Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Barton.
Greg, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I always like to tell the story of when I was wandering through an art show a while back in Austin, Texas and spotted an artist wielding what looked like big fat sticks of oil paint. The artist would then use a palette knife to carve into each stick, stealing a chunk of color to smear on the canvas.
That really struck me — and that medium became my inspiration — but with a not-so-slight adjustment. My family teases that I finger paint. You see I don’t fiddle with a palette knife or brush. I apply the paint on canvas with my hands. With my stubby fingers. Sure, I may dab with a rag, or scrape and forge with a fingernail, but nothing too perfect, too polished. Okay, maybe I’d go with “advanced-finger painting.”
Another inspiration for my painting? I truly enjoy spending time in the summer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The light. The air. The colors of the sea. I love to take pictures as we wander a beach, a cranberry bog, or look at decades old homes aged by the salt air. Those photos become reference for future paintings. However, the subject matter of the Cape may not be completely appreciated by those in the sweltering heat of a Texas summer. After all, I do spend 49 or so weeks out of the year as a proud Texan. So, I started to explore other subjects. The Texas landscape is vast. There is plenty to work with here! The big sky itself is quite impressive! People are attracted to clouds, me included. I love clouds and love to paint them.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
As an award-winning art director and graphic designer, I have been drawing or coloring (as my family likes to say) most of my life. I would like to publicly give thanks to my two favorite art teachers who made an impression on me early on: in middle school, Bobbe Pyeatt in Lake Jackson, Texas and in high school, Malou Settles in Houston. Go Spring Woods Tigers! I find myself painting from photos that I have taken, or those friends have taken and allowed me to explore on canvas. Whether it be vegetables, pieces of candy, Texas BBQ, grain silos or landscapes — any subject that might make me say to myself, “that would make a great painting.” I suspect being a graphic designer skews my work to be more graphical in nature. I just love composition. I believe it makes the viewer look with more interest and intensity. The artists that inspire me are the greats – Monet, Cézanne, Homer, Van Gogh, Degas, and Cassatt. The more contemporary artist influences include Stuart Davis, Georgia O’Keeffe, Richard Diebenkorn, Robert Motherwell, Jeff Koons, Chuck Close, Christo and Pollock. I am sure one day I will pick up a brush and use it — but for now, I will continue with my technique of painting with my hands (in gloves, sometimes). I can tell you that a painting usually doesn’t get finished until there is “family feedback” from my wife and daughter. Until I address their concerns or get their thumbs up, it doesn’t get signed and sealed.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’re concerned about?
I think every artist has some responsibility to give back in some way. I donate my freelance design hours to many local causes and will continue to help out where I can. But in my personal artwork, no. I am really not a political person. I appreciate Banksy and Keith Haring standing up for issues and causes.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
To quote my wife, Nancy, “You’re not going to sell these paintings if they are just leaning against the walls here at home.” That is the major struggle for many artists ‑ finding an outlet to get exposure. I continue to apply to juried art shows (and sometimes get in) when I come across them. Additionally, I am constantly in search of places to allow me to hang my work. My work has been accepted into both of Big Mediums’ Art Tours here in Austin. EAST Austin Studio Tour is usually two weekends in November and WEST Austin Studio Tour is usually two weekends in May. I have shown three years at each and plan to continue showing in the future, as long as I am selected. Some of my work hangs in Austin at Quality Seafood on Airport Blvd. and in Dr. Richard King’s dental office on Marathon Blvd. All of my work is on my website. And of course, some is still leaning against the walls at home!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gbarton.com
- Phone: 5126279103
- Email: greg@dandyidea.com
- Instagram: @gregbartonartist
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/gbarton
Image Credit:
All art copyrighted by Greg Barton.
Artist photo credit of hatch peppers, Joslyn Baker
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