Charles N. Pruitt, a West Texas native born near the small farming and ranching community of Colorado City, Texas, enjoys painting primarily landscapes of the Southwest.  In fact, he considers himself an "Impressionist of the Southwest" because of his devotion to working from life, painting in oils directly from nature using the "alla prima" or "plein air" method.  Using close observation of nature, the effects of light and interpretation of values based on intuition, emotion and his experience, has led to a style described as spontaneous and honest.
He has won over 38 awards, locally and nationally, but one of his most prized awards was the honor of representing West Texas at an art show inside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. in 1977. However, 1991 was a big year, being selected as the "featured Artist" for the Celebration of the Arts Show, where he was honored with a special poster edition of "Plum Blossoms". He shows in the prestigious C. M. Russell Auction in Great Falls, Montana, and was chosen as a Quick Draw participant in 1993, 1994, 1999 and 2000. He is a member of the Southwest Impressionist Group that has exhibited their work annually since 1988.

In October, 1997 the Board of the Oil Painters of America gave him signature membership status.

His paintings have been juried into the "Arts for the Parks " Top 20, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Allied Artists' Annual Exhibition in New York City. He received the "Best of Show" Award in 1993, 1994 and 1998 at the Museum of the Southwest Regional Spring Show.