First Saturday Art Reception: Gerald Barnes, Mixed Media, Portraiture

Gerald (Jerry) Barnes was born in Ireland and is a self-taught artist. Extensive traveling over the years and a love of history and writing were soon evident in his art. His current work, titled Layers of Life, mimics the stages of life we all have gone through; some with ease others with difficulty. But the geophysical world, like our lives, is not static and upheavals and changes can block our path or set us on a new course.

Gerald uses a variety of materials in his work: chalk paint, acrylics, pastels and pencil. He also uses a variety of found and created images on paper which he often adds to or paints over. He likes working on wood panels as they stand up better to “abuse” as the pieces are worked and reworked over time.