A young man with glasses and a cigarette in his mouth posing in front of a wall of colorful masks with various characters and designs.

Charles Hannegan

I was born in Salem Oregon.

As a kid I felt small in the presence of nature and spent years wondering about my emotions. At Silver Creek Falls near my home for example the sights and sounds were mesmerizing. Hiking our way into the canyon there was the roar of profundity and then on the way  out the subtile sadness of choosing to leave a holy place.

Water and forest inspire me. 

My fathers business was logging and in the 50’s, we spent whole summers deep in rugged mountains. Later in the 70’s, I could sketch for days out of a backpack. So back then, I didn’t know what I was doing but I could explore wilderness and now that I know more, the easel stays in the car waiting to be set up at pullovers.

I stay busy closer to home.

My Story: Glossing over drudgery like 10 years in the cannery and three years of Army service in trade for avoiding the disaster of Vietnam, I was born on October 17th, 1946 to a pioneer clan who arrived to French Prairie 1842. Dad was a timber man. We spent summers in the wilderness and winters in Salem.

I completed college at Mount Angel in ’69. After the Army, I studied at the Museum Art School in Portland, which provided an awakening for a G.I. guy. 

Then, there was a residency and show at Contemporary Crafts and the opportunity to be represented at the Fountain Gallery, the top venue of that era. Later, moving back to Salem, I began expressing feelings about our valley and making a local living. Later I became a house father here on Fairmount Hill where I still live. This web site survey’s my career and supports informal sales.

Let’s begin by sharing glimpses of how my people worked and played.  

Black and white photo of a family standing outside a wooden house. There are three children, two women, and one man. One of the children is sitting in a small wagon. The house has a simple design with a wooden exterior, a small window, and a porch.
Black and white photograph of four children sitting on a wooden cart attached to a tricycle with large wheels, outdoors with trees and a building in the background.
A large black-and-white photograph of a family group portrait outdoors during daytime, with numerous men, women, and children arranged in rows in front of trees.
A sepia-toned photo of five children, four girls and one boy, standing on a wooden fence outdoors, with trees in the background, likely from a past era.
Black and white photo of a horse-drawn wagon with seven people sitting inside, outdoors with trees in the background.
A black and white photo of a farm yard with a barn, a tree, cows, and some barrels.
Black and white photo of four people and two dogs standing outside in the snow. The background shows snow-covered trees and a small building.
Black and white photo of six women in vintage clothing and large sun hats, standing outdoors on grass, some holding drinks, with a dog in the background.
A black-and-white photograph of two people standing outside in a snowy landscape. The woman on the left is wearing a coat, gloves, glasses, and a headscarf, and a small dog is sitting at her feet. The man on the right is wearing a plaid coat, gloves,
Three children outdoors in a snowy landscape, with a wooden fence and leafless trees in the background. Two of them are standing, one is bending down, all smiling, with one child taking a selfie.
Taxidermy animal display of a cat-like creature on a branch and a framed painting of a forest scene with a pathway and trees on a white wooden wall.
Black and white photo of a woman outside in snow with three dogs, one sitting and two standing, in front of a barn and trees.
An old sepia-toned photograph of a river with a large steamboat in the distance and a forested shoreline in the background.
A man standing outdoors in the snow with two dogs, one on a leash, near a small shed and trees.
Two horses pulling a wooden wagon with two people riding on it, on a dirt path with a wooden fence and trees in the background.
Horn-shaped decorative wall hanging with chain attachment between two windows with white floral curtains in a rustic interior.
A vintage black-and-white photo of three women standing on the beach, and a person performing a cartwheel in the background.
Three women standing near a boat on a river, with two women sitting in a boat and one woman standing. Two small boats are visible, and a person in a boat is in the background.
Black and white photo of a man standing between a Holstein cow on his left and a brown cow on his right outside a barn.
A young girl dressed in a homemade butterfly costume with wings, standing on a sidewalk in front of a house with a porch and flowers, smiling with arms outstretched.
A white church with a tall steeple, arched windows, and a gray shingled roof, situated next to a large leafless tree under a clear blue sky.
Two women standing outdoors, arm-in-arm, smiling, with trees and a clear sky in the background.
Statue of Virgin Mary dressed in white and blue robes, accented with gold, standing on a white pedestal with a floral arrangement of white and pink roses and greenery in front. The background includes a decorative painted arch with floral and geometr
A black-and-white photograph of an elderly woman and man standing outdoors in front of bushes. The woman wears a dark coat and a hat decorated with pink flowers, while the man wears a dark suit with a white shirt, tie, and a bowler hat. Both have flo
Black and white photo of a man standing among a large flock of turkeys outdoors, with a farm building and cloudy sky in the background.
A herd of sheep grazing on a green field under a clear sky, with trees in the background.
A church altar with a crucifix of Jesus Christ hanging on a wooden cross behind red curtains. The altar has white cloth with gold accents, and is decorated with white flowers in gold vases. There are five white candles placed on tall candle holders,
An elderly man and woman smiling, standing close together, each holding a glass of champagne. They are dressed casually, with the man wearing a light plaid shirt and jeans, and the woman wearing a light pink top, a floral skirt, and pink jewelry. The
Black and white photograph of a forest with trees and a makeshift wooden shelter. Inside the shelter, there is a large spool of wire or cable and some equipment.
A group of children and a dog standing outside in front of a brick house with two bicycles parked against the wall.
Colorful stained glass window with a central emblem of a chalice, host with host initials, and decorative borders.
A young boy wearing glasses and a striped shirt holding a small snake outdoors near a fallen tree.
Black and white photo of seven children smiling outdoors, some sitting on bicycles and a tricycle, with two standing next to their bikes, in front of a house with a sloped roof and a leafless tree in the background.
Handwritten letter on a piece of lined paper with blue ink text.
A black and white photo of a bride and groom at their wedding outdoors. The groom is wearing a suit with a boutonniere, and the bride is in a wedding dress with long sleeves. They are standing behind a table with a cake and flowers. A car and some pe

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Next Open House: Saturday, April 25th, 2026, 1 - 4pm
Next Open House: Saturday, April 25th, 2026, 1 - 4pm

This site is to share my work, but sales must be in person. Come to an Open House and sign my contact list to receive updates. I am a person who makes art and has retired from galleries. Prices are reasonable and the feel is local. I return to favorite themes seasonally, so you may see similar paintings in a variety of sizes.  

80
80

Turning 80, I’m carrying my kit for shorter distances because most of the emotional work has been done.

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