Biography

Barbara Farren’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries and various venues since the mid 1970’s. Working on-site summer and winter, her works have been recognized and collected by the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa.

Since receiving a B.F.A. from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Barbara has furthered her creative talent and skills by practicing with masters in Italy and Canada.

She has completed numerous commissioned landscapes, portraits and trompe l’oeil works in the U.S. and Canada. Residing in Montreal, she works extensively in Vermont, across North America, France and Italy.

Artist’s Statement:

In my painting, I capture the essence of a subject using a sympathetic, naturalistic style. As the foundation for my art, I rely on strong drawing skills honed within the tradition of disciplined draftsmanship. I adhere to traditional oil painting techniques, alla prima (direct painting en plein air) and Trompe L’oeil.

The subjects I choose are extremely varied, reflecting the diversity of our environment. I prefer the immediacy and the intimacy of relationships that can be forged between artist and subject when painting on-site. Described as narrative art, giving character and meaning to everyday things provides tremendous opportunity to tell a story.
Painting from life as much as possible, the opportunity to evoke an emotional connection and response with the viewer is enhanced.