Like most artists, San Diego based painter Robert Barros traces his interest in art back to his childhood, drawing and painting before he could write. Self taught, Barros applied much of his early artistic skill to painting and later to the fields of commercial art, graphic design, and illustration, the humble beginning of some very well known artists such as Warhol, Matisse and Rockwell.
His first published works consisted of portraits of sports, and celebrity figures for magazines covers, posters and game programs for the Chargers, Padres and Holiday Bowl. His graphic design images will always be a part of San Diego,
having created both Chargers logos, the Gulls logo and images for the San Diego Blood Bank, Olympics in '84 and San Diego's first Super Bowl.
Having accomplished what he set out to do in commercial art, Barros began painting again to satisfy his creative nature. His style of painting reflect a number
of influences, graphic composition, freedom of color and the use strong lines to create a sense of movement. Barros characterizes his work as "reaching out to the poetic and imaginative side of our nature, through rich colors, textures and subject matter." He strives to create a taste of the romantic sensibility in the world around us."
You will find several of Roberts paintings that combine human and animal figures. The inspiration is that of many cultures, Native American to Celtic, the connection of animal spirit to human energy. The artist's exotic new styling could almost be labeled instinctive.
Barros' was raised in Arizona which has an distinct influence, but his heritage may have a subliminal effect on his art, the grandson of Portuguese and Russian immigrants who settled in Hawaii. He admits that Images such as "Tigress", has a distinctly foreign flavor of mystery.
Reflecting upon the changes in his art over the years, he explains, "In the beginning I concentrated on images with more realism. Now, my art focuses on the movement, color and detail of a subject. I work to capture the moment, and create an impression. Barros' new painting, the poster art for the old town art festival is called "Illumination of the Hawk" Meanings: to shed light, strength, courage, wisdom, overcoming problems, clarity, inspiration, as well as many others.
