Prince Charles doesn't just love art but he's also an accomplished artist who have created many masterpieces. The 71-year-old royal is apparently a skilled painter and an "experienced watercolorist," which is his favorite medium.
According to reports, the heir to throne grew up surrounded by art that it sparked his desire to paint. He apparently loves to do natural landscapes, especially when he's at his mother's summer home in Balmoral because the estate is filled with scenic spots.
But the future King of England also painted the places he visited outside of the U.K., such as the Zen gardens and temples in Kyoto, the Cultural Center in Hong Kong, and the Klosters ski resort's surrounding in Switzerland. In the 1990s, Klosters printed Prince Charles' painting of the Swiss alps in its annual ski passes.
It's not surprising for the Prince of Wales to have this natural, creative talent as he belongs to a long line of artists in the family. His great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, was also an accomplished artist and watercolorist. His father, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, does sketches and designs, and apparently did the design of the windows at the private chapel in Windsor Castle.
Of the younger royals, Prince Charles cousins Lady Amelia Windsor, Flora Ogilvy, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, and Lady Sarah Chatto are also creatives. Prince George apparently also inherited his grandfather's artistic abilities.
Prince Charles had his first major art exhibit at Windsor Castle in 1977. He subsequently did numerous exhibits for the Royal Collection Trust and at Buckingham Palace for his 70th birthday. The royal actually sold some of his paintings between 1997 to 2016. Proceeds of his masterpieces usually go to his charity, The Prince's Trust.
Despite making millions of dollars for his works of art, Prince Charles still considers himself as an "enthusiastic amateur" and not a professional artist. According to the Daily Telegraph, however, he is one of the U.K.'s best-selling living artist in modern times.
One of the reasons Prince Charles likes to paint using watercolors is for practicality. Apparently, this medium is quick to dry so he can finish his paintings faster and won't keep his security detail waiting for him too long. The Prince of Wales had art lessons from Britain's best, such as John Napper, Hugh Casson, Derek Hill, John Ward and Edward Seago.
