Barbara Cella - Greeting Cards

Artist Statement

I find myself drawn to expressing my creativity each and every day. I love the idea of creating something out of nothing - just a bit of paint and canvas.  It amazes me how a painting evolves into something that can stimulate more ideas, which then, in turn, stimulate even more.

Acrylic paints have long fascinated me and I love mixing up new colors to capture just the right atmosphere in the air, the nuances in the shadows, and the sparkle of color on a meadow. I find myself drawn to the Impressionists and dearly wish I could spend a day with Monet or Pissarro. As I explore the world of plein air painting, I feel I’m with them, experiencing the creative moment as they once did – the sounds, the sun, the breeze, the smells, and the creative process. 

Throughout my youth, art was the thing that made my heart sing. Whenever I had a free moment in school, I was working on art projects and talking with the art teachers. Nothing else has ever moved my spirit as much as the creative process. Now as an adult and evolving artist, I love the way my skills are evolving.  Seeing the world through an artist’s eyes is a focus of mine these days. Looking at color, shape, and often the fleeting moment of shadows and light continue to fascinate me. Angles and focus draw me into the most unusual scenes, and I’m drawn to document them with my creative eye and craft.

To share my creativity with others is an honor to me and gives me great pleasure. It is a very special moment when someone decides that they’d like to make some of my creativity a part of their lives. I look forward to many moments in the future as I continue to share my evolving art. 

Biography

Originally from Northern Minnesota, Barbara spent many hours with her family camping, canoeing and hiking in the north woods, and enjoyed her solo times recreating those cherished memories in drawing and painting projects. 

She studied 2D and 3D design along with Native American art at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis as she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Natural History Education.

Barbara headed west, spending five years as a naturalist for the National Park Service. Her heart sang as she intimately experienced the esthetics, light, and color of Olympic National Park, Death Valley National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park and Point Reyes National Seashore.

During an 11-year stint as Adult and Family Education Manager at the California Academy of Sciences, Barbara won design awards from the American Association of Museums and the National Association for Interpretation. 

Her career has included marketing, community and media relations positions with Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) and Cal State East Bay, and recently she retired as the Director of Marketing at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA. During her tenure there, her team was honored with 10 design awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.

Barbara has studied with numerous extraordinary painters including Kathleen Dunphy, Ingrid Christensen, Edmond Praybe, Scott Gellatly, Nancy Gruskin, and John Poon. 

Prior to moving to Central Oregon, Barbara was a member of the Moraga Art Gallery in Moraga, CA, and the Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek, CA. She actively participated in regional art shows and fairs during this time. 

Barbara now is focusing full-time on painting and exploring the wilds of Central Oregon. Her art has been exhibited at the Oxford Hotel, Black Butte Ranch Lodge, Betty Gray Gallery at Sunriver Lodge, Franklin Crossing Atrium, Thump Genuine Coffee, Layor Art + Supply, and Awbrey Butte Golf Club. 

EDUCATION:

1980   Natural History Education, BS - University of Minnesota: Minneapolis, MN

1998   Management (Organizational Development), MA - John F Kennedy University, Orinda, CA 

AWARDS and HONORS:

2020  October 2020 Boldbrush Painting competition, FAV15 Collection 

2019   Earned Signature Member status, International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP)

2019    4th Annual ISAP All-Member Online Exhibition, Juried entry

2019    October 2019 Boldbrush Painting competition, 2nd Place - Abstracts

2019    10th Annual ISAP Open International Online Exhibition, Juried entry

2019    24th Arts in Harmony Annual International Show – Arts North Exhibition, Mpls, MN, "3rd Place, Acrylics"

2018    9th Annual ISAP Open Online Exhibition, "Trekell Art Supply Award"

2018    Deschutes County Fair, Redmond, OR, "Blue Ribbon" in Landscape, Architecture, River/Lakes 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (current)

Member, Hood Avenue Art, Sisters, OR (starting December 2021)

Signature Member, International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP)

Past-President, High Desert Art League

Board member, Plein Air Painters of Oregon (PAPO)

National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society (NOAPS)

Sagebrushers Art Society