Jim Barker grew up in farm country surrounded by timberlands, hidden trails, breathtaking vistas and meandering creeks. At an early age, impressions of the land around him began translating into pencil and charcoal drawings. He drank in his surroundings and had a ravenous appetite to learn everything he could about the mode of expression deployed by the masters. Jim began his formal art career working as a sculptor. He created characters for Walt Disney, Peanuts and Star Wars. Later, he was commissioned to sculpt a bust of President Harry Truman for the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

Today, Barker has an extensive following for his many artistic expressions. A versatile artist, Jim is comfortable in watercolors, oils, clay and metals. Collectors of Barker’s oil paintings praise his sense of texture and his use of light. His artful treatment of perspective draws the viewer into the landscape and delights the eye with natural colors, shades and tones. From impressionistic landscapes to non-objective abstracts, each painting invokes memories of places once enjoyed or only dreamt about. Jim’s current sculptural art reflects the wildlife of Northern Arizona. With the same attention to texture and tone distinctive to his paintings, Jim captures the plumed nobleness of a Gambel’s Quail or the gentle yearning of a Mourning Dove. Drawn to one of the oldest expressions of the creative muse, Barker has created a beautiful and very organic representation of the majesty of the Northern Arizona landscape in his limited edition woodcut prints. There is a tranquility that transfers from the artist to the viewer in the clean lines of this ancient art form. This multitalented man has recently added a new dimension to his artwork. Utilizing his finely honed skill at creating intricate things of beauty and his love of texture and shape, Jim is now creating unique pieces of artwork in the form of pendants and earrings. Each piece is an original signed creation by the master artist.

El Prado is very proud to have such an exciting and talented artist constantly surprising his ever-growing list of ardent collectors with unexpected works of art. Join us in experiencing the muse of Jim Barker’s art in its many forms.