ARNOLD, BARBARA

Statement
I strive to express my concerns about environmental and social issues through my artwork.  I explore general themes like overfishing and global warming, and also topical situations which arise from human neglect, greed and disregard for the balance of nature. I painted a series on a massive forest fire in the nearby Rocky mountain foothills, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the meltdown of the nuclear reactors in Fukushima. 

Encaustic medium is made from bees wax and pigment with a bit of resin mixed in. As such, it is entirely organic. My studio smells of honey. And so, the very essence of my method of working connects me to nature and serves as a reminder of my intensions during the process of painting. The process, itself, reinforces my intention to bringing people’s attention to caring for our planet. The layering and overlapping images and colors to help give depth to the image as well as the meaning of my compositions.  

Biography
I live in Boulder, Colorado with my husband and three children. I completed my BA with honors in Comparative Arts and Literature and a BFA in Painting from from Washington University in Saint Louis. My current encaustic work has been shown in group shows and solo shows in Denver, Miami, Santa Fe, and New York City. Other recent encaustic work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, commissioned installations at Kaiser Permanente, as well as corporate and private collections throughout the country.

Barbara Arnold has been an ARTNAUT since 2018. 
www.BarbaraArnold.com