Lucy Barber

I haven’t sent a newsletter for a few months—and that’s okay. As a painter, I’ve been using this end-of-year pause to reflect on creative practice, time, and what it takes to keep moving forward. I’ve been

A small plein-air study of summer wildflowers painted in mid-August, capturing the layered plants, movement, and atmosphere of a favorite place. This intimate 6” × 4” work has me considering a larger version of the composition.

Swamp Narrowleaf Sunflowers Charcoal on paper, 22.5” x 30”, 2024 This drawing is a study for a painting-in-progress, and one I especially enjoyed making. The subject — a stand of narrowleaf sunflowers in the light of an overcast day — drew me in with its layered density and rhythm. Initially created as a drawing-on-its-own as a study for a potential painting, it is now reference for a larger painted work. The drawing feels complete on its own, holding a character that I hadn’t anticipated at...