“I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” Wendell Berry

Berry is writing about nature but these words sum up how Barbara feels when painting or making. It brings her a stillness, a feeling of peace and freedom.

The “Proof” series is about celebrating the moment. Lifelong PTSD has affected Barbara’s memory and she lives in a state of forgetfulness. Making art is an act of defiance, a proof that she existed, at that time with those materials. It brings her back to herself, to a place of safety and creative possibility.

“20th February 2025” (detail), charcoal and gesso on reclaimed canvas

“Proof” is concerned with a reductionist approach and materiality. In using just charcoal and gesso, the line, space and surface become dominant, and focuses on the concept of the painting as an object. Barbara works to the edges, often working on two canvases side by side. The process is intuitive and allows for the discovery of new and eccentric forms. The finished pieces have a forgiving softness in the quality of material, but also in the way the lines drift in and out of focus, over and under the paint, creating a false depth and an uncertain reality.

“11th March 2025” Charcoal and gesso on reclaimed canvases.

“Raw 1”, Canvas and  gesso on reclaimed plywood.

“1st May 2025”, charcoal, gesso and acrylic on canvas.