Barbara Peterson

Biography

Barbara Peterson is an award-winning painter and instructor, formally trained at Pratt Institute in New York City. Working primarily in oil, she explores the connections between nature, people, and the unseen narratives within both. Peterson's surrealistic Transitions series blends traditional techniques with a contemporary aesthetic, merging still life and landscape to reflect on human relationships and introspection.

In 2015, Barbara relocated from the East Coast to Indiana with her husband, John, where the expansive farmland, open skies, and breathtaking sunrises continue to inspire her work. Her paintings have been in juried exhibitions and museum shows, offering a bold yet thoughtful perspective that invites viewers to see the world through her eyes.

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Statement

My painting process follows a path of experience, interpretation, and expression.

Inspiration emerges when I slow down and observe how light transforms the everyday into something quietly beautiful. The rich hues of sliced fruit, the interplay of textures in fabric or metal—these details often spark a painting.

At times, an idea about human thought or interaction becomes the catalyst. I carefully arrange objects in my studio to explore themes of solitude, introspection, and connection, often elevating them into the sky, where clouds become symbols of spirituality, peace, or freedom. Other times, moments of deep observation in nature ignite my creativity.

A painting truly speaks when I see my original vision fully realized on the canvas.