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My mom always had us painting, weaving, gluing, drawing, visiting museums, taking nature walks, digging in the soil· anything to do with nature and creativity. So it wasnât a huge surprise that I went to school for art.  I attended Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. Why a liberal arts school instead of a traditional art school? Well, I wanted to play sports. Not a ãnormalä combination, I know.  But what can I say?  I also decided I didnât want to be a ãstarving artistä and took some courses in Graphic Design. Upon graduation, I went to work at an ad agency.  In 1989 I formed Barton Design, Inc.  Once I had that up and running, I began to focus more heavily on my passion: painting.

I paint because I need to. When I take a break from painting I find myself becoming bunched up and irritable.  There is nothing - no thing - that excites me and occupies my mind and spirit as painting does. Time flies.  The world, apart from me, the scene and the canvas, ceases to exist.  Itâs one of those rare and precious times that I am totally absorbed in the moment.  The act of painting, creating, observing and feeling is to be helplessly, yet joyously, human.  The whole process is at once freeing and grounding.
 
I paint on location· en plein air.  The lure of being outside - sitting right in the middle of nature - is an undeniably exciting draw.  So, out of necessity, my work tends to be of a ãmanageably carried while wetä size.  Recently, however, I have re-discovered studio painting thus enabling me to work a lot larger, with bigger tools and tons more paint.  While itâs indeed exciting and explorative, it will never take the place of painting outside.

Chester County is an incredibly beautiful place to live and work.  We who do so are extremely fortunate.  I hope that by painting its farms, landscapes, and townscapes a certain awareness will take hold.  Perhaps even an interest in preserving its beauty will result.  Another favorite place of mine is New Mexico.  The air and light there has a personality like no other.  The scenery grips me in a way that is so basic to me and so much a part of my soul. I get there as often as I can.  And I am long overdue.