Lily, my granddaughter, was visiting me on a warm early June morning. We were outside chasing butterflies and smelling flowers. We went around to the back of my house where I have a daylily garden. Lily picked three big colorful daylilies. We put them in a vase and went upstairs to my studio to mix colors. Lily helped me with the brush strokes and mixing the colors. Spending a day with Lily resulted in a beautiful painting and a wonderful day.

An old 1924 newspaper clipping that my mother mailed to me inspired this painting.  Under the picture was information about the railroad shop crew at Florence Atlantic Coast Line after they captured the world record for freight car construction completing their feat in only forty eight and one-half man-hours. My grandfather, L.F. Barr, and my great uncle, Alex Barr, were part of the railroad crew. Painting this piece provided a very emotional and inspiring rush of feelings. I wanted to capture the atmosphere and the ghosts of yesterday. (Note that the spelling of “despatch” is correct. That was the old form of spelling in 1924.

This was inspired by my romantic side. I wanted to capture the color and love of a city. I can only imagine what it would be like to visit Venice. I feel like I did capture the mood of the "City for All Souls."

My neighbor, Clara, every spring brings to my house a beautiful bright sunny yellow fresh handpicked bounty of daffodils. I always bring them upstairs to my studio to enjoy the smell and color. This spring the flowerSs were bigger than ever. I put them in a vase and set them on a table. The next morning when I went upstairs, the flowers were bowing down to touch the red tablecloth. This inspired me to paint a still life, right that moment. I did not want to wait because I wanted to capture their finale.

I wanted to paint someone different from my family or friends. I painted this lovely lady because she is very mysterious. Her father is a musician. A sitar is an East Indian stringed instrument resembling a guitar. So, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to create mystery in my art.

After the last guitar student leaves for the day, I love to watch the sun filter through my studio window. I know it won’t be long before the day turns into evening. I place my old friend on the table and go downstairs for supper. I know I will soon return for Evening Practice.

I love the South Carolina Lowcountry and this painting depicts what you would see in the early morning or late afternoon of a lowcountry summer.The time was late October (“Indian Summer” in South Carolina) when I saw this doe standing in the salty marsh casting her shadow. The color was a sepia brown golden light. Indian Summer Harmonies was my way of capturing that moment in time.

I painted Jim's Place for a guitar student of mine. He described in general what he wanted, but then left it up to me. This was a lot of fun to paint.  I love the colors and lines in Jim’s Place.

(Private collection) This composition reflects the music from Castles of Spain. The beautiful melodies and harmonies entwine to produce an intoxicating lyrical and poetic explosion of beautiful sounds and visual imagery.

I saw the doves sitting in an oak tree outside my house. It was a beautiful, summer morning. The birds and tree were sihouettes, and behind them was a a pastel sky. "Loves Dawning" is about love, hope and peace. 

My former guitar teacher, Christopher Berg, is also a lutenist. The Lutenist Revolution was a fun piece to paint because the formal concert attire was replaced by a rock star look. Mr. Berg is a professor at the University of South Carolina and head of the guitar program. This painting was a different idea that was inspirational to create.

The stallion, of course, is the subject. The painting has a freedom about it. I think the movement and color make the eye travel around the painting, bringing you closer to the Morning Run. 

(Private Collection) This was a very emotional and inspiring subject to paint. Pathway of the Passed is about color, peacefulness, spirituality and balance. Creating this painting was like writing a piece of music that starts in a major key, modulating to its relative minor sooon to return to the major pathway that leads home.

I love the mountains, and was inspired to paint one of the many churches that are found along the roadside. I wanted to capture the peace on the canvas that I feel in my heart.

This painting was inspired by a beautiful sunset on Lake Lure, North Carolina. It was such an inspiration to paint. It made me feel closer to God’s great creation.

(Private Collection) The man that inspired my music, my art, and my life is my father. He is a very talented musician and I admire his mastery of the guitar. I painted the Guitar Man, because that is my Dad.

(Private Collection) Marvie is my beautiful mother. Mom and my dad used to salt water fish at least once a week. My mom is also very talented and I was inspired to paint The Marvie to capture that part of my mom.

(Private Collection) This painting was inspired when my mother-in-law Lillian Strickland, gave me an old (1949) photograph taken with my late father-in-law Bill. Creating this painting was very special to me. I wanted to bring life to the old photo. I used warm sepia colors to contribute to the age of the painting. This was also a very emotional piece for me to paint. I felt so close to Lillian and Bill. I didn’t realize how much I missed my beloved father-in-law, Bill, but I know he would have approved of this painting.