Ask the Artist
Read the featured article on ArtsyShark — and thanks to them for the invitation!
I work with a wide variety of materials and processes, from very small pieces to larger, more complex ones. My personal favorites include pastels, water media, colored pencils, paper-and-ink, and textural materials like Venetian plaster and organic elements — sometimes even found objects. Photography and digital work also play a role in many pieces.
Some might call it inconsistent — I call it exploratory. What I enjoy most is combining materials and seeing where they lead. Some pieces are simple and direct; others build up through many layers, following wherever the inspiration goes. Your own imagination is part of the experience.
I'm happy to share my artwork on these two sites — barbarajacobsfineart.com and barbaraprints.com — and I'd love to answer your questions. Find out about my fine art background and how it has shaped my work as an architectural color consultant.
What's the Inspiration?
People are often surprised to hear that my inspiration isn't topical. I'm more drawn to geology, history, mythology, and organic materials. Life experiences, people, and current events also shape the work — even when they're not literally visible in it.
I'm also fascinated by how historical and traditional cultures used color and pattern in surface design, and what those elements meant in their worlds.
And sometimes it's simpler than that — a material or supply itself becomes the starting point for something new.
Your Imagination is Important!
My work tends to be open rather than literal. I prefer to leave room for the viewer's own interpretation — an open invitation to step into the story from your own perspective and decide what's happening.
And while there's always a serious side, I enjoy bringing in a little humor or irony when the moment calls for it.
Artistic Finishes and Full-Spectrum Paints
From 1986 to 2006, I specialized in creating and installing decorative artistic finishes and murals for residential and commercial clients, working with glazes and Venetian plasters in a variety of techniques.
The term ‘Full Spectrum Paints’ — referring to paint colors mixed without any black or gray — originated with Ellen Kennon, a well-known designer and longtime friend. Through our collaboration, I developed my own 32-color full-spectrum paint collection, ‘EcoHues.’ These colors quickly became client favorites, often requested by name for use in their homes.
My fascination with color and color-mixing continues to this day — I approach every color design project as an artist.
Still have questions? I'd love to talk. Use the form below to get in touch.