Born in El Paso, Texas, Charlie Ramos is a painter whose work is deeply influenced by a life of movement and cultural immersion. He has lived in Texas; Chiapas, Mexico; Massachusetts; Washington State; California; Madrid, Spain; and now resides in Montreal, Canada.

Ramos draws inspiration from the diverse landscapes and memories of his time spent in these places.
He graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he honed his skills in painting and developed a distinct artistic voice.

Throughout much of his professional life, Ramos has worked in the animation industry as a previs artist and cinematographer for various studios, including Pixar Animation Studios, DreamWorks, and LucasArts.

His recent work is shaped by the bold storytelling of muralist Diego Rivera and the evocative, nostalgic works of Marc Chagall.

Ramos' paintings are based on stream-of-consciousness writing and explore the human condition, focusing on themes of nostalgia and isolation within society. Blending expressionism with narrative stream of consciousness, his work examines identity and displacement, offering glimpses into the emotional landscapes shaped by his experiences.

Also

Since childhood, he has constantly been on the move. At the age of three, his parents divorced, and he was passed between them. Both parents relocated frequently, so his upbringing can best be described as a life spent repeatedly adjusting to new environments. Forming connections with others was challenging, as he was always the newcomer. Television, film, and music became his closest companions, and he spent much of his time immersed in those worlds.

These experiences are always present in his paintings. He carries with him a sense of nostalgia—for the places he lived, the music tied to specific moments, the objects, nature, and architecture unique to those locations, as well as the television shows and films that shaped him. These elements serve as his primary sources of inspiration and remain deeply personal.

He always wanted to write but never felt that words fully captured his emotions. His paintings are largely rooted in stream-of-consciousness writing, a practice he tries to engage in every morning. When a passage evokes strong visual imagery, he begins to develop it further. Through this process, meaning gradually emerges from the apparent randomness of the writing, and narratives start to take shape.

He avoids touching the canvas until the composition and general color ideas are resolved, though the act of painting itself inevitably gives rise to new ideas.

Awards

• • "The Metamorphosis Part 1" 1999 -- winner of audience award at Art Futura Animation Festival in Seville, Spain. Accepted at various film festivals including Annecy Animation Festival, Stuttgart Animation Festival, Cinanima Animation Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival and Fort Lauderdale Film Festival.
  • "Shrek 2" Nominated for an academy award fro best animated feature
  • "Brave" Winner of the academy award for best animated feature
  • "Inside Out" winner of the academy award for bes animated feature
  • "Piper" winner of an academy award for best animated short film
  • "Borrowed Time" Nominated for an academy award for best animated short film
  • "Nimona" Nominated for an academy award for best animated feature

Magazines

• • Featured artist in Astonishing Magazine #59
  • Featured artist in Artist Closeup Magazine #32