Al Barnes Art

Al Barnes (1937-2017) Cuero / Rockport Artist Image Size: 36 x 48 Frame Size: 44 x 56 Medium: Oil on Canvas "Mission San Juan Capistrano" San Antonio Mission Biography Al Barnes (1937-2017) IN MEMORIAM: AL BARNES (1937-2015) ROCKPORT, TX. Rockport Center for the Arts mourns the loss of Al Barnes, who passed away Thursday, November 12th, 2015, at his hill country home outside Johnson City. Barnes was born in Cuero, Texas in 1937. His artistic course was set when he moved to Port Isabel when he was an elementary school student. He became enchanted with nautical life when a local ferry captain allowed him to freely ride and steer the vessel back and forth between South Padre Island and the mainland. He sold his first painting in the sixth grade, using watercraft and coastal waters as inspiration in early works. Barnes fulfilled his desire to become a professional artist, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1967 from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation and marriage, he relocated to Dallas, where he worked as an illustrator, freelancer, and art director for thirteen years. After completing a large mural commission, Barnes was ready for a change. The tide pulled him back to the coast. He nourished his ongoing fascination with the waterfront as a crew member on boats traveling from New England to the Caribbean, Texas to Florida, and Florida to Belize. The clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean and native boats were common themes in many of his works. Informed by his early influences, much of his work originated in his urge to paint water. In a 1977 interview Barnes said, “The different landscapes and people on the coast have always been in my paintings and always will.” Barnes preferred beginning with the ocean or a landscape, allowing the subject to insert itself into the composition. Birds and boats worked themselves into picture plane in uniquely natural ways. Barnes’ artistry and talents were nationally recognized, but while he was inspired by the Caribbean, he felt more at home in the coastal marshes of South Texas. Barnes called Rockport-Fulton home for over forty years. In 1995 Rockport Center for the Arts selected him as the Art Festival poster...

Al Barnes "San Miguel" pastel piece that depicts blue birds flying outside of an ornate balcony. The work incorporates rich hues of light pink and blue. Signed by the artist in the bottom right corner and displayed behind white matting and wood frame. Dimensions Without Frame: H 13 in. x W 21 in. Artist Biography: Al Barnes, American (b.1937-2015) Rockport, Texas artist Al Barnes is not only inspired by the coastal marshes of South Texas he is also incredibly drawn to Caribbean as well. He finds continued inspiration in the majesty of ocean waters and the life that is intertwined to it. These themes can be found in a majority of his paintings. He has had numerous one man and group exhibitions and is widely collected. His works can be found in many private corporate collections around the world, including the National Wildlife Museum in Jackson Hole and The American Museum of Fly Fishing. Al has had the honor of being named twice the “Waterfowl Artist of the Year” by National Ducks Unlimited...

Oil on board, signed lower right. Unframed 21 1/2" H x 29 1/2" W and with frame 27.5" x 35.5". Al Barnes, American (b.1937-2015) Rockport, Texas artist Al Barnes is not only inspired by the coastal marshes of South Texas he is also incredibly drawn to Caribbean as well. He finds continued inspiration in the majesty of ocean waters and the life that is intertwined to it. These themes can be found in a majority of his paintings. He had numerous one man and group exhibitions and is widely collected. His works can be found in many private corporate collections around the world, including the National Wildlife Museum in Jackson Hole and The American Museum of Fly Fishing. Al had the honor of being named twice the “Waterfowl Artist of the Year” by National Ducks Unlimited...

Lovely watercolor of two boats, one red named Little Mitch and one teal named Helene, at a dock by Al Barnes in the 1970's. Unframed. Signed in lower right corner. Artist biography: Al Barnes was born in 1937 in Cuero, Texas and passed away in 2015 in Rockport, Texas. Barnes was not only inspired by the coastal marshes of South Texas he was also incredibly drawn to the Caribbean as well. He found continued inspiration in the majesty of ocean waters and the life that is intertwined to it. These themes can be found in a majority of his paintings. Barnes fulfilled his desire to become a professional artist, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1967 from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation and marriage, he relocated to Dallas, where he worked as an illustrator, freelancer, and art director for thirteen years. After completing a large mural commission, Barnes was ready for a change. The tide pulled him back to the coast. He nourished his ongoing fascination with the waterfront as a crew member on boats traveling from New England to the Caribbean, Texas to Florida, and Florida to Belize. He has had numerous one man and group exhibitions and is widely collected. His works can be found in many private corporate collections around the world, including the National Wildlife Museum in Jackson Hole and The American Museum of Fly Fishing. Al has had the honor of being named twice the “Waterfowl Artist of the Year” by National Ducks Unlimited...

Lovely nautical watercolor of a white sailboat dragging a dinghy with buoy in the background by Al Barnes around the 1970's. Unframed. Signed in lower right corner. Artist biography: Al Barnes was born in 1937 in Cuero, Texas and passed away in 2015 in Rockport, Texas. Barnes was not only inspired by the coastal marshes of South Texas he was also incredibly drawn to the Caribbean as well. He found continued inspiration in the majesty of ocean waters and the life that is intertwined to it. These themes can be found in a majority of his paintings. Barnes fulfilled his desire to become a professional artist, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1967 from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation and marriage, he relocated to Dallas, where he worked as an illustrator, freelancer, and art director for thirteen years. After completing a large mural commission, Barnes was ready for a change. The tide pulled him back to the coast. He nourished his ongoing fascination with the waterfront as a crew member on boats traveling from New England to the Caribbean, Texas to Florida, and Florida to Belize. He has had numerous one man and group exhibitions and is widely collected. His works can be found in many private corporate collections around the world, including the National Wildlife Museum in Jackson Hole and The American Museum of Fly Fishing. Al has had the honor of being named twice the “Waterfowl Artist of the Year” by National Ducks Unlimited...