Jesse's Story
Most young boys dream of growing up to be firemen
or policemen. Jesse Barnes wanted to become a famous artist. During
the earliest stages of his life he was already beginning to develop
the skills that would someday transform his childhood dream into
a reality.
Jesse Barnes, also known as “The Light Painter®”,
was born in Jefferson City Missouri in 1936. His father, a basketmaker
by trade, and the simple but comfortable life they led in the Ozark
hills have always been an inspiration for Jesse's art. His paintings
are rich with the Midwest heritage of his childhood.
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talent began early, as evidenced in these childhood
paintings. |
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Even at a very young age Jesse was fostering a
talent that would someday lead to his induction into the USArt Hall
of Fame. Perhaps recognizing the exceptional skill of such a young
boy and the potential he had; Jesse's Elementary School Principal
bought his first Original Oil. This monumental sale took place when
Jesse was only ten.
Jesse is a self-taught artist whose professional
career has now spanned over four decades. He specializes in Early
American Nostalgia, and landscapes with his trademark being lighting
effects. Throughout the past years Jesse has created works for such
organizations as Ducks Unlimited, Hallmark Cards, American Field
magazine, and The Bradford Exchange. In 1999 Jesse was honored to
create a Limited Edition Collectors Print for the Salt Lake City
Olympic Committee. This piece was commissioned by Fine Art Ltd.
of St. Louis and proceeds went to benefit the 2002 Olympic Winter
Games in Salt Lake City.
To date, Jesse has published over 50 Limited Edition
Collectors Prints. His first edition entitled “Night Before
Christmas” was released in 1983. Since that time he has taken
us on a magical journey back through time from a snowy 1800's train
depot to the corner cafe to a seaside lighthouse providing safe
passage to the harbor. We've been to a country carnival, and home
for the holidays.
Jesse publishes three to four Limited Edition
Lithographs and Canvases per year. Each prints and canvas is personally
hand sorted and hand signed and numbered by Jesse. Being a family-run
self-published artist enables Jesse to bring the highest standards
and quality to each piece he releases.
Jesse has also added gift items such as Limited
Edition Collectors Plates, a Biography entitled Road to a
Dream, and more recently seasonal Open Edition
Lithographs. Jesse currently makes appearances at various authorized
galleries across the country where these items can be personally
signed. For Jesse his career has been a journey which he continues
to take.
Thanks to the faithful support of his collectors
Jesse has become one of the country's most beloved artists. Each
image Jesse creates carries a piece of him along with it. As anyone
who has ever seen Jesse's work knows, he has one standard he holds
higher than all of the rest. “It has to come from the heart,
to reach the heart” and Jesse's work does just that.
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