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"Born and raised in Kansas, I feel a deep connection to the prairie landscape and to the people of this land," said Zak Barnes, Kansas artist.
Barnes has art on exhibit at the Erman B. White Gallery at Butler Community College.
The exhibit began on Aug. 25 and will run through Sept. 25m with a reception last Friday.
Barnes uses the people of the Flinthills as an “anchor” for his work and the figures also set the emotional tone for narrative.
"My strongest influences are my immediate environment, life experience and the way my mind interprets this information," Barnes explained.
"I live alternatively within remote and more cosmopolitan settings, working both in the studio and in the landscape. In this way I am able to explore a wide range of physical and emotional experiences.”
Valerie Haring, gallery curator, said Barnes' work reflects the spirit of the Flinthills.
She also stated as students view Barnes' art, they ask questions, there is a dialogue that takes place.
"One student asked why he had placed a skeleton in several of his paintings," said Haring.
The student wanted to know whether there was an ulterior motive or hidden message to the figure and Barnes explained it was up to the viewer to interpret.
"I think that is what art is for," said Haring about viewer interpretation.
"The emotional quality of the work builds with the composition," explained Barnes. "The elements are arranged and rearranged many times in the course of the painting. Working from nonspecific to specific, colors and shapes eventually settle into threads that connect and integrate. Figures and objects interact within their environment with a certain disregard for physical laws. It is the movement and emotional space created that is important."
Barnes says he has reached a point in painting he feels comfortable with his methods, control and play with elements and in his landscapes he attempts to remain true to the prairie, manipulating the materials in ways that will express the movement of light and shadow and he looks forward to discovering new ways to combine stylistic qualities.
"I refer to myself as an 'artist's’ artist,'" said Barnes. “I work for personal growth as an artist and for anyone who finds something in what I do."
Barnes also finds satisfaction in the rhythm of days in nature.
"I find fulfillment in the rhythm of my days out in the open, loading and unloading the truck with equipment paints and dog, setting up, and working with the elements," he said.
"There is a physical as well as mental work in the process, so that it becomes a meditation and a practice."
"Born and raised in Kansas, I feel a deep connection to the prairie landscape and to the people of this land," said Zak Barnes, Kansas artist.
Barnes has art on exhibit at the Erman B. White Gallery at Butler Community College.
The exhibit began on Aug. 25 and will run through Sept. 25m with a reception last Friday.
Barnes uses the people of the Flinthills as an “anchor” for his work and the figures also set the emotional tone for narrative.
"My strongest influences are my immediate environment, life experience and the way my mind interprets this information," Barnes explained.
"I live alternatively within remote and more cosmopolitan settings, working both in the studio and in the landscape. In this way I am able to explore a wide range of physical and emotional experiences.”
Valerie Haring, gallery curator, said Barnes' work reflects the spirit of the Flinthills.
She also stated as students view Barnes' art, they ask questions, there is a dialogue that takes place.
"One student asked why he had placed a skeleton in several of his paintings," said Haring.
The student wanted to know whether there was an ulterior motive or hidden message to the figure and Barnes explained it was up to the viewer to interpret.
"I think that is what art is for," said Haring about viewer interpretation.
"The emotional quality of the work builds with the composition," explained Barnes. "The elements are arranged and rearranged many times in the course of the painting. Working from nonspecific to specific, colors and shapes eventually settle into threads that connect and integrate. Figures and objects interact within their environment with a certain disregard for physical laws. It is the movement and emotional space created that is important."
Barnes says he has reached a point in painting he feels comfortable with his methods, control and play with elements and in his landscapes he attempts to remain true to the prairie, manipulating the materials in ways that will express the movement of light and shadow and he looks forward to discovering new ways to combine stylistic qualities.
"I refer to myself as an 'artist's’ artist,'" said Barnes. “I work for personal growth as an artist and for anyone who finds something in what I do."
Barnes also finds satisfaction in the rhythm of days in nature.
"I find fulfillment in the rhythm of my days out in the open, loading and unloading the truck with equipment paints and dog, setting up, and working with the elements," he said.
"There is a physical as well as mental work in the process, so that it becomes a meditation and a practice."
