“I
try to tell a story or illustrate an emotion in my work."
“I
want to create paintings that discover the beauty of color and form and texture
as they relate to the subjects and their settings.”
Barbara tells us more…
“I
cannot remember a time when I was not fascinated by paints and brushes and form
and color. Both my parents were chiropodists with their own surgeries - so growing
up in an England at war meant that my sister and I were left to our own devices
for most of the time. We attended a local private school from the age of three
and learned to read and write and draw for our own enjoyment. My favorite Christmas
and birthday presents were always books and paints and pencils - come to think
of it they are still favorites.
“When
my father volunteered for the Royal Navy early on in the war we moved to Salisbury
so that my mother could run my father’s surgery, leaving her own to be handled
by her assistant. The new school, a convent that was run by an order of French
nuns, had a wonderful art teacher who corralled my wild enthusiasm with a strict
but joyful guidance. She set me on the right path and I shall never forget her.
“After
the war my mother’s sister, who had married an American Serviceman and moved
to Texas, suggested I spend a few months with her on her small farm so I sailed
from Southampton, rode the train down from New York to Texas (a fabulous trip
at the time) and decided immediately that I was going to continue my art studies
in San Antonio. But instead I met my future husband who had joined the Air Force
about the same time I left England.
“Shortly
after our marriage we were sent to Germany for a four-year tour. This was a wonderful
experience and I spent much time, both before and after the birth of our first
child, filling sketchbooks with pencil sketches and occasional watercolors, but
no formal training was possible at the time. The life of a career soldier meant
frequent moves from base to base and country to country. It was something I shall
never regret because my horizons were constantly being expanded, but caring for
three children and the repetitive packing and unpacking of the moves meant that
the art aspirations had to be put on hold.
“Later,
when we were stationed again in San Antonio, I joined the River Art Group, which
was a consortium of artists who took turns keeping the Gallery open and held two
or three exhibitions every year. At that time I was enthralled with the Old West
and painted many western and cowboy scenes.
“All
my life I have loved animals – horses, dogs, cats, turtles, lizards, you
name it and I have probably lived with it. I still remember my sister and I having
snail races on a long wooden board – not the fastest game in the world.
But I always had models at hand and my early heroes were Lionel Edwards, Alfred
Munnings and Maud Earl. I spent many hours as a child in copying their works,
studying their techniques and drawing my own illustrations for well known books
like Black Beauty and The Irish R.M.
“When
my son married a delightful young lady who raised and showed Weimaraners I switched
from horses to dogs and learned the ins and outs of the show dog world. I became
quite a popular portraitist. But I prefer not to paint simple portraits; I'm more
interested in the interaction between animal and owner – in the love that
is obvious from both sides. When I joined the Greyhound Pets of America I discovered
the intense adoration that a rescued greyhound bestows on his new family; these
gentle dogs are an artist’s delight - graceful, beautiful and superb models.
“I
also joined the Bloodhound Club of America and found another fascinating subject
for my pencil. These are dogs of great dignity with an outrageous sense of humor
that tempers their poise.
“I
call myself a ‘self-taught’ artist, but I’ve learned from many
people and, as a compulsive reader, have acquired an extensive library of art
books that is constantly growing; so I’m not really ‘self’ taught.
I’ve had the benefit of the entire world of art and artists. I am so lucky;
an artist never retires and never stops learning. I am full of paintings that
are waiting to be painted and I intend to paint as many as possible.”
CONTINUING
EXHIBITIONS:
You can see some of Barbara's works on view at
Exclusive Framing and Gallery,
11822 Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX 78230
For more information call: 210-492-9137
Dog
Days USA
3330 Charleston Ln.
Cibolo, TX 78108-2000
Phone:
830-214-6547
Fax: 210-227-0281
Email: bmw@dog-daysUSA.com
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