Maine Artist Harold Barnard

Harold Barnard creates contemporary abstract paintings that brim with color and movement. A self-taught artist, Barnard pulls from a well of curiosity and a lifetime of experiences in the woods and waters of Passamaquoddy Bay, to create images that are rooted in the joy and fascination of the natural world.

“I find it interesting in nature when something appears to be one thing, but upon closer inspection, I discover that it is something else completely. I try to achieve that effect in my paintings, using minute details to create a painting within a painting, that draws the viewer in for closer inspection.”

His works are principally watercolor, sometimes enhanced with permanent inks and acrylics, and are frequently large scale. “I love the unpredictability of watercolor. When it is forced, it won’t work, especially with large pieces. When I allow the process to direct the idea, it can seem effortless.”

Barnard was chosen as a Notable Maine Artist in the ArtMaine 2019 Guide and his painting “Rock Show” was a finalist in the International Artist Magazine Challenge No. 110, Abstract/Experimental Art in 2019. His work appeared in Gallery 104’s Nurture exhibition, NYA Gallery’s Heal show and 1st Dibs Gallery in Tribeca in 2019, which was followed by a month long exhibit at the NYA Art Center TriBeCa with eleven other artists.

Locally, Barnard’s work has been shown at Clay Hill Farm, Cape Neddick, and 443 Congress Street Gallery in Portland. You can also find his work on the Pond Duck Trio album, “Class Reunion” released in 2021 and on Instagram @oneseestudio.