Charlotte Dreams – skyline painting

This painting, Charlotte Dreams, was auctioned off for $11,000 during the seventh annual Dream Gala on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Founder’s Hall in Uptown Charlotte. This event raises money for Dream on 3 which is a sports nonprofit providing kids living with a disability or life-altering condition an opportunity to live out their ultimate sports dreams. More info at dreamon3.org/dreamgala

Charlotte Dreams is an original painting on canvas by artist Kent Paulette. He was inspired by the mountain sunrise outside his studio as he was painting this cityscape. Paulette grew up in Hickory and has fond memories of visiting Charlotte often to go to Discovery Place, Hornets games, and the Neighborhood Theatre. He brought those warm memories along with a bit of nature to this portrait of the Queen City. He wanted to capture the way the sunlight mixed with the city lights. Paulette collected water from the creek in his backyard and added it directly to the paint to stain the canvas with his Creek Washes. He used a large palette knife to paint the thick texture in the buildings.

Paulette paints at his home studio at Powder Horn Mountain and also in Banner Elk. He was painting Charlotte Dreams during sunrise on Christmas Eve and it was his last painting of the decade.