Pastel Podcast Episode 13: Greg Barnes
From Chaos to Canvas: The Intuitive Plein Air World of Greg Barnes
What happens when a life-changing moment sends a Fine Arts degree-holder back to his true calling? For pastel artist Greg Barnes, the events of 9/11 became the catalyst for a full-time painting career that has taken him from portrait commissions on a dentist’s waiting room table to winning Best in Show at prestigious plein air events — and even having his work displayed in the Charlotte airport. In this episode, hosts Kari Stober and Lisa Skelly sit down with Greg to unpack his remarkable journey, his expressive painting philosophy, and why he swears by the mantra “order from chaos.”
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How Greg went from 15 years in the print industry to full-time painter after 9/11
- Why he chose pastel as his primary medium — and how he eventually added oil
- The evolution from portrait commissions to plein air landscape painting
- How art festivals became his classroom, sales floor, and networking hub
- What plein air invitationals are, how they work, and how to get invited
- How a chance connection at the Forgotten Coast event led to six trips to Maui Plein Air
- Why Greg paints roughly 90% in pastel — even at oil-focused events
- The influences of Albert Handel and Scott Christiansen on his expressive, intuitive style
- His teaching philosophy: value, design, and “order from chaos”
- His upcoming workshops and a bucket-list trip to Plein Air Down Under in Australia
Timestamps
- 0:00 – Welcome & host updates (a giant painted egg at the Ritz Carlton, spring painting projects)
- 3:06 – Preview of the upcoming IAPS Convention and a conversation with incoming president Shirley Anderson
- 4:19 – Introducing Greg Barnes: Charlotte-based pastelist, plein air competitor, and Art Pop artist
- 9:10 – Greg’s backstory: Fine Arts at Wake Forest, 15 years in print, and a 9/11 pivot to full-time painting
- 12:12 – Why he chose pastel first — and how and why he eventually added oil painting
- 14:29 – From portrait commissions to plein air landscapes: how art festivals launched his career
- 17:46 – The world of plein air invitationals: what they are, how to get invited, and what to expect
- 22:29 – Quick Draws explained: timed public painting competitions and how they help artists get noticed
- 25:20 – Pastel at plein air events: why more invitationals are embracing pastel artists
- 26:02 – Studio vs. plein air: Greg paints 90% outdoors and rarely retouches finished work
- 29:39 – Developing an expressionist style: lessons from Albert Handel (intuition) and Scott Christiansen (design)
- 35:35 – Choosing between oil and pastel in the field: an intuitive call
- 40:41 – The Art Pop experience: Greg’s painting on Charlotte billboards and in the airport
- 46:09 – Greg’s teaching philosophy: breaking pastels, building design, and painting “order from chaos”
- 49:34 – Upcoming workshops, events, and the bucket-list trip to Plein Air Down Under in Australia
Resources & Links
- Greg Barnes: barnstudios.com
- Lisa Skelly: lisaskellyfineart.com
- Lisa’s upcoming pastel workshop with Rosemary & Co. in Yorkshire, England (June)
- The Pastel Podcast: thepastelspodcast.com
- Pastel Today Newsletter: Sponsor of the Pastel Podcast
- IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies): Final biannual convention coming in June
Follow & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or watch the full video on YouTube to see Greg’s work and the billboard print he keeps on his desk. 🎨
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Until next time — stay vibrant!
