Barbel Smith

Bärbel is a Canadian by heart and German born. Growing up she spent numerous hours with her sketch book and paints capturing the lakes and forests of rural Ontario .

After moving out west, she received training at Alberta University of the Arts and continued to hone her skills as she joined national art organizations. Living in several provinces and travelling coast to coast has allowed her to capture the Canadian landscape in her emotive paintings, infusing her art with joyous colours, a peaceful vision, and whimsical style. Her semi-representational paintings are vibrant and simplified in form evoking influences of Art Deco and the Group of Seven.

She is an award winning juried signature member of national and provincial art organizations, and is represented by several galleries throughout Canada. Her extensive body of work is in private and corporate collections nationally and internationally.

“My subject matter is the Canadian landscape and my method is smoothly applied paint removing all brushstrokes. I strive to see beyond the busy surface of things and capture the light, colours and shapes of this numinous land. While each painting may be inspired by on- site plein-air studies, sketches, and my reference photos; the final result pushes the boundaries to something more abstract, dreamy and more spiritual; as if I am painting the soul of the landscape.

Peace, joy and hope are what I feel when I am painting, and hope others do as well when they view my art. Peace as in the water's peaceful reflection of the land; and joy by infusing playful colours and stylized semi abstract, whimsical trees; and hope in the calming spiritual effect,(through curved lines and smooth application of paint).

Painting is a form of communication for me, communication between heaven and earth. A way for my soul to reach out and touch the immortal; to catch a fleeting glimpse of God. Each body of work becomes an adventure where I can re-unite with creation and my own immortal being.”