Barbara Hartman

Artist Statement

Barbara Hartman
Studio BCH
Artist's Statement

My art is inspired by the colors, lines, and patterns in nature. Primarily working in acrylics and watercolors on canvas, wood panels, and paper, I layer and create texture with a variety of mark-making tools to reveal hidden patterns and colors beneath the surface. This process mimics nature’s cyclic transformations—inevitable and often complicated—revealing layers of evolution. My shadow technique involves placing branches and flowers over my paintings and quickly sketching their forms, capturing their shapes with immediacy. I enhance my work with colored pencils and acrylic pens, adding rich pops of color in fine details, infusing each piece with movement and energy.
Just as I explore what lies beneath the surface through layering and removal, I am also drawn to the larger patterns found in the world around us. I'm fascinated with overhead landscapes, and I reimagine patchworks of color and shape that echo aerial views of natural formations and human-made elements. At its core, my work explores a shared connection—how color, form, and pattern reflect nature’s cycles, offering viewers a different, abstracted perspective to landscapes and natural elements.