Barbara Hall

Watercolor and Oil

Barbara Hall was raised in South Bend, Indiana. After completing a bachelor’s
degree in psychology from Indiana University, she worked in the Human
Resources field for many years. Once retired, she pursued a life-long dream of
making art. She enrolled at the Glassell School of Art where she studied various
media and received a Certificate of Achievement in painting.

Hall has exhibited in numerous juried shows throughout her hometown of
Houston, TX including Watercolor Art Society - Houston, Kinder Morgan
Lobby Gallery, Orton and Interspace Galleries at the Glassell School of Art, Jung
Center, and Mother Dog Studios. In addition to being an active member of the
Houston arts community, she regularly donates artwork to various philanthropic
causes. She has taken post-graduate classes at Houston Art League, Watercolor
Art Society – Houston, The Glasscock School at Rice University, and private
instruction from artists C. Ellen Hart, Arthur Turner, and Ellen Orseck.

Wildlife is featured in many of her works. As a volunteer with HHS Wildlife
Center and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, she developed an
appreciation of our wild, urban neighbors. She recently completed a series of
paintings combining portraits of endangered Texas wildlife with collage elements
representing lost habitat.

BARBARA HALL
Artist Statement

Through storytelling I create imaginary worlds or alternate truths. Whether it is
paper bags arranged like Stonehenge or a crow guarding over a Faberge egg, I
depict the natural world in whimsical and humorous ways. This has been a life-
long pursuit which I’ve only recently focused on intentionally. As a child, I wrote
short stories accompanied by illustrations. Eventually, words gave way to visual
narration.

I work from my photographs and adjust the composition with color and
placement to allow for a broader narrative. A newspaper article, a scrap of
overheard conversation, or a social media meme can spark an idea that results in
a painting.

My work is both believable and allusive, standing on each with equal importance.
I invite viewers to construct their own stories around my art. I’m gratified when
my work causes someone to pause, consider, and smile.