ODDyssey of your mind
instructed by charlie frye
Charlie Frye's exhibit, "ODDyssey of the Mind" serves as the inspiration for this workshop. The exhibition invites viewers to open their mind and put their 3-D glasses on: Frye takes the viewer on an ODDyssey influenced by a childhood in the North Carolina foothills and centered on a group of characters (aka "The Man In My Head") that represent one enduring spirit.
In this workshop, North Carolina artist Charlie Frye will teach students to create a Vision/Spirit painting using a variety of layering and dripping techniques that result in a 3-dimensional effect. Students are invited to follow along with Charlie as he paints, or they can create their own vision. Students will leave with the knowledge of the 3D painting techniques, their painting, a pair of 3D glasses, and the confidence to do it again on your own!
Learn more about Charlie and his exhibition here. "ODDyssey of the Mind" is on view in Kentuck's Museum Gallery October 1, 2026 - November 22, 2026.
let's learn together
Age Range: 18+
Date: October 10, 2026
Times: 12 PM-4 PM
Location: Kentuck's Georgine Clarke Building
Tuition: $100; all supplies included
Secure your spot in the class today!
You must be 18+ to attend. Space is limited to 12 attendees. The minimum for this class is 4 participants, and if the class does not meet the minimum, participants will be refunded. Tickets are non-refundable once the registration deadline ends.
Please email Moly Nelko, arts education manager, at mnelko@kentuck.org with any questions. Kentuck workshops are non-refundable after the registration closes. If you would like to cancel before the deadline passes, please email mbell@kentuck.org or call 205-758-1257. If the class does not meet the minimum by the registration deadline and the workshop is cancelled, all participants will be refunded their registration fees.
meet the instructor: charlie frye
Charlie Frye is a self-trained artist and native of western North Carolina.
He has been a full-time artist since 2008. In 2016 he and his wife Susan opened a folk art gallery and antique store in their hometown of Lenoir, NC. They so enjoyed filling their gallery with carefully curated artwork, antiques they both loved and unique gifts. The business was housed in a 1925 pharmacy building and their home was above the gallery.
In 2024 they opened a second gallery in Pittsboro, North Carolina. While they enjoyed their time in the quaint town of Pittsboro, it unfortunately wasn't the right year to open another gallery, so they kept heading east. They now reside in the coastal village of Oriental, NC.
Charlie is a printmaker and sculptor but is best known for his expressive paintings. He draws from childhood experiences, the scenery and animals of Appalachia and now the coast, people who have inspired him, and his visions and dreams to bring his artwork to the easel. He paints with a colorful, loose style that is instantly recognizable, without even looking for the trademark red Frye signature in the corner. In recent years he has experimented with drips, taping layers, and has developed a style that is enhanced by 3D glasses.
Charlie’s work has been featured in many North Carolina magazines, such as Our State, Walter, WNC and Foothills Digest. He has been a guest lecturer at Appalachian University. He has pieces in the permanent collections at Kentuck Art Center, Vanderbilt University and The American Tobacco Company campus in Durham, NC. He has been on the regional lifestyle television shows Life in the Carolinas, NC Weekend and Carolina Traveler. Charlie has done many folk art shows, including the prestigious Fearrington Folk Art Show, Kentuck, and Finster Fest. Frye has had several one-man museum shows, including his first show in 2008 about the life of Edgar Allan Poe and his 2022 show at Kentuck entitled “America the Beautiful, Land of the Free?”
This workshop is made possible in part by support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.