Far Country

Far Country is a diverse and thorough sampling of the romantic realism of artist John L. Barnwell, whose work spans a prolific half century of painting in a wide variety of styles, subjects, and themes.

John L. Barnwell was born in 1922 in Los Angeles, California. He grew up during the Great Depression in Oceanside, CA. At the age of 20, he enlisted in the army and fought in WWII in Europe. After the war, Barnwell went to college on the GI Bill, earning both a Bachelors and a Masters degree. In the early 1950's, he moved to New York City and started to paint.

He was inspired by his surroundings, mid-century Manhattan, and painted a body of work of just cityscapes and industry using primarily palette knives, one of his signature styles. He found his voice with surrealist and fantasy paintings, experimenting over the years with a variety of styles and techniques. Over five decades, Barnwell's work ranged from surrealism to traditional landscapes, and from fantasy to simple still lifes. But throughout all his artistic inquiry, Barnwell's work remained suffused with a strong visionary theme. A desire to see the world with a subtle sense of mystery and transcendence. 

Far Country is filled with one hundred thirteen of Barnwell's paintings, most of which have never been published before. It is a visual feast, and represents a lifetime of artistic labor, passion, and dedication.