pulled him towards the Southwest. His choice of Arizona State University as the place in which to further his art education would influence the direction of his life in numerous ways. While pursuing his fine arts degree at ASU, he met Christine Gose, a lovely, green-eyed brunette from Las Cruces, New Mexico, who was to become his wife and artistic soul mate. During this period Pabst was also touched by a strong awareness that God wanted him to become an artist - not an ordinary one, but a painter who could portray his creations with the majesty they deserved. For the remainder of his life, this revelation has served as the impetus behind the glowing, monumental scale landscapes, which have become his artistic trademark.
Always ready to span new horizons, Pabst is imbued with the belief that to be successful, an artist must be willing to take risks and fail. “I know too many talented painters who don’t make it because they are afraid to try. You must climb the mountain of the unknown - get out of your comfort area and be vulnerable. This willingness to be vulnerable allows you to grow as a person and as an artist.”
His first opportunity to test this tenant came in the late 1970’s when he made the decision to abandon a successful business, creating production paintings for interior design and furniture retail markets, in order to follow his dream of becoming a professional fine artist. After spending two years under the demanding tutelage of Arizona landscapist, Bill Hughes, Pabst’s efforts began to bear fruit in 1982 when Tucson’s El Presidio Gallery offered him a one-man show. Selling all 32 paintings from the exhibition assured him that his dream was now well on the way to becoming reality.
Nearly a quarter of a century later, Pabst now owns two galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona, one which carries his original paintings and a second which focuses on his giclee prints. He is represented by a network of retail outlets that bring worldwide exposure to his work. He has also found a niche working with corporations such as American Express, Southwest Airlines, and Heartland Payment Systems. “With more than 100 individual images to choose from, giclees are the perfect product to fulfill corporate art needs,” he explains. “These are computer driven reproductions printed on canvas which are then hand enhanced, making each one a unique product. Since they do not require framing under glass as did the earlier offset lithograph prints, they have the look and feel of original art at a fraction of the cost.”
A prolific painter who emphasizes that he never wants to be pigeonholed as an artist, Pabst’s paintings cover an eclectic range of subjects including seascapes, religious imagery, portraits of Rocky Mountain trappers and even some abstract pieces. Despite this diversity, Pabst remains a landscapist at heart. “I get excited simply by spending time outdoors, but I think I enjoy painting clouds and sunsets the most. No matter how many times I paint its scenery, the Southwest remains one of my favorite subjects because areas such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Canyon de Chelly have a grandeur found no where else on earth.”
Explaining the attraction of his imagery, Pabst notes, “I like to create drama in all my work, whether realistic or abstract, through the use of light. With the landscapes, I prefer painting in the morning or late afternoon in order to get the best shadows and contrasts, and I especially enjoy depicting night street scenes which allow me to capture the mystical quality of light shining through windows and doorways.”
Charles and Christine are ardent travelers who love to include the two youngest of their five children - thirteen-year-old Elizabeth and twelve-year-old Danny - on ventures to research new material for the artist’s paintings. The family recently returned from a trip to Italy, where Pabst photographed and painted the courtyards and vineyards of Tuscany and Umbria. “There is a similarity between the peaceful, almost spiritual emotions evoked by the American West and the Tuscan landscape, so I find pleasure in comparing and contrasting these settings.” The California missions also hold an attraction for Pabst who is now busy painting images of all twenty-one in preparation for an upcoming exhibition.
Although he has passed his fiftieth birthday, the artist’s sense of adventure remains as strong as ever. Ready to spread his wings even farther, Pabst admits, “I am eager to do more traveling and to paint magnificent foreign landscapes such as the Alps in Germany, the mountains in Peru and New Zealand, and the lushly verdant Irish countryside.” Once he fulfills this dream, Pabst can truly lay claim to the sobriquet “painter of the world".
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