Oil painter Barney Levitt approaches his creative work with humor and charm. Enjoy his portfolio, and learn more by visiting his website.
“Fowl Play” oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″
I am a visual storyteller. As a child, I was always drawing. My parents enrolled me in art classes at the local library when I was very young.
“The Elephant In the Room” oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″
My aunt, also an artist, gave me my first easel and set of oil paints when I was twelve years old. I entered university as a Biology major, but soon switched to Studio Art, concentrating on painting and drawing. I was spellbound by the works of the Dutch and Flemish Masters, particularly Vermeer.
“Spirit Rising” oil on canvas, 18″ x 22″
After graduating with a Fine Arts Degree in painting from S.U.N.Y at Oswego, I took a detour out west and became a ski instructor in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I continued to paint in my spare time, doing oil portraits of the farm animals on a small farm where I lived in a one-room cabin with no running water.
“Mary’s World” oil on canvas, 24″ x 35″
Mary’s World (a take on Wyeth’s Christina’s World) was my first large oil portrait of Mary the Goat. She wasn’t particularly cooperative as a model, but I captured her essence in the end.
“Coffee and Curlers” oil on canvas, 20″ x 22″
I eventually moved to Boston and frequented the local art galleries, getting inspiration from contemporary artists such as Stone Roberts, Robert Jackson, and Scott Fraser.
“The Great Blue Heron’s Tea Party” oil on canvas, 18″ x 14″
The turning point came when I applied for and was accepted as a full member of The Copley Society of Art, a prestigious and highly competitive organization, and the oldest non-profit art association in the U.S. Over the years I eventually became a Copley Master and began to take my painting more seriously, getting invitations to show in well-established galleries.
“Mr. Potato Head’s Discovery” oil on canvas, 14″ x 10″
Much of my work is narrative driven and rooted in realism, but I also create classical still life set-ups in the style of the Dutch Masters. And then there are the quirkier paintings full of whimsy or humor. I strive for imagery that captures the viewer’s attention. Titles are important to me, as they give the viewer better insight into what I’m trying to convey.
“Annie’s Tulips” oil on panel, 16″ x 12″
I create my paintings in layers beginning with a loose underpainting of burnt sienna, adding more and more detail to each successive layer. I usually have several paintings in progress at one time.
“Money to Burn” oil on canvas, 11″ x 14″
I love sharing my work with the world. If I can get a laugh out of the viewer, or make them gasp in surprise, I’ve attained my goal.
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