Colleagues and former students have shared their reflections on his contributions to the world of art, the University and their lives.

Martha Carothers, professor of art and design and former department chairperson, said, “Charles was revered for his teaching of drawing, painting and illustration. He was known for his disciplined approach and attention to details. His airbrush and watercolor courses were very popular with students, both art majors and nonmajors. He developed a series of exceptional drawings as a result of his on-site observations at the ILC Dover manufacturing company in Frederica, Delaware. ILC makes space suits for NASA. Charles captured the human aspect of the suits with gestural three dimensionality and expressive line quality in charcoal/graphite.”

For David M. Brinley, associate professor of art and UD alumnus, Prof. Rowe was a mentor. “During my time in his Illustration program in the early 1990s, Prof. Charles Rowe exposed students to the best artists in the field and taught us how to see,” Brinley said. “He was experienced, and his reputation preceded him among the student cohort. Charles was strict but not harsh, a generous teacher who cared deeply about student success, establishing an enlightening class atmosphere and instilling a professional attitude. His sense of humor was cleverly embedded within his own work and can be seen in the many themes and elements of his surrealist paintings and juxtapositions. Whether it was illustration, painting, figure drawing or even his daunting Winter Session airbrush course, Charles taught the importance of striving to create your best work and to then have the courage to take it out into the world. Thank you, Charles, for inspiring so many of us and sharing your philosophy, knowledge and wisdom with students at such a pivotal age.”

Another of his former students, Keith Heckert, who is now director of branding and trademarks in the University’s Office of Communications and Marketing, remembers Prof. Rowe as a perfectionist. “I had Charles Rowe as my illustration professor, as well as airbrush and acrylic,” Heckert said. “I recall in my acrylic painting class, Charles showed us about how much he enjoyed bright and clean colors. He sat down with his acrylic paints, each separated and not touching each other, and proceeded to dip the brush into one of the colors. He then lovingly laid it down on the paper. He then took the brush and completely cleaned it before dipping into the next color. His acrylic paintings were always bright and dimensional, due to not muddying up the color and really punching the highlights. One thing I always remember about Charles to this day is something he adamantly told us in Illustration class. He disliked us illustrating from photos because he felt it trained us much better to see highlights and shadows drawing from real life situations. When we didn’t have access to the subject matter, we were allowed to use photos. He taught us when you are using multiple sources in a composition, you’d better make sure the lighting is coming from the same direction. People will notice and it hurts a legitimate work. I have noticed others’ work that fails at this…like movie continuity.”

Jeff Chase, senior art director in UD’s Office of Communications and Marketing and another former student, said, “Prof. Rowe was a known taskmaster to all the illustration majors, yet he also opened doors to trying new media and incorporating technique. As a senior, in looking at a painting I’d made using a technique he showed the class, Charles urged me to do a series of watercolors using the specially prepared gouache ground. I did a series of animal portraits painted at a nearby zoo as a senior thesis, and we met regularly to review my progress. He was curious whether I’d truly observed the animals enough to do more than render a physical accuracy. He helped me to incorporate their habitat and behaviors and showed me the works of John Audubon. He even helped me figure out how to incorporate my songwriting and musical talents into a multimedia exhibit that served as a soundtrack. I stayed in touch after graduating and regularly had him review my portfolio my first few years out. I’m glad he always demanded our best and always made himself available for advice and critique. He was a mentor to me and was part of a UD faculty that inspired me to go on to teach and freelance.”