Chuck Kinsey
This site is here to memorialize the artistry of
He was an artist in so many things he did, not just in his creative endeavors, but in how he lived and connected with his family was unique and beautiful. He was an avid natural artist all his life, primarily working with pencil and ink early on, but also experimenting heavily in photography during high school. He also moved into digital art using Photoshop and worked at tattoo design and technique later in life. Over the last 10 years or so he developed diabetes which negatively impacted his vision. This in addition to a badly broken wrist made drawing much more challenging than it had been. These factors made his photography become his primary mode of expression. Chuck had a drive to explore and this drove his photography in a big way. His love for nature and his extraordinary eye for composition both added to the creativity that can be seen throughout his work.
Chuck lived in Wolf Laurel outside of Mars Hill NC for almost 20 years, working as roving security for the community. This gave him a lot of pride in having the opportunity to protect both the residents as well as the natural land that he was responsible to preserve. Throughout the time he spent in the mountains of North Carolina he continued to developed his talent thanks, in large part, to the wanderlust that he and his Mother shared. They would drive for hours in search of the most breathtaking waterfalls around the area they lived. He also found kindred spirits that wanted to hike up to the Big Bald mountain-top before dawn to capture sunrises that so few ever get to see. He worked hard at this skill for years learning to capture the world through a very different perspective. Often he would use fairly advanced techniques to develop with HDR processes, or prolonged exposures showing details in the shadows of his subject that can't be easily seen, or even more phenomenal, he has many where his exposures were set for hours meaning that as he pointed at the night sky the paths of the stars would be revealed.
His interest in flash art from the tattoo world expanded into following the expressive forms of graffiti around Asheville. He began documenting this art form and spent many years documenting local artists and sharing his appreciation for their craft. This is just another example of how Chuck explored the world around him, from the forest to the streets, and had developed an fascinating array of imagery. Many of his works have been on display in local galleries as well as adorning many of the houses of the Wolf Laurel. He transformed ordinary scenes into extraordinary works of art. His keen eye for beauty, whether in the smallest details or the most vast landscapes, left us in awe and inspired us to appreciate the art that surrounds us daily.
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