Charles Wysocki Puzzles: The Artist’s Story

One of the most popular collection of puzzles at Wholesale Puzzles is the Charles Wysocki puzzle collection.  The Wysocki puzzles fly off the shelf faster than any other jigsaw puzzle in stock – so don’t wait – buy your Charles Wysocki Jigsaw Puzzles while we still have them in stock!

One of our Charles Wysocki Puzzles

A Little Background on Charles Wysocki

(Written by Matt wysocki, Charles Wysocki’s son – Source: CharlesWysocki.com)

“Charles Wysocki was born in 1928 in Detroit Michigan. From the time he was a little tot, he always wanted to be an artist. His father Charles Sr. was an immigrant from Poland who worked on the assembly line at Ford Motor Co. for over 35 years. His father was not thrilled about his artist aspirations. Most of his encouragement came from his mother Mary. She fully supported his artistic tendencies.”

“Charles was drafted in 1950 during the Korean War. He was later stationed in Hanau, West Germany from 1951-1952. After his two-year obligation in the Army he decided to trade in his rifle for a paintbrush.”

“After leaving the Army, Charles attended Art Center in Los Angeles (it is now in Pasadena) majoring in design and advertising illustration. After completing his studies, Charles joined the staff of freelance artists at McNamera Brothers in Detroit in 1955. There he formed an advertising agency with three other artists called “Group West” and was very successful doing freelance commercial artwork. During this time he won numerous awards for his illustrative talents.”

Charles Wysocki met his wife at an ad agency in Los Angeles. Elizabeth had just graduated from UCLA as an art major. Charles was enamored by the simplicity of this farm life and wholesome values – something that came from Elizabeth’s family background – and is the influenced that started his whole primitive style that we all know and love. After meeting Elizabeth and having their first child, commercial art became a lot less interesting for Charles.

“In the early 1960’s Charles was raking in the money as a commercial artist, but his heart was in the primitive style. At night and on the weekends, he worked on his Americana/primitive paintings. After Charles did a one-man show at which he sold every painting in this style, he decided to leave commercial art for good and just focus on his Americana art. For most of the 1960’s he made a good living off of the original paintings he sold. He also published greeting cards through Duncan Macintosh and posters through The Bernard Picture Company.”

“In 1972 Charles started his relationship with AMCAL. Together they published the first Americana Calendar. It has been in production ever since. AMCAL has been licensing his images on various products for close to 30 years. Then in 1979, Charles published his first limited edition print “Fox Run” with The Greenwich Workshop. His published numerous prints with them during this time from 1979-1993. He also traveled around the country and made personal appearances at galleries all over the United States. Charles won many awards for his work including one he is most proud of, receiving the medal of honor from the Daughter’s of the American Revolution.”

“In 1993 Charles went from working for two different publishers (AMCAL and The Greenwich Workshop) to just working for AMCAL. His schedule was too stressful, and the deadlines too severe to really enjoy himself. Being the perfectionist he is, his paintings never suffered, but he was working 15 hour days, six days a week. Enough! He published all his items through AMCAL, including his limited edition prints from 1994-1999. During this five-year period he produced some of his most treasured pieces. Four in the cat series (Mabel, Maggie, Max and Elmer and Loretta) as well as such pieces as Olde Bucks County, Hound of the Baskervilles, and the list goes on. It was also during this time that he opened his own gallery in his hometown of Lake Arrowhead. He produced his first canvas transfers starting in 1995 as well.”

“During this time, Charles was still painting, but now only 4 or 5 paintings a year. The paintings that he was working on now were one’s that he had been putting off for years. These latest ones are true masterpieces in every sense. All of his later paintings are made into limited edition prints and/or canvas transfers. He has currently been publishing his limited edition prints and canvas transfers with Hadley House since 1999. AMCAL still does all of his licensing. During this time he usually did signings at his gallery twice a year, in July and November, but had given up traveling the gallery circuit. Now he painted what he wanted, at his own pace, and spent time with his family and friends, and got to see all the movies he wanted.”

“Charles painted his whole life, and up to his death at the age of 73. He died July 29th, 2002 surrounded by family. It was also his 42nd wedding anniversary. He will be sorely missed by many, but his artwork will live on.”

Wholesale Puzzles has a number of Charles Wysocki Jigsaw Puzzles for sale for only $7.99.