ARTWORK THAT MAKES A STATEMENT
In the thirty-two years since he left the corporate media communications world, Tom Barnes has immersed himself in his self-taught artistry of watercolors. Over the years of painting, he has developed a distinctive voice and a signature expression. His Long-neck Ladies and Dapper Dudes speak of retro-eras when fashion and finery were in vogue. His characters depict elegance and self-confidence. Their attitudes are both engaging and provocative. Their humor is whimsical. Each of Barnes’s pieces becomes a distinctive, arresting, and appreciable addition to any decor.
AWARDS
Tom Barnes is well-known and renowned in the fine art industry. He is the the proud recipient of some major artwork awards including:
- Best in Show, La Quinta Arts Celebration 2024
- Member Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, since 2011
- Bronze Medalist, Societe Academique Arts, Sciences and Lettres, Paris, 2013
INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE
Creative Mark (R) produces a fine portraiture canvas (tightly woven), treated with a special gesso (primer), that allows pigments to stain and adhere to the substrate. It has an alkaline pH, so it doesn’t resist the water as do primers used for oil and acrylic canvases. The process has taken a few years to develop, with lots of experimenting on types of muslin, kinds of primers, and final finishes. Once a piece is considered “finished,’ the canvas is sprayed with three transparent fixatives, adding layers of ultraviolet protection. Barnes uses gallery-wrapped professionally stretched high-quality canvases with professional-grade Da Vinci pigments and archival finishes.
FRAMING SUGGESTIONS
Personal taste and decorating scheme will dictate the final presentation. However, Barnes has found that many different locales, decorating styles, and home decor require only a simple studio ebony floater frame with a small gold ribbon on the facia. The gold enhances the gold embellishments used on flowers, earrings and necklaces of the ladies. Pieces are available without this suggested frame, allowing the patron to choose a suitable presentation for their particular tastes and decor.
COMMISSIONED PAINTINGS
Barnes is quite comfortable interpreting colors that are more suitable for different decorating schemes and can adapt images reflecting personal significance (the right number of sisters around the table, for example.) Typically, he will talk through the request with the client and quote the appropriate price for the proposed size of work. Ideas generated by these discussions are interpreted into sketches. During the process of creating custom work, clients are sent digital images for approval. The final result is a cooperative effort that guarantees the satisfaction of both the client and the artist.