My career for many years was in Clothing Design and Fashion
Illustration. My lifelong interest in fabric, proportion, color,
and movement has currently shifted to drawing and painting.
I am passionate about producing works of art because it is a
way for me to transform my reality.

My work is most influenced by German Expressionism and
Abstract Expressionism. Using the figure as a point of
departure I may begin a piece with gesture to infuse rhythm
and movement… I let the medium, the marks, and color speak
to me. As the work progresses, I am searching continually for
solutions, changing direction, exploring the medium.
Often I leave traces of “the struggle”…
looking for something all the time without ever finding it in full.
It is the opposite of saying, “I know all about it” (Vincent VanGogh)

I am not interested in attempting to duplicate reality, it is beautiful and horrible enough on
its own… but rather what can I express about my connection to what I see? I try to stay
away from “old cliches that come too easily to hand while working, which can suffocate the
little flower that does not come, ever, the way one expects…” (Henri Matisse)

I studied at the University of Redlands California, Chouinard Institute Los Angeles, Parsons
School of Design New York, Portland Art Museum School Oregon, and UCLA California.

Barbara Bartels ‘09

fashionART Santa Cruz
Saturday September 22, 2012

This year FashionART Santa Cruz partnered again with the Santa Cruz Education Foundation -- a nonprofit community organization that promotes excellence in Santa Cruz City. The Foundation seeks to enhance the quality of Santa Cruz City Schools by raising private money to augment declining government funding. FashionART Santa Cruz once again exhibited exquisite pieces by emerging designers and legendary wearable pieces. These creative designs strutted down the catwalk at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz on September 22, 2012.

Tobin Keller designed the fabrics and Barbara designed the styles.

Tags

See All Tags (2)