Timothy Giles, Dumfries, VA
Member Since July 2013
Artist Statement I grew up in Suffolk, Virginia. I chose to illustrate my life experiences through my art. This is emphasized due to the era of growing up in a rural environment in the early sixties when civil rights was at the height of everyone’s agenda, especially African Americans. Like many of my neighbors, I grew up in a single parent household. My mother stressed two things; education and being a productive citizen. This was to ensure that one day I would give back to the community that molded me as a kid. My mother purchased me my first paint by numbers set which was the start to expressing my life on canvas. I have no formal training but was given a gift from God as a self-taught artist.
After graduation from John F. Kennedy High in Suffolk, I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1979 and served 3 years where my curiosity for different cultures was formed.
I took advantage of every opportunity to paint and show my artwork; whether church murals, signage and logos on barber shop windows, murals on the walls of residences and participation in local art shows. I am fortunate that my home state of Virginia embraces visual art and provides a creative environment for up and coming artists.
I returned to Suffolk and spent the next 10 years working at the shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. During that time, I went back to school which allowed me to embark on a career that would allow me to fulfill my dreams of traveling the globe. I dream was realized because I traveled for 7 years as a contractor visiting more than one hundred countries as an Electronic Engineer for the US Government. I was impressed by the many styles of art seen throughout my travels and their individual approach to the craft. When I interfaced with the various artists worldwide, I found we all wanted to catalog our view of the world around us through art.
I later became a Diplomat for the State Department as a Facilities Manager. It provided me the opportunity to experience culture first hand because of the Foreign Nationals that worked for me. I spent 17 years living abroad embellishing the diverse cultures around the world to include Ukraine, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola and Senegal, to name a few.
I am married with two teenage sons.
My sustaining force is Jesus who is the head of my life. My goal is to share my gift by cataloging much of my life experiences on canvas for the world to see and eventually establish a gallery. I’ve been blessed!
www.timgilesafroartsandcrafts@yahoo.com
E-mail: timgilesafroartsandcrafts@yahoo.com
Phone: 703-221-4005
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