Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Rubenstein.
Barbara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After spending 28 years in the corporate world, I was finally able to pursue my real passion…ART! All the while I was using my left brain in the financial services industry, I longed for the day when I would be able to put my right brain to more use. Upon retiring, I began taking classes at the Glassell School of Art. First, I tried my hand at drawing but found it to require too much focus.
While I think I could learn to draw, it does not come naturally. I was more frustrated than inspired. Next, I decided to try jewelry making; afterall, I LOVE jewels! Unfortunately, I had a case of carpal tunnel and my fine motor skills; read, piercing, sawing, soldering; were not in good working order. Finally, I landed on abstract painting. I spent the next year taking private lessons from a local abstract artist. Then, I began taking group classes and various workshops. This is when I knew that I wanted to paint for the rest of my life. I wake up every morning and cannot wait to get to my studio.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’m happy to say that my journey has been a smooth one. I am very fortunate to have had a great career for so many years; enabling me to retire at a relatively young age. I’m also the luckiest woman in the world to have the most supportive husband. This is a man who had little to no interest in art until I began this journey. Now, he’s the one who pushes me to explore new aspects of my art.
If there was ever a struggle, I didn’t realize it at the time. My first studio was in my home. It was very convenient and just a perfect size with perfect lighting and a sink! What I did not realize at the time was that I was missing exposure to other artists who bring creative energy to the “workplace”. I also did not have a built-in platform where I could show and sell my work. I relied on my instructors and my own networking to find places. I wasn’t ready to approach galleries; and besides, I did not want to spend my time marketing; I wanted to PAINT!
In 2016, after my youngest daughter moved out of the house, my husband and I decided to “downsize”. That’s when I moved my studio to The Silos at Sawyer Yards,
Please tell us more about your art.
Art takes me to a fanciful, fabulous place surrounded by beautiful color and dramatic feeling. I paint in the genre referred to as “abstract expressionism”, primarily using acrylics and ink. My creations are an expression of what I sense in the world around me. I strive to convey my feelings through the use of many layers of color, texture and movement. My work seamlessly melds geometric elements with vibrancy, spontaneity, and organic form. We have a vacation home in Santa Fe, NM, and much of my inspiration comes from the unparalleled blue skies, the mountains and awe-inspiring land forms, the rich colors found in nature and cultural objects, and peaceful surroundings. My hope is that you will be inspired and energized by what you see. I hope that you sense a connection that evokes good feelings and creates a special memory. I hope that my art will take you, as it does me, to a fanciful fabulous place.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan for the future is to continue painting! I have done some mixed media work including clay and collage, and I would like to expand this portfolio. I will continue taking private and group classes and attending workshops in order to stay in touch with new products, processes and people, but I will never stop experimenting on my own. I love the non-prescriptive nature of what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: barbararubensteinart.com
- Phone: 713-254-4730
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @barbararubensteinart
- Facebook: @barbararubensteinart
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