Ask the Artist
Artist's Statement
I enjoy working with a variety of materials and processes. My scale of work ranges from very small to larger, more complex pieces.
Personal favorite media include pastels, some water media, colored pencils, paper-and-ink, and various textures like Venetian plaster and organic materials, including even sometimes “found objects.” Because photography and digital work also play a role in many pieces, I’ve enjoyed applying those media in many new works and series’.
Some might call it “inconsistent”—but frankly, what I enjoy most is to explore combinations, finding out about different materials, and experiencing where they lead. Sometimes the process is a simpler, direct drawing or color work. And another piece might include many layers and materials, as inspiration dictates.
Your own imagination is the key to experiencing this varied work.
I’m very happy at this time to explore and share my personal artwork in more depth and breadth. You are invited to ask questions.
What's the Inspiration?
When people ask about this, they are often surprised that my inspiration is not “topical.” Rather, I typically draw Inspiration from geology, history, mythology, and organic materials. Naturally, life experiences, people I meet, and current events also play a big part in this creative process even if not literally visible.
Other inspirations stem from historical and traditional cultures’ uses of color and pattern in surface design, and the symbolism and roles of those elements in their worlds.
In many cases, actual physical materials and supplies become the kick-off point to start new work.
Your Imagination is Important!
Most of all, my artwork tends to not be too literal.
Working intuitively, I prefer to leave quite a bit to the viewer’s imagination. Furthermore, I always try to offer an unspoken (or sometimes, literally, spoken) invitation to the viewer to participate in the “story” from his or her own personal perspective of what is happening in a particular work.
In addition, while appreciating the serious side, I also can enjoy injecting my own sense of humor or irony into the subjects and style.
Artistic Finishes and Full-Spectrum Paints
From 1986 to 2006, I specialized in creating and installing artistic decorative finishes and murals for residential and commercial clients. The materials I used included glazes and Venetian plasters that Iapplied in a variety of techniques.
The paint designation “Full Spectrum Paints,” meaning products using no black or gray in any of the color mixtures, originated with Ellen Kennon. During that time, through collaboration during that time with Ellen—a well-known designer and long-time friend—that I developed my unique, 32-color full-spectrum paint collection, “EcoHues.” These unique paint colors soon became favorites among my clients, who often requested them for use in their homes.
My fascination with color and color-mixing continues, as I always approach each color design project as an artist.
Still have questions? I’m happy to discuss them. You can use the form in the clouds, below.
Let’s Make Something Beautiful Together
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barbara@integralcolor.com