Bob Barnett’s studio is located on the banks of the Paulinskill River in Northwestern NJ. It’s a slow-moving stream, and there exists an array of items that float by on their way to the Delaware River in a slow dance downstream, pushed by the wind and the current.
The green coloring in the pieces is inspired by periods in the summer when an algae bloom turns the normally muddy river into a glowing stream of green. “Floating”explores the feeling of being suspended in that body of water and the sensation of being still, letting the water move over him as it carries him down river.
The images are encaustic wax on paper. They are his version of monotypes as the images are drawn on a hot surface with sticks of wax, the paper is laid on top, and the wax is gently burnished into the fibers of the paper. Once the image is lifted, he goes into it with a variety of materials and tools to bring the image forward.
Bob Barnett is a painter who has been working with encaustic wax for the last 7-8 years as his primary medium. For over 35 years, Bob has worked as a member of United Scenic Artist Local 829 as a Scenic Artist and Set Designer. His work has brought him in contact with a wide variety of artists and craftspeople from all over the world. Favorite film projects include “The Ice Storm,” “tick, tick… BOOM!” and “West Side Story.”