Artist Statement

Growing up with five siblings I spent many hours drawing; it continues to be my perfect escape and refuge.

Using a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil, charcoal, pastels, encaustic and collage, I am influenced by the bright colours of the French Impressionists, including Matisse, with his use of simplified forms and cut outs in planning a composition. I work from life, but often allow the materials to dictate how an artwork develops.

My subject matter is personal and evolves from my physical surroundings, personal belongings, my firsthand experiences, and social issues that I care about; including sexual abuse awareness, LGBTQ+ awareness and support, the climate crisis, racism, and justice for all, homelessness and poverty.

Biography

Exhibiting artwork for over 30 years, Barbara Brown Conrod works primarily in acrylic, with a versatile practice that includes oil, watercolour, encaustic, drawing, intaglio, and collage. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (1990) and a Certificate in Computer Graphics from the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (2008), Halifax, Nova Scotia. Born in Halifax, she now lives in a rural setting in Port Williams located in in the Annapolis Valley.

In addition to studying at NSCAD, she began her studies at Acadia University, studied watercolour at the Worcester Museum, Mass., USA., and studied intaglio at St. Francis Xavier University. Continuing her training, Barbara attends workshops in watercolour, acrylic and encaustic painting and arts administration. She has participated in many group shows and has had several solo exhibitions in Halifax, and New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.