Artist Focus: Cliff Barnes

From his travels, Cliff Barnes has painted award-winning oil and watercolor paintings focusing on “today’s West.” Early in 2023, Barnes’ art was juried in two competitive exhibits: the Signature Watercolor Exhibition at the Fallbrook Art Center in Fallbrook, California, and the American Impressionist Society’s Small Works Showcase in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Treasures of the West, the Balclutha, the Hercules and the C.A. Thayer, watercolor, 18 x 27”

His hot streak continued in the summer when his art was selected by three California based organizations. First, unique oil and watercolor paintings were juried in four of California Art Club’s gallery exhibitions in San Marino, California, as well as the club’s online competition. Next, he received an award from the Laguna Plein Air Artists for his oil painting Rockport. Finally, Barnes was awarded the distinction of Master Watercolor Artist, and his colorful painting Nap Time was juried into the highly competitive Watercolor West exhibition in Newport Beach, California.

Nap Time, watercolor, 10 x 14”

Additionally, Barnes was awarded signature membership in both the Oil Painters of America and the American Plains Artists. The judging for both competitions is rigorous, which makes these distinctions more impressive. He was twice honored with the Best of Show at the American Plains Artists Signature Show in 2012 in Texas and 2023 in Nebraska. He also received the Publisher’s Award in 2019 at the Pearce Museum in Corsicana, Texas; in 2022 at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas; and in 2023 again at the Pearce Museum. 2023 proved to be an exciting year for the Barnes family and collectors as he won numerous awards and had 11 different oil and watercolor paintings in juried exhibitions throughout the United States. —