Profile: Barbara E Lewis

Barbara Lewis is primarily a commission artist. She works closely with her clients in order to ensure the resulting artwork reflects what the owner wishes to see.  As Barbara prides herself on her outstanding drawing skills, photos and other reference materials that are not of a high standard are no barrier to the production of an exceptional piece of art, as the portrait of Phar Lap amply demonstrates.

"Here’s how it is.  I paint horses.  I do it rather well.  I’m a simple soul at heart, happiest with a paintbrush in my hand.

If you think an artist should womble on endlessly about the beauty and majesty of horses I need to warn you, that ain’t my style.  Horses are great.  That’s why we love them, right?  I try to reflect that love in my work.  And I like my work to speak for me, because when all is said and done my paintings speak FAR more eloquently than I ever could.  Brilliant conversationalist I am not.

If you need an artist to regale you with stories about the all rich and famous people they rub shoulders with, I’m afraid you’ll have to go elsewhere.  Do I know ‘famous’ people? A few.  Would I impress you with my long list of social connections? The glittering events I’ve attended?  The brilliant parties I have thrown?  I doubt that very much.  Rubbing shoulders with the great and the good was never my reason for wanting to paint.

If what you need in an artist is someone willing and able to bring to life on canvas what it is you want to see, someone willing to work at it till it’s just right, then I’m your girl.  Simple.  Straightforward.  No bluster.  No blarney.  No b/S.  There’s enough of that crap already in the world,  I figure I don’t need to add to it.  Home, hearth, the quiet life: that’s me. Dedicated to giving my clients as much excellence as I can muster. Experienced? Indeed. Perfectionist? Absolutely.  Opinionated? Most definitely.  Blunt? Unfortunately.  Eccentric? By crikey yes!  Cool? Not on your life.  Good at what I do?  Well, I'll let you be the judge of that...

If any of these qualities are what you can relate to in an artist, let’s talk."

Barbara 

New Work

A small sample of the artist's latest work

O'Reilly

(oil on linen)

Commissioned by Mark and Lisa Chittick

Waitkato Stud

Snap (at 19yrs)

(watercolour on paper)

Commissioned by Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford

I was first commissioned by the Duchess to paint Snap back in the 1990s when the mare was reigning supreme on the racetracks.  Some years on, this was an opportunity to capture Snap in the broodmare paddock.  And even though she is now 19 years old, she showed a fair amount of the spark that made her such a top competitor in her racing days when I went to see her at Brighthill Farm by charging around the paddock like a two year old, not something she does that often anymore.  But she was definitely out to show she still has it that day!

Lot 41

Commissioned by Graeme Putt

Author of "Phar Lap, The Untold Story"

There are no known photographs of "Lot 41", the yearling that became known as the legendary Phar Lap, who went through the ring at the 2nd New Zealand National Yearling Sales held at Trentham on the 24th January 1928.  The commission brief was to capture "a gangly, awkward yearling with 'suspect front legs'.

Cover of "Phar Lap, the Untold Story"

by Graeme Putt and Pat McCord

Cover concept design by Barbara E Lewis

Featuring work by Barbara E Lewis

Published by Equus Marketing www.pharlap.com.au

Barbara takes commissions particularly equine and also family pets, landscapes and seascapes. Examples of her work are in the painting archive slide show .