The Art of Charles Bibbs

2008-10-14
By Terry Glover

Artist Charles Bibbs is known for his kaleidoscopic palettes and curvaceous female forms, full of attitude. Through the 80s, Bibbs practiced his craft by working as a street artist on the weekends, paying the bills at 9 to 5 corporate jobs. In 1992 he traded life in the cubicle culture for his current work spaces, one at the back of his house (next to the pool), the other a loft space in downtown L.A.  Art has been very, very good to him.

Though he’s spent more than a decade building a reputation on his unique aesthetic, Bibbs was unprepared for the artistic challenges that awaited him after a chance meeting at a Los Angeles art show. A production stylist saw his work and thought it fit her project perfectly. They had a meeting. He was brought on to design the Black Madonna labels for the honey jars from The Secret Life of Bees. Little did he know that the commission would ultimately mean working through the night, faxing endless revisions to the set, sometimes at 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning. He loved it. Channeling the female spirit the creatives were after proved to be the easiest part of the job.

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Launch Slide Show! 

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Just off the top, what were your impressions of working on a feature film? 
This was one of the most interesting processes I’ve ever been involved in. Working with a movie is really different from a commission. They were really specific in how the story related to the image.

I’ve illustrated books, but it’s different when you’re trying to relate something in a live sense. It had to work with the script. I was really ignorant about that, so it was important to me that I really get in their heads.  I did do some research on the Black Madonna. She’s not new, so historically it had some specific meaning. As it relates to the story it was that and more.

Usually, I get a project and they give me a drop dead date. But they didn’t know if the piece was going to fit until they put it in play. It was a real collaboration.

Usually you work alone. What most influences you creatively?
African-American culture inspires me. The vibrancy, the culture, the way women move, the way men talk. The whole reality of being Black that’s my main inspiration. I go into crowds of black people and I observe. It’s phenomenal. You get a real sense of who you are and how we’re different, yet the same. The expressions and how we celebrate our lives is the culture.

My god-given task is to translate that culture so there will be a history. To communicate with your audience is what you are trying to accomplish as an artist. The response is so profoundly satisfying. Actors, musicians, they get off on that too. That’s the reward.

Do you dream?
Yeah, I dream about my work a lot. I get some inspirations from dreams. But I will put things away for years and then come back to it. I will come back to it by way of a dream.

I have this interest in the subconscious, where I feel that most of my creativity comes from. Your mind absorbs everything.

There are miracles, of sorts, in the movie. Do you believe in miracles?
Absolutely. I’ve had a few in my life. If you accept the fact that everything is not by chance, that there’s a plan, even Nature has it’s orderly plan. We’re all here for a reason. Follow your dreams – they’re telling you what you’re meant to do.

Visit Charles Bibbs' official website.

Read the interview with Bees director, Gina Prince-Bythewood.

Senior Editor Terry Glover follows trends and popular culture for Ebonyjet.com