Nature, Animals & Painting
There once was a girl who loved to draw horses. She liked drawing other animals, painting and creating things. This little talent came in handy for school projects; her teachers were encouraging, and her parents predicted the girl would attend the nearby Rhode Island School of Design when she grew up. The girl also loved to play in the garden, helping to tend to the flowers, and observing the birds and creatures that called it home. She was fascinated by the sunlight falling through the trees and the way light and shadows made pretty colors on buildings and objects. Whether creating things or in the garden the girl was accompanied by her dogs.
That girl grew up to be me, of course, and after graduating from RISD, I began showing my acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolors in local, regional and national art exhibitions. I earned the honor of signature membership in the New England Watercolor Society and became an artist member in other groups. My love of dogs and animals brought me to do pet portraits and I became involved with Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue Network. I still can become distracted by the way the light falls through trees or onto buildings and how it creates colorful shadows in a landscape. With my brushes, I try to capture the way a vibrant flower calls to be painted, and how an expressive animal portrait can fill a canvas and bring joy to both me and the viewer. And yes, I still love to draw horses and I have animal companions who often star in my art.
Thank you for stopping by to view my paintings and for reading my little story. I hope you enjoy your visit here and maybe you will find a connection to my paintings. In 2025, I created a second Etsy shop - www.etsy.com/shop/thesassybarkershop which has vintage jewelry and dog collectibles.
