Today we’d like to introduce you to Dara Barker.
Hi Dara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been drawn to color and textiles (and I even had a brief stint in the fashion industry), but I didn’t originally pursue a career in the arts. In fact, just the opposite! I went to law school and found a rewarding career in the child advocacy area. My husband and I were embarking on a house build, and I realized I needed some formal training in order to be somewhat useful…so after representing children in dependency and family law for many years, I decided to take some classes in interior design and architecture at the local community college. Those classes, coupled with some interior design projects, really rekindled my interest in materials and color. I decided to try my hand at paining but didn’t really know where to start. On a trip to one of my favorite cities, San Miguel de Allende, I took workshops with Robyn Cole and Jerry McLaughlin, who both paint with cold wax and oil. I was hooked and have been toiling away ever since…
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Can’t say the life of an artist is a smooth one… I was lucky to enjoy some early success getting works sold (which was awesome!), but I think I struggle every day. The trial and error is a constant…and the “is it any good?” negative self-talk is also a constant. I am still trying to find a consistent voice in my art. I struggle mainly with whether I personally like art that has a pleasing repetitive patter in interesting colors (hence my textile series) or whether I prefer abstracts that have a strong composition. As a result, I often go back and forth between the two. For now, I have decided there is room for both!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think I am known for creating art from the point of view of an interior designer in that my love of vintage textiles and rugs is apparent in my work—which means that my work often looks like a painted fabric. I use cold wax and oil which is an unusual medium in itself…the colored pigment often appears suspended in the wax which allows light to come through the many paint layers. If you have never painted with cold wax and oil, imagine taking a Crisco-like wax and mixing it with oil paint (it’s fun too). I recently sourced some beautiful Belgium linen canvases that take paint in a unique way that enhances the textile-like quality of my paintings.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I was recently accepted into The Tag gallery, an artist-run gallery, and I can’t wait to meet more artists! My dream is be part of a community of artists all learning from each other.
Pricing:
- My works are available at The Well in Summerland/Montecito, CA. They range from $350 to $4500 depending on size and type of work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.darakaybarkerfineart.com
- Instagram: @darakaybarkerfineart
- Facebook: Darakaybarkerfineart
- Other: @defining.space.and.style
Image Credits
Kelly Sweeda
Manolo Langis
