Cassandra Christensen Barney was born and raised in Orem, Utah. She received her Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Brigham Young University in 2000. “I’ve had a passion for the craft of the portrait since I was a child. As a young girl, I visited museums around the world with my father, collecting postcards adorned with 16th century art. Exploring these simple images captured my imagination, unlocking a world of discovery. I love the art of storytelling, the layers of symbolism, and would create my own stories of these quiet women, making the paintings my own. Today I paint portraits that share my passion for storytelling while revealing my personal journey of transition and discovery.”

As a child, I loved that the characters in art of the 16th century were not always pretty, but looked like regular people playing dress up. They find strength in their femininity. They are not vain, not beautiful and maybe some are melancholy and even show some sadness. We might wonder what they are thinking.

- Cassandra C. Barney

Christensen Barney’s images capture the souls of heroines, everyday women who have found strength and personal victory in their diverse experiences. Her portraits carry a range of emotion reflective of the events that have shaped their character. Ambiguous and poignant, Cassandra’s women find strength in their femininity. “They are beautiful and strong, because of the complexity of their feminine nature”

“My portraits may not always feature the outwardly pretty or majestic, but they all share a quiet beauty that asks us to listen and to feel. My work reflects my personal narrative, yet my intent as an artist is to create an experience that will allow the viewers to bring new interpretations to the symbols, creating their own narrative and own sense of understanding and place.”

Christensen Barney and her father, James C. Christensen, delight in working together. “My Dad inspires me to experiment with my own style, media and interpretation. Painting together in his studio, we have developed a wonderful synergy, critiquing each other and encouraging each other to experiment with colors, surfaces and textures.”

Life is truly art at Christensen Barney’s home as her husband is also an artist and teacher. Her three daughters enjoy creating along side their parents. In addition to her children, Barney encourages many others to explore the world of art. She taught at The Waterford School for four years and part time at BYU. The Barney family will relocate to Vancouver, Canada this fall where her husband Dan will pursue his doctorate in curriculum studies at UBC.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Simon loathed his years at boarding school in Nakuru and at Duke of York in Nairobi, always longing for the freedom of the bush. While managing a 2,000 acre farm when he was seventeen, he was drafted into six months compulsory military training after already applying for appointment in the Kings African Rifles. He was accepted into 4 KAR but having just finished his training was sent to Uganda where one of his duties was to teach basic etiquette and rugby to a young Idi Amin. Sandhurst Military Academy was next and upon return to Kenya joined 3 KAR in time for Kenya’s Independence.

In 1964 he was chosen to train 250 soldiers as Paratroopers. They all attended parachute school UK. Simon translated all the instruction into Kiswahili. When all the men were qualified, he became their first commander in Kenya. Immediately they were involved in the Shifta war in the northeastern province. It was during this time Simon started to draw and paint as a hobby to occupy his spare time. His subjects were the Somali and Boran people and the landscapes of the North. In 1969 he had an exhibition in Nairobi and sold all the paintings. It was then that the idea of painting full-time started. However, he was refused release from the army and was moved to army HQ as staff officer in charge of all operations and training. He was also captain of the army shooting team and vice chairman to the Kenya Rifle Association. He performed the duties of a Lieutenant Colonel. He has been called a “True Kenyan” .by his military peers. Finally, in 1974 he was released from the army and started life as a professional artist. Best known for his stunning images wildlife in the African bush, he achieved worldwide success and acclamation through many prestigious awards. His paintings hang in private and museum collections around the globe.

Simon’s life was rich with great adventures and wildlife encounters. From being lost in a blizzard while crossing the Altai Mountains in Mongolia and flying into the jungles of Venezuela to sketching Bengal Tigers atop a howdah on a swaying elephant in India his experiences and observations led him to develop his exacting artistic style, rendering his subjects with such depth and exquisite detail. Africa & Beyond: The Art and Adventures of Simon Combes, a retrospective exhibition of Simon’s major works, was held at The Wildlife Experience Museum in 2004 to celebrate his great artistic achievements.

Since 1979, The Greenwich Workshop, Inc, have published his works as Fine Art Reproductions on paper and canvas. He always said, if given the time he would rather write than paint. This talent is apparent in his books “An African Experience” and “Great Cats” also published by The Greenwich Workshop, Inc. Simon was also working on a book of Limericks about life in Kenya which reveals his ability to entertain us with his wit and humor.

Simon had a wonderful talent for communication, whether it be in speech, writing or painting. Never self assuming, be gave talks in Kiswahili to the farm staff, to school children in Russia and to many interested groups around the world.
Not only a man of the Arts, but also an avid conservationist Simon was recently appointed Kenya Representative and Project Director for Rhino Rescue Trust. He sat on the boards of several wildlife conservation organizations and raised, through his art, many thousands of dollars for their causes.

On Sunday, December 12, 2004, atop a beautiful ancient volcano near his home in Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Simon’s life was tragically taken by one of the wild animals he so lovingly portrayed in his paintings. He never “gathered moss” and now he as come home. He is survived by his wife Kat, his children, Cindy and Guy, his sister, Jenny all of Kenya and his former wife Susie of England. We shall remember Simon well.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

John was a successful illustrator for 31 years, working in Detroit, Cleveland and finally Pittsburgh where he met and married a cute receptionist named Noralee. During this period, Buxton worked for several advertising studios but in 1983, he formed John Buxton Illustration, Inc. On of his clients was the National Geographic Society (book division and World magazine) where John developed a fascination with their dedication to documentation and research, insuring that all artwork was as correct as possible. This impressed on him the realization that most of his adverting illustration had been “throw away art” and perhaps there was another type of art that may be held in higher regard. Thusly, in 1994, Buxton put aside the requests of Art Directors to begin painting subjects more to his interests and hopefully of more validity. He wasn’t quite sure, however, with so much to choose from, just which subject matter he was going to paint.

John soon began exhibiting his new oil paintings, placing two works in the Birds in Art Show at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. These two paintings were later reproduced in The Best of Wildlife Art, Volume 2 by Rachael R. Wolf, published by Northlight Books. John also tried the National Park Service’s annual competition, Art for the Parks placing in their Top 100 and included in their traveling show. The Society of Animal Artists elected him to membership and invited him to exhibit in their national snows. He also exhibited with the American Academy of Equine Artists before settling into his true niche-Historical Art.

Buxton’s historical images of the 18th century depicting scenes from the birth of our Nation, allowing “witness” to momentous events or experiencing everyday life on the frontier allows American history to come to life. His compassion and enthusiasm for historical accuracy has propelled him to great heights of recognition. Numerous museums and historical sites permanently display his extensively researched paintings. Several documentary files have chosen his art to enhance their programs. A program, using John’s paintings to inspire students with our heritage, was developed on disc to be distributed to schools and teachers.

John’s paintings have been featured within scores of genre magazines. Feature articles have appeared in US Art magazine, Westsylvania magazine, America’s First Freedom and more recently, Art of the West magazine in its January/February 2006 issue featuring John’s paintings and insight into their creation. The Artists Magazine’s annual Art Competition awarded Buxton’s painting, How Many Beaver? first place in the 2005 Portrait/Figure division from over 4,000 entries. It was featured on the cover in December.

In the part, most of John’s art was painted as private commissions. He endeavors to produce more paintings each year for select shows, such as The Masters Invitational at the Autry Museum in Burbank, CA, the miniature show at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa and the miniature show at Settlers West Gallery in Tucson. This year, John will also exhibit in the Eiteljorg Museum’s Quest for the West show in Indianapolis.

He was recently accepted into membership of The Oil Painters of America. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Noralee. They have two children, Bryan and Megan and will soon be blessed with two new grandchildren.

Visit John’s Official Homepage at: www.buxtonart.com

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Emily currently resides in Chandler, Arizona with her husband Gavin and daughters Cordelia Lavender, Clover Iona and Ezra Petunia. “Motherhood has brought out some pretty strong emotions and ideas,” says McPhie. “Translating those thoughts and emotions into images gives me clarity, and I find I want to document them before my perception changes.” Her daughters show every sign of following in their mother’s footsteps. “Half my studio is theirs,” she laughs. “They have their table and their easel and all their supplies. I find that they’re in here even when I’m not. They just love it – they’re very creative.”

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

I began painting full time in 1982, doing my time as a starving artist while raising my young son. I was happy to trade this tragic cliché for the happy success of sell-out gallery shows and award banquets. In 1991, I married maritime artist David Thimgan, and we thrived together. On one late summer afternoon escape, traveling to the Mendocino coast, I discovered the California wine country. I was so happy to have found a place in California that reminded me of my long lost fields of Pennsylvania. I painted my first vineyard scene in 1996 and, as time passed, this interest has taken me to the countryside of Tuscany, where I feel I probably lived in a former lifetime. My Italian opera theme song has never left my heart, and somehow life seems to have come full circle, to connect, again, the passions of my life.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Daniel has been painting fulltime for over twenty years. His works are in the permanent collection of The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and The Wildlife Experience. Daniel participates annually in the Masters of the American West exhibit at the Autry National Center and the Western Visions exhibit at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. He has won numerous awards from The Society of Animal Artists as well as being chosen as “Artist of the Year” for several conservation organizations.

Throughout his career Smith has used his art to aid and endorse many conservation efforts. He feels indebted to the natural world that has been the sole inspiration for his award winning career.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Through Lyman’s art, you can travel into a wilderness very few have experienced. You can share the sensation of being in the true outdoors – exploring, discovering, studying and enjoying the all-encompassing beauty of unspoiled nature.

Stephen Lyman was an explorer who specialized in painting the most elusive moments in nature. His inspiring work was inspired, in turn, by the writing and teachings of famous naturalist John Muir. “Muir wrote, ‘Climb the mountains and get their good tidings,’” Lyman said. “I know exactly what he meant.” Lyman’s love of the great outdoors stemmed from a childhood spent in the Pacific Northwest, where hiking in Snake River country was a regular family ritual.

Lyman’s desire to share his admiration for the outdoors was strong, but he enrolled in the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, California, to learn more about the commercial art field. He started his career as a commercial illustrator in Los Angeles and soon realized that the call of the wild was stronger than the lure of the city. Returning to Idaho, he spent two years exploring and developing his own style of painting. He continued to discover the wonders of the natural world and of living a natural lifestyle. “All my paintings have their origins in my experience and perception of beauty in the wilderness,” he said.

Lyman’s first limited edition print was published by The Greenwich Workshop in 1983. In subsequent years, he was a frequent participant in the prestigious international “Birds in Art” show at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. He was invited to be “Artist of the Year” at the 1991 Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show and then received the rare honor of being invited back as an “Encore Artist” at the 1995 event.

Stephen Lyman actively shared the wonder of the natural world with a legion of collectors until his untimely death in 1996. He had been recently named one of the top artists in the country by U.S. Art magazine and his book, Into the Wilderness: An Artist’s Journey, was published to unanimous acclaim in the autumn of 1995.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Bev Doolittle’s phenomenal success has been a by-product of her desire to work hard at what she loves to do most – create art with meaning. “My love for nature, as well as man’s relationship with it, is the driving force behind all of my artwork. Painting is a growth process. By giving each of my pursuits my best effort, and by learning from my mistakes, doors have opened for me that I could not have anticipated.”

For Bev, one of those doors was with The Greenwich Workshop, who produced her first limited edition print, Pintos, in 1979. It sold out at the publisher within weeks. “I am not a prolific painter,” Bev explains. “My art style prevents that. Reproducing my painting in print was the perfect answer. I was able to concentrate on my most important ideas while still having my work represented in galleries around North America as well as abroad. My relationship with The Workshop and its extended family of artists, galleries and their customers has been a joy for me for more than twenty-five years.”

Nearly all of Bev’s prints have been sell-outs and five books of her art have been released. Her first, The Art of Bev Doolittle, is truly a phenomenon, having sold over half-million copies of its hardback edition. Her second book, New Magic, continues the story of her painting career. She has since released three children’s books. The Forest Has Eyes was a hit with readers, both young and old. It was followed by Reading the Wild. Her illustrated novel for young readers, The Earth is My Mother includes dozens of drawings and paintings, four of which were released in print. Her desire to try new mediums as well as her fascination with sculpture, led to the creation of five limited edition porcelain boxes, each featuring one of her most popular paintings. In 2004, after a five year hiatus, Bev returned to the print art in the form of original, hand-pulled, stone lithographs. With some editions set at fewer than 20 pieces, these original prints are already rare. Bev’s work reflects her love of horses, passion for the natural world and her affinity for the Native American’s spiritual relationship to the land. Her work can also be found on calendars, journals and note cards.

Bev and her husband, Jay, both graduates of the Art Center College of Design, began married life as art directors for an advertising agency in Los Angeles. Five year of living in the city made them more aware of what they were missing: the outdoors and creating their own art. “We hoarded our savings and struck out on our own, living out of our camper for a year.

Calling ourselves, ‘Traveling Artists,’ we painted our way through the western United States, western Canada and Baja, California. It was a tremendous grown period for me. I not only developed my painting skills, but I discovered that I possessed enough self-discipline to paint every day.”

Afterward, they displayed their work in malls and outdoor art venues. “Yes, we were ‘starving artists’ for awhile!” admits Bev with a grin, “But, we were so happy doing what we loved.” Life is full of hard choices and the path of the artist is no different. “My advice to aspiring artists is simple: paint what you know, paint what you love and always paint for yourself!” For me, success followed my passion. Passion is what drives me.”

Bev, Jay and their son Jayson live close to nature in the California high desert. Joshua Tree National Park is their backyard.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Quite simply, Howard Terpning is one of the most lauded painters of Western art. His awards are so numerous and he is honored with them so often, that to list them would require changing the count every few months. To name three would be to cite the highest prizes awarded to Western art: countless awards from the Cowboy Artists of America, the Hubbard Art Award for Excellence, the National Academy of Western Art’s Prix de West and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gene Autry Museum. Why such praise? Passion, compassion, devotion and respect for his subject matter, extraordinary talent in palette and brushstroke, an exceptional ability to evoke emotion both in his paintings and from those viewing them – all this and more has made Terpning the “Storyteller of the Native American.”

Born in Illinois and educated at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the American Academy of Art, he first gained attention from some powerful Time and Newsweek covers. Film fans praised his movie posters for such classics as The Sound of Music, Dr. Zhivago and the re-issue of Gone with the Wind. But his love of the West and Native American traditions saw his transition to fine art.

Terpning is a long-time member of the Cowboy Artists of America, which has presented him with Gold and Silver awards, “Best of Show” awards, and “Best Overall Show by a Single Artist” awards more than two dozen times. His book, The Art of Howard Terpning won the Wrangler “Outstanding Art Book” award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

Aviation was my first artistic love, but my true, enduring love remains my Christian faith, home and family. So it is my pleasure to combine all of it in my work. The historical aviation subjects, I research; the contemporary and nostalgic subjects, I live.

Phillips grew up loving art but never thought he could make it his livelihood. At college he majored in criminology, and he had been accepted into law school when four of his paintings were sold at an airport restaurant. That was all the incentive he needed to begin his work as a fine art painter.

Bill Phillips is now the aviation artist of choice for many American heroes and the nostalgic landscape artist of choice for many collectors. Bill’s strengths as a landscape painter are what gave him an edge in the aviation field: respect and reverence for a time and place. When one sees his aviation pieces, thoughts are about the courageous individuals who risked their lives for our freedom. In Bill’s nostalgic works, the viewer understands fully what that freedom is… the precious values that make life worth living.

After one of his paintings was presented to King Hussein of Jordan, Phillips was commissioned by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. He developed sixteen major paintings, many of which now hang in the Royal Jordanian Air Force Museum in Amman. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum presented a one-man show of Phillips’ work in 1986; he is one of only a few artists to have been so honored.

In 1988, Phillips was chosen to be a U.S. Navy combat artist. For his outstanding work, the artist was awarded the Navy’s Meritorious Public Service Award and the Air Force Sergeants Association’s Americanism Medal. In 1991, three of Phillips’ works were chosen as part of the top 100 in “Art for the Parks,” the prestigious annual fund-raiser for the National Park Service, and one painting received the “Art History Award” from the National Park Foundation.

Artist description courtesy of The Greenwich Workshop

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