Artist Biography
Bernita Barfield has always had a passion for art, but never the time to
dedicate to learning the creative process. A full time career as a
civilian employee with the Department of Army at Ft. Huachuca, plus
breeding Arabian horses, kept her and her husband extremely focused
on work and the ranch.
Once retired, she was finally able to explore her life long desire to
paint. “ Seeing the southwest from the back of a horse is a thrilling
way to get up close and personal with the beauty of this country and
the vast and changing landscapes,” says Barfield.
While attending Eastern Michigan University, she took art classes and
the seed for creative expression was firmly planted. For the past 35
years she has been an avid amateur photographer and that
experience has honed her eye for composition and design.
Her artistic journey began in 2004 when she attended classes
sponsored by the Taos School of Art in New Mexico. Since then she
has attended workshops with Louisa McElwain, John Farnsworth
and Bill Arms, and recently with David Collins and Sarah Webber.
She has exhibited her work in juried shows in the Empire Ranch
Western Art Show, The Empire 100 Western Art Show, the Tubac
Center of the Arts and the Huachuca Art Association. She is a
member of the Huachuca Art Association and the Tubac Center for
the Arts.
Barfield is an award-winning artist who currently lives in Sonoita, AZ.,
with her 6 horses, 2 dogs and a cat where she predominately paints
landscapes of the southwest using oils and palette knife. Her distinct
style reflects a deep connection with the land. Her expressionistic
work is easily identified by the bold strokes, vivid colors and the lush
thick texture inspired by the magnificent and sensuous colors of the
southwest.
Bernita Barfield is represented by Prucell Art Gallery in Tubac, AZ:
www.purcellgalleries.com
Bernita Barfield has always had a passion for art, but never the time to
dedicate to learning the creative process. A full time career as a
civilian employee with the Department of Army at Ft. Huachuca, plus
breeding Arabian horses, kept her and her husband extremely focused
on work and the ranch.
Once retired, she was finally able to explore her life long desire to
paint. “ Seeing the southwest from the back of a horse is a thrilling
way to get up close and personal with the beauty of this country and
the vast and changing landscapes,” says Barfield.
While attending Eastern Michigan University, she took art classes and
the seed for creative expression was firmly planted. For the past 35
years she has been an avid amateur photographer and that
experience has honed her eye for composition and design.
Her artistic journey began in 2004 when she attended classes
sponsored by the Taos School of Art in New Mexico. Since then she
has attended workshops with Louisa McElwain, John Farnsworth
and Bill Arms, and recently with David Collins and Sarah Webber.
She has exhibited her work in juried shows in the Empire Ranch
Western Art Show, The Empire 100 Western Art Show, the Tubac
Center of the Arts and the Huachuca Art Association. She is a
member of the Huachuca Art Association and the Tubac Center for
the Arts.
Barfield is an award-winning artist who currently lives in Sonoita, AZ.,
with her 6 horses, 2 dogs and a cat where she predominately paints
landscapes of the southwest using oils and palette knife. Her distinct
style reflects a deep connection with the land. Her expressionistic
work is easily identified by the bold strokes, vivid colors and the lush
thick texture inspired by the magnificent and sensuous colors of the
southwest.
Bernita Barfield is represented by Prucell Art Gallery in Tubac, AZ:
www.purcellgalleries.com
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Artist Resume
Born 1943 Detroit, Michigan
Residence Sonoita, Arizona
EDUCATION
1965
Bachelor of Art, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
1976
Master of Art, Ball State University, Frankfurt, Germany
2004
Taos Art School, class with Bill Arms, Taos, New Mexico
2004
Taos Art School, Plein Aire class with Louisa McElwain, Canyon De Chelly, AZ
2004
Taos Art School, Plein Aire class with Louisa Mc Elwain, Abiquiu, New Mexico
2008
Class with David Simmons, Tubac, AZ
2008
Class with Sarah Webber, Tucson, AZ
ARTIST STATEMENT
When I paint, I feel as if I’m having a love affair with my subject. I
develop an emotional connection. The canvas is the venue with
which I can express the passion of the moment. The oil has a very
sensuous appeal. It is my perfume.
I use a large palette knife, loaded heavily with paint that creates thick
textures. I like to feel as if I am sculpting the oil to the canvas. The
knife allows me the freedom to let my emotions and energy flow
across the canvas as I paint with joy and abandon. I often listen to
opera music as I paint. The passion and power I hear in those songs
inspire my own artistic voice.
When a painting comes together, I am amazed at what I have
accomplished. I have always dreamt of this moment! However,
sometimes when I paint, it feels as if I’m experiencing the agony of
giving birth, combined with the ecstasy of that first love, never
knowing which will surface first. When I complete a painting and my
“ child “ is born, the journey has been incredible, and I’m emotionally
exhausted.
I tend to resist following the many rules of art, the " always and the
nevers ". They can be too confining & restrictive. I guess as a
product of the sixties, I continue to have a questioning and
nonconforming nature, thus relying mostly on my intuition and
creative instincts to guide my artistic expression.
In my paintings, you will often see the intense colors of purple. It is a
very rich color and has exciting relationships to the reds, yellows and
crimson that I often use. I am instinctively drawn to these colors as
they best express how I feel & bring my paintings to life. I find them
the most sensuous and alluring. This is the tapestry of the
Southwest.
The vast and majestic vistas of the Southwest are my constant
source of inspiration. They impart a spiritual awareness and sense of
awe at what I see. The colors are constantly changing. The sky has
many fickle & ominous moods. The Southwest has a magnificent
palette with spectacular colors and subtle hues. It is a constant
challenge to capture on canvas that visual and emotional moment
when I see my next painting .
When I paint, it is a very personal, freeing and emotional experience.
I paint for my own pleasure and satisfaction. When others connect
with my art, it is humbling and deeply gratifying. When people see a
painting of mine for the first time, it my hope they experience an
emotional connection, joy flushes the face and goose bumps appear
on their arms.
My artistic journey continues to be a magnificent obsession!
SELECTED SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
2011
January 10 thru March 10th. Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
Northern Trust Bank, 3450 E. Sunrise, Tucson.
Empire Ranch Foundation.org
2010
January 10th thru February 14th, Murphy Gallery at St. Phillips in the Foothills
Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson.
Meet the Artist Reception is 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. Juried Exhibitor. Three juried
paintings.
January 15 thru March 12th. Empire Ranch 100 Art Show Sale, Tucson, AZ
Northern Trust Bank, 3450 E. Sunrise, Tucson. Juried Exhibitor.
Empire Ranch Foundation.org
2009
November , 40th Annual Mountain Oyster Club Art Show & Sale, Tucson, AZ .
Juried Exhibitor
Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson
2008
Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
2008
“Colors of Spring” – Huachuca Art Association Open Juried Show, Sierra Vista, AZ
2008
Tuba, Center of the Arts 38th Annual Members’ Juried Exhibit, Tubac, AZ
2007
Tubac Center of the Arts Members’ Exhibit, Tubac, AZ
2007
Huachuca Art Gallery, Members’ Exhibit, Sierra Vista, AZ
2006
Empire Roundup Western Art Show, Sonoita, AZ
2006
“Colors of Fall” - Huachuca Art Association Open Juried Show, Sierra Vista, AZ
SELECT ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2008
Ranch House Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2008
Artist of the Month Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2011
January 10 thru March 10th. Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
Northern Trust Bank, 3450 E. Sunrise, Tucson.
Empire Ranch Foundation.org
2010
January 10th thru February 14th, Murphy Gallery at St. Phillips in the Foothills
Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson.
Meet the Artist Reception is 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. Juried Exhibitor. Three juried
paintings.
January 15 thru March 12th. Empire Ranch 100 Art Show Sale, Tucson, AZ
Northern Trust Bank, 3450 E. Sunrise, Tucson. Juried Exhibitor.
Empire Ranch Foundation.org
2009
November , 40th Annual Mountain Oyster Club Art Show & Sale, Tucson, AZ .
Juried Exhibitor
Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson
2008
Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
2008
“Colors of Spring” – Huachuca Art Association Open Juried Show, Sierra Vista, AZ
2008
Tuba, Center of the Arts 38th Annual Members’ Juried Exhibit, Tubac, AZ
2007
Tubac Center of the Arts Members’ Exhibit, Tubac, AZ
2007
Huachuca Art Gallery, Members’ Exhibit, Sierra Vista, AZ
2006
Empire Roundup Western Art Show, Sonoita, AZ
2006
“Colors of Fall” - Huachuca Art Association Open Juried Show, Sierra Vista, AZ
SELECT ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2008
Ranch House Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2008
Artist of the Month Gallery, Tucson, AZ