Born in May, 1937, Ermistral Charles is known by the "nomme de guerre" of Thialy.  He started painting in 1973, and became known for a style of sgrafitto painting, with detailed linework scratched into the surface of the oil paint.  His work has been exhibited worldwide. Two of his paintings were in the show, "Haiti: Art Naif, Art Vaudou" at the Grand Palais in Paris in 1988 and are published in the catalog of the same name.  He lived in the village of Kenscoff, above Port-au-Prince.