When asked what kind of art she primarily creates, Greene County native Patty Barna answers, “A little bit of everything!”
Since childhood, Patty has been making beauty in the midst of ordinary places. As a young person, Patty’s family owned and operated Barna’s Furniture Store, located near what is now the Sheetz gas station in Waynesburg. Patty has fond memories of watching her father, brother, and sister run the family business, and was especially inspired by the art of furniture refurbishment. Now, she incorporates this interest into her art career, in addition to many other techniques on her proverbial “palette.” Patty is a jack-of-all trades when it comes to the art scene, using a variety of mediums, including watercolors, acrylic paints, pencil, and watercolor pencil.
Patty graduated from Waynesburg Central High School in 1975, but her art career didn’t begin immediately. After art school didn’t go as planned, Patty spent much of her professional life working in courthouses for the natural gas and oil industry, performing title searches and tracing ancestry to determine landowners’ property rights. This career allowed Patty to travel all over the United States, and live in a variety of locations, each with a specific artistic allure. As she traveled, Patty never lost sight of her passion for art, although she never quite had enough time to pursue it.
She enjoyed taking hikes wherever she was living, from Florida to Colorado, and everywhere in between– literally. One of her favorite places she called home was the small town of Imporia in southeastern Kansas. Patty recalls visiting the local zoo, and being inspired by all the animals there. She began taking photographs of them, as well as scenes on her hikes that she wanted to recreate later. Both travel and photography are still major hobbies in Patty’s life, and she enjoys photographing nature to further her art, as well as finding new hiking destinations wherever she goes. Patty especially enjoys visiting her three children, and four grandsons on her trips.
As a professional by day and artist by night, many of Patty’s masterpieces were created in hotel rooms throughout the country. She jokes that her art schedule was sporadic in those days. It didn’t matter if the clock read midnight or noon– if a sketch was unfinished, Patty had to get up and fix it. She explains, “my bed was in my studio once; I would get up early and stay up late. Art has always been something that makes me happy.”
Art is still something that makes Patty happy, and now, she finally has the freedom to pursue it full-time. “Once I retired,” she says, “all I had was time!” Patty’s favorite subject is wildlife, especially birds. She is often found doing a new sketch of her favorite bird, the peacock, as well as other feathered creatures like quail and eagles, although she has featured almost every bird in her artwork. When asked of her method for creating wildlife pieces, Patty replies that she starts with the eyes first, as this is where the personality of the animal really comes out. She always sketches lightly and comes up with a background early in the process, so the dimensions are accurate. Typically, she prefers to use a mixture of colors in the background instead of a full scene to not detract from the subject. Patty has never been a fan of oil paints, as they dry too slowly for her liking, and make it difficult to fix mistakes.
Patty typically does not create her artwork with a specific client in mind, but will occasionally paint commissioned pieces, such as portraits of people’s pets. Patty primarily displays and sells her work at craft shows. “You always have one person asking, ‘why not this?’” she says, chuckling. Patty always tries to have something for everybody, so she makes some of what she likes, and some of what she thinks will sell, like Christmas items that aren’t necessarily her preferred style. She also frequently donates paintings to charity events and Chinese auctions, usually giving two to be sold to benefit worthy causes.
As an artist, Patty is constantly growing in her skills. One tip Patty gives to artists in any stage of their journey is to be attentive to detail, and never stop asking questions. She constantly questions the “why” behind every brush stroke and feels that there is always something new to be learned, whether from nature, another artist, or even a small child. Seeing the world from a new perspective is of great value. Experimenting is also an important part of being an artist. You can’t be afraid to try something new.
One experiment that turned out well for Patty is her refurbished furniture. Although she often sands and paints furniture to restore it to a traditional look, Patty enjoys dressing up these pieces by painting elaborate scenes on tabletops. “My favorite one is sitting right in front of me!” she says of a painted coffee table that sports a woodland bear scene. She is also partial to a beach themed table that she decked out in bold colors and designs. Even though this piece has yet to sell, she simply enjoys creating beautiful things.
Art isn’t just a hobby or a passion for Patty. “To me, it’s like an addiction!” she shares. “I like to see people happy. Watching faces means a lot, and little kids amaze me when they appreciate art.” She goes on to explain that art has been what gets her out of bed every day, and that seeing others equally passionate about it is what keeps her going. One thing Patty’s mother told her that sticks in the forefront of her mind every day really applies to all of us – “Don’t ever let anybody tell you you can’t.” Patty’s art career is proof that your life is what you make it, and that with a little dedication and hard work, dreams really do come true. Find Patty on Facebook or Instagram at blackberrydesignart.
