Story about Me

    At 14 I decided to go into film acting and directing. I was on track, studying acting in London, student directing, acting wherever I could. Then at 18 I paralyzed my left hand in a work related accident. Everything in me said 'Learn to Draw' - deep down I knew it was a skill I'd need. Moving forward with my studies I made a documentary film in Nepal while living in a farming village and backpacking through the Himalayan mountains.  I also painted watercolor landscapes.

    When I went to art school, I was shocked the teachers carried razor blades in their pockets to make sure the students did things 'right,' physically cutting student's work while saying "there's only one right way."  6 weeks into the quarter, I re-enrolled at my college, and committed to learning as much as I could from other art students in the short time I had left. The professors who sent me to Nepal were decent and supportive.  I studied film making through the anthropology department and learned about cultures through film making.  I decided to study the art of other cultures with them also. As a result I learned about the valuable role of the arts in cultures throughout time. I leaned how symbols like images, music and dance hold cultural stories and help pass them from generation to generation.

    My biggest hurdle was my own self perception. In American elementary schools kids were judged by their illustrated stories. Students who knew how to draw were praised. Everyone else, including me, felt bad about their ugly, messy work.  Changing that self perception took years. Creating skillful work wasn't enough.  My early deep belief had to be overturned and replaced in order to move forward with pride.

    I worked in television in L.A. and left a big promotion to move to New Mexico with my boyfriend to paint. Stuart convinced me my energy was better spent painting, and I knew the air pollution and stress in LA was harmful. I'd have nightmares and wake up with an uneasy feeling.  And yet I loved my work and the people I worked with. In New Mexico I painted a lot, but I  felt I was leaving valuable story telling skills behind. This Kalendra project helped me find the balance.

     My paintings needed a story - one that was universal, timeless and bigger than all of us.  I've been developing this world, it's characters, and a map of their journey. This is where it all begins. And I invite you to enjoy the journey with me moving forward.

    Beyond the shores of the Washlin Ren and above the Kumerlin Plains, lies a world of magical characters and breathtaking valleys. It's  powers have been discovered, it's borders still unknown. Join me as I explore this world through a cast of characters who find themselves struggling to navigate harsh environments and develop a keen sense of whose advice they can trust and what must be discovered for themselves. We have just entered the "Land of Kalendra." Welcome.

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A tour of Custom Portraits. How to hire me.

Did you know that I do custom portraits of you and your loved ones? I'm not sure if that message has been made clear enough. So Sarah and Stuart, the amazing film makers at Blue Fern Productions, helped me make this video to explain the portraits and give a better context. Details and photographic guidelines are on the website.

As always, your comments are welcome and appreciated!

FIRST VIDEO coming soon!!!!!

Yesterday we filmed an interview where I talk about my paintings and process. It was fabulous to articulate my goals for my custom portrait work that I want to share. But I was intimidated for about the first 20 minutes. Finally I let go and started to talk normally (rather than slowly, cautiously and using a bazillion words). I hope the finished video will be ready to show within the next week!!
By the end what had taken sentences just took a single sentence. I'm excited to build speaking skills!! See you soon!!!

Sophia Leads the Way

Sophia- Another portrait I finished for the Portrait Series I've been working on. If you'd like a custom portrait please visit my website.  All the details and a link for us to get started working together are available. OR you can e-mail me at barbara@barbaraferrier.com and we'll talk.

                                                                           $1250

Your comments are welcome and valued.

Bike Rider

 The Bike Rider has a special place in our hearts. We remember biking our whole lives. There was the Big Trip that stands out. For me it was biking from Seattle to northern Vancouver Island, camping on San Juan Islands, pedaling past fields of grain and fruit and singing at the campfire at night.  My rider Jazelle expands our reach into the Land of Kalendra. This'll be an adventure to remember.              $1150.00

Your comments are appreciated and welcome.

Kassara, the heroine of the Kalendra story

Your comments are valued and appreciated.

This project is called The Land of Kalendra. Enjoy!!

Tahendra 

 Tahendra, the person shown here, is a traveler in the Land of Kalendra.   $1250  

What is Land of Kalendra? Here's the back story:
After my oldest daughter was born, it was hard to get time to paint - or do anything for that matter. She slept 5 hours at night and only took one 10 minute nap a day. I was afraid to drive to the grocery store I was so tired. The blessing in disguise (besides my daughter) was that at night my husband and I would  look at my paintings and invent stories chronicling  the adventures of a group of characters inside the world of my paintings.  At that time I didn't have the skill to paint portraits, so I wrote character descriptions and painted landscapes, confident I would develop the portrait skills.

I've been sifting through notes and finding more pieces of their story. The cast of characters I wrote about then are filling my canvasses now. I invite you to enjoy this adventure with me and add your 2 cents as you see fit.

Your comments are definitely valued and appreciated.

Lighting Approaches

                                                                                                                              $1250

I went to a concert in West Seattle where my favorite band Cloud Cult was playing. It was their first acoustic concert so they weren't expecting many people. They performed at the Arts in Nature festival the day after performing at the Seattle Center. Of course everyone wanted to be there!! The small community center they performed in was surrounded by a crowd because there was only room for about 80 people inside. The windows were open with people standing in the gardens outside and on the grounds. It was like the whole city had come to listen to them perform in what felt like a living room. We spent the day at the festival so we could be sure we were the first in line for Cloud Cult's concert. We earned our front row seats! They are all such amazing performers and kind people it was a real treat to be part of their first acoustic performance. My youngest daughter even made it her mission to give each of them a hug by the time we left that evening.  It was very memorable.

The band performed as the sunset streamed in through the window. The 'golden hour' light that lasts so long on an August night was spectacular. That was when the photograph was taken that I based this painting on.  Shannon Frid, their amazing violinist, was sitting near that window and had the lighting streaming across her face. When I first painted this I tried to paint the light coming through the window - but really it was too much detail and a distraction from her beautiful face. So I chose to use light rays more similar to a stage performance as a simple background.

Chiaroscuro Portraits

I have made some serious changes and now it's time to renew this blog (which I admit I abandoned for some time). I have been focusing on my portraits for the past several months. It definitely felt that was the direction my energies needed to flow. A collection of these portraits are at my website www.barbaraferrier.com. I was asked the other day if there was one thing I really wanted to do with my paintings – and honestly I’d have to say I want to improve my lighting techniques and the atmosphere of the paintings. I’ve always loved the work of Rembrandt and Rubens and their contemporaries in the 1400 -1600’s. Oh, yeah, it's also the lighting that is used in Film Noir, and in fact dramatic film, period. No matter how modern painting and design gets, there’s something timeless about the amazing chiaroscuro lighting that has been passed down for centuries. It’s definitely a keeper! And I’m increasing my use of it in my portraits. Next up for me: the shape of light!!!

Daybreak in the Vineyard

"Daybreak in the vineyard" acrylic on canvas 24 x 36 $1675

SHOW UPDATE

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have 3 shows coming up before the end of 2008.
1. Best of the Northwest, November14, 15, 16
It will be at the Exhibition Hall, Seattle Center

2. Studio Sale Saturday, December 6 2 - 8pm
Sunday, December 7 12 - 5pm
And by appointment through Dec. 22

3. Pratt Fine Arts Center Holiday show and sale
Opening Night Friday, December 5th
Sale runs December 6 - 7 10am - 7pm
also December 11 - 14 10am - 7pm
I sincerely hope to see you at one of these events. Please note, while I will attend the Pratt opening, I will be at my studio show that weekend. Barbara

Setting the Dream

"Setting the Dream" acrylic on canvas 12 x 12 sold

Eternal Sunset

Eternal Sunshine - acrylic on canvas - 24 x 24 x 3 - $1575

From the Coastal Impressions series
Remember our time at the beach
Exploring endless trails and
Watching the sunset together?
I loved how time stood still
It was as if we lived in ancient times and
Centuries from now all at once.
The sun bathes the earth in
A symphony of color
That memory’s ours forever.
Barbara Ferrier

The Vineyard

"The Vineyard" acrylic on aqua canvas 24x36 $1725

The Vineyard Series:
Dad and I crushed ripe grapes with a baseball bat
Out in the garage. We were making wine.
The aroma of crushed grapes was everywhere
Dad loved his hobby and it took on a life of its own.
His friends liked making and drinking wine too.
They bought a farm in Sunnyside, Washington to
Grow their own wine grapes.
We’d drive from Seattle through steep, rocky passes by Mount Rainier, to the dry side of the mountains. We’d pick juicy peaches, pears and cherries. We’d always stop at the
Best Mexican restaurant ever just off the road.
The vineyards and farmland were beautiful.
And seemed to go on forever
Barbara Ferrier

Inspirations

Last week I took my family backpacking down the coast of Washington State - beginning about 12 miles south of the NW tip. The place is called Cape Alava and is the westerly most point of Washington State. What a huge inspiration!!!!! Between the natural beauty, the wildlife and the petroglyphs, it was hard to ask for more (except maybe a lighter back pack!) It wasn't a huge trip hiking wise, only about 12 miles over a few days. But it was very rich experience-wise.

I worked at an archaeological dig on the Ozette Indian Reservation, just north of Cape Alava, in 1980. An Indian village was buried by a mud slide 500 years ago. The mud made an oxygen tight seal. Fragile things, like cedar bark baskets were found, filled with clams on benches inside houses. It was almost Pompeii like in its complete preservation. I worked mostly as a tour guide at that site (because the other archaeologists didn't like giving tours and I loved it.)

A few days ago I met a man while walking on the Ozette beach. He had photographs taken in 1875 of the village built to replace the buried one. No doubt the photographer was traveling with fur traders. There were images of the canoe put in and the people who lived there.

The fresh trail inspirations will soon be paintings. Enjoy!

Peacock Falls

Peacock Falls - 24 x 18 - Acrylic on Canvas $875

About this Blog

Unlike my website, this blog includes several approaches to painting all in one long stream. For example, my daily paintings are very spontaneous for the most part. I think of them as painted 'sketches.' My larger, more detailed paintings are also here, but included far less frequently.

As you read through this blog, you'll find that there are a lot of references to early experiences that shaped my approach and outlook. They're not chronological by any means. At my website, www.barbaraferrier.com you'll find my Bio is far more chronological. Some of the early experiences - like the desire to improve, and artists who inspired me - never go away - but the list of those I admire increases constantly. In the meantime I have some landscapes to (hopefully) post by Friday!!!

Barbara's Definition of Art

Balancing intuition, ingenuity and skill to make an impact on the audience is perhaps my ultimate definition of art. Each art trade has its tools. When these 3 components come together with the right balance it feels like 'skiing in the fresh powder.' Even if you have a spectacular wipe out from time to time, which is part of the process, it's just a matter of fine tuning to pick it back up.

When defining 'art' I refer to my experiences in film and stage, as well as my experiences painting. For example the character development of an actor, or timing and story telling for a film director are their art.

Painting, like film, has the opportunity to open up whole new worlds that the mind can enter. That is the part of the field that I value the most.

Fusion Art

I lived in a farming village in the Katmandu Valley of Nepal and made a film about art in that country while painting a series of landscape paintings. Nepal is a country the size of Tennessee with 550 separate languages. From the jungles in the south to Mt. Everest in the north, it’s not an easy place to get around. Nepal had no western influences until the late 60's. (I was there just 10 years later, in 1979, before running water or reliable electricity.) Traditional arts (on the streets and in the temples) had to transcend language and cultures to influence a very diverse group of people. This explains why some of the traditional artwork is so powerful.

I was most attracted to and influenced by the Nepalese use of color. I believe the strong color captures and helps to convey an emotional truth and transport the viewer. For me color is an essential part of visual language.

My paintings are really a ‘fusion art,’ the visual counterpart to today’s modern fusion music. It’s not really ‘outsider art’ because I’m not self taught. I have a fine art degree in painting and in film making. But the influences that changed my life and made my artwork such a fusion started with my trip to Nepal and the decision to study art through cultural anthropology. After that I traveled extensively and worked on an archeology site on the coast of Washington state and spent years in New Mexico.

How it all Began

I began painting in response to an accident that paralyzed my left hand (for several months). That was years ago!! I had been seriously studying acting and film making, and had the instant realization that my training was intended to be transferred to canvas. It wasn't even a decision - no debate. The accident was perfectly timed as I was on my way to college. I didn’t ‘know’ how to draw or paint. I had stopped trying like most kids around 3rd grade.

I sat down with with 'Yes' Album covers - whose artwork on the cover and accompanying posters were created by artist Roger Dean. I enjoying the process and was very easy on myself. I felt it was my purpose to 'figure it out.'

I took a class at college from a gentleman who changed my life. His name was Carl Hertel. He taught at the Claremont Colleges. He never taught 'how to.' He simply asked really hard questions and waited patiently. I think he believed we knew more than we gave ourself credit for. As he became the expectant student who could not answer his questions for us, we all thrived and embraced his challenge. While he was teaching us some pretty complex brain science - optical illusions, visual perception - he helped us make a habit of noticing small details. Meanwhile he seemed to be raising the self-esteem of our whole class. I know the other students were equally amazed at how he so gently nudged us to learn more than we knew we could.

About 5 years ago he came back to the college to speak. He was in his 80's and as wise as ever. (Former) students flew in from around the country. It felt like no time had passed at all. I give Carl a great deal of credit for continuing to inspire me today and will always be thankful to him.