Jesse Barnes Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1936 - d. 2017

Most young boys dream of growing up to be firemen or policemen. Jesse Barnes wanted to become a famous artist. During the earliest stages of his life he was already beginning to develop the skills that would someday transform his childhood dream into a reality of becoming an artist..

Jesse Barnes, also known as "The Light Painter", was born in Jefferson City Missouri in 1936. His father, a basket maker by trade, and the simple but comfortable life they led in the Ozark hills have always been an inspiration for Barnes/ art. His paintings are rich with the Midwest heritage of his childhood.

Jesse, known as "The Light Painter", was a successful professional artist. At the age of 10, he sold his first oil painting to his principal at his elementary school. Jesse's art career spanned over 5 decades, during which time he painted everything from individual portraits, wildlife, and landscapes. In the latter years, his painting's themed primarily on early American nostalgia. Jesse was a pioneer in creating lighting effects with paint. He was unparalleled in his ability to portray movement in water and fire on canvas. This brought depth and life to his images.