Barbara Cleary

Barbara Jean Cleary passed away at her home on February 19. Cremation. Barbara Cleary began exploring the versatile and challenging medium of watercolor in 1965. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Barbara held degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Central State University with additional hours from Kansas State University, Southwestern College, University of Wyoming, and Louisiana Tech University. She participated in workshops under nationally acclaimed artists, Edgar Whitney AWS, John Pike NA, AWS, and Douglas Walton, AWS. Cleary was a member and former board member- officer of the Artist Guild of Wichita and the Kansas Watercolor Society. She held membership in the Greater Kansas City Art Association, Oklahoma Watercolor Association, and Southern Watercolor Society and placed and won numerous watercolor competitions. Selections of her work have been accepted in juried shows throughout the Midwest, since the 1970s. She taught workshops, hung solo shows in many Kansas communities, and taught drawing, composition and watercolor for Fort Scott Community College Outreach Program and taught public school art for 7 years. Cleary"s greatest professional accomplishment was the selection of her watercolor painting "May"s First Born" for the 115th Annual Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society at the National Academy of Design Gallery in New York City, NY, and traveling exhibit. After seeing an exhibit of Nicolai Fechin"s work in the 1990s, Cleary chose oil as her preferred medium, concentrating in plein aire landscapes. Cleary also worked in sculpture and printmaking for a short period of time, operated a gallery and art supply business, and was co-founder of Art Adventures, an educational and working tour program for professional artists. After years of traveling to New Mexico and Maine for inspiration, Cleary mastered the landscape. Her oil paintings include many New Mexico skies, botanicals, and prairie landscapes. Most of her paintings have been published and printed, and are in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. Her later years were spent living and working with David Gross, friend and artist. Cleary is survived by her son, Richard Cleary, granddaughter, Jenna Layden, and partner, David Gross. Her paintings are ""a constant balancing of geometric structure and narrative." Ben Pickard, Pickard Galleries, Oklahoma City, OK