 Barney Levitt was
raised in Upstate New York in the Adirondacks where he developed
a keen appreciation for
nature. As a child, drawing seemed as natural and necessary
as breathing. Hopefully he will continue to do both for a long
time to come.
Barney studied under Robert Sullins and
received his B.A. in studio art from S.U.N.Y. at Oswego.
He’s been a member
of The Copley Society since 2004 and received Copley Artist
designation in May 2006.
Artist’s Statement:
I’ve always been drawn to detail and it’s
the realist painters who have been the source of my inspiration,
from the
Dutch Masters to contemporary painters including Stone
Roberts, Scott Pryor, Scott Fraser and Gregory Gillespie. I’ve often been called a bit twisted due to my rather
warped brand of humor and it’s this sensibility that
often shows in my paintings. Everyday objects are subjected
to torturous manipulations at my hands, though sometimes
I behave and go the more traditional route. I like to create
a narrative that will take mundane objects and scenes, and
give new meaning to their ordinariness. Symbolism plays strongly
in my work. My paintings are the result of combining photographic
references, direct observation, and imagination. I strive
to
create a sense of mystery or humor from seemingly disparate
objects. There is an overall symmetry to my work though I
like to create tension with precariously balanced objects
suggesting
the potential for motion or change.
Awards:
2007 Artist of the Month for June, American Artist Magazine
2006 Mass. Audubon Society, Best in Show
Member
International Guild of Realism
Oil Painters of America
Copley Society of Art
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