Illuminating the Landscape: From Corporate to Pulpit to Paint
Smell the sea, hear running streams, feel the warm morning sun and the cool evening air for an hour at Mullalyup Gallery this Sunday August 5th in a gorgeous exhibition that celebrates light and Landscape by award winning Donnybrook artist, Noel Barnes.
In the great tradition of some of the world’s finest landscape painters of the impressionist era, Noel Barnes connects us with the landscape by painting plein air - capturing the essence of the outdoors by painting outdoors.
‘I aim to allow the viewer the opportunity to enter into a place in the landscape with a sense of being there. I want them to experience something of God’s amazing creation, and feel like they have made a connection in some way, both to God and the environment. If the viewer can smell the sea, hear running streams, feel the warm morning sun, or the cool evening air, I have done my job’.
‘I usually paint what inspires me, or captivates me straight off. It could be the grandeur of rock formations, or the way light touches the top of the waves, or light creeping over cliff faces. I usually look to the bigger picture, not small details. If nothing captures me, I will set up and challenge myself to paint what is in front of me, to make something out of nothing.’
Extraordinary artworks from an extraordinary artist: From corporate realm to pulpit Noel Barnes has traveled an interesting journey to eventually devote his time to his artwork.
A gifted draftsman, Noel Barnes graduated from the Western Australian School of Art and Design and worked as a graphic designer and illustrator where he eventually worked as the art director for a prominent advertising agency.
Several years later Noel walked away from a successful career in the advertising industry to answer a calling and embraced a new life as ‘a man of the cloth’ following studies at Bible College in Brisbane.
A committed perfectionist with a generous heart, Noel gave more than he had as a Minister for the Churches of Christ, which ultimately let to burn-out and the need for dramatic change to repair and restore, so Noel dusted off his paint brushes and committed himself to paint.
‘Each person is different in how they think, what they do, how they do it, in how they respond to different things. We are all geared differently. I am geared to be an artist.’
‘I have to paint, or to engage in art in one way or another. I am not an artist, because that is what I do, it is because that’s who I am. I can’t not paint. I have tried………something in me died during those years.’
‘Being an artist is what makes me “alive”. When I am alive I am being the person I have been made to be. ‘
Noel’s artworks define the heartbeat in the landscape, a true romance of beautiful intensity that creates an evolving intimacy that envelops one with prolonged exposure. Quite delightful really – feel like a holiday anyone?
Noel Barnes: A Celebration of Light and Landscape opens August 5th at 3pm. Gallery hours are 10 – 4pm daily, closed Tuesday & Wednesday. 21063 South Western Highway, MULLALYUP 6252.
Noel's website is at www.noelbarnes.net.
July 2007
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