{"product_id":"autumn-rhythm","title":"Autumn Rhythm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAutumn Rhythm an original oil painting by M. Charles (aka Don Leary). The art measures 14″ x 20″ and the frame is 20 1\/2″ x  26\". *Provenance: This painting is from the private collection of Don Leary's son and was painted during the early-mid 1980s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBiography:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eDonald Leary was a self taught artist who worked under the name, M. Charles. He began to paint after retiring from his job as a school principal. He moved with his family to the Outer Banks of NC from Gloucester, VA in the early 1950’s.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eLeary’s work captured the look and feel of the North Carolina barrier islands. He spent a lot of time outdoors sketching and painting in the early years. Later years found him mostly in his studio, painting from memory. His first painting was sold in 1954.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHe was born in 1916 in Colon, Panama. His father was an army doctor.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eHe graduated from George Washington University with a BA in English in 1941 and a medical degree from William and Mary in 1955. He served in World War II in the US Army Corp of Engineers and was discharged as a captain in 1945. The artist chose his artistic name when as a joke; he donned a beret and pranced in front of his family. The story follows that one of his children said he looked like a French artist and therefore was dubbed Monsieur Charles, which was later shortened to M. Charles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e“M. Charles of Manteo: Painter of Sand and Sea” is an article that appeared in \u003ci\u003eNew East\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emagazine, the July\/August issue in 1975. A retrospective show for his art was held at the Roanoke Island Festival Park, November 2004.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOne of his paintings is in the art collection of the Town of Nags Head, it can be seen at the town hall.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"M. Charles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42441042133027,"sku":"49186","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2078\/6403\/files\/autumnrhythm.jpg?v=1779465615","url":"https:\/\/seasideart.com\/products\/autumn-rhythm","provider":"Seaside Art Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}