Barbara Joann Combs

About the Artist

  Barbara Joann Combs, artist, art educator, community arts collaborator born in Los Angeles, California, has worked within the discipline of visual arts since childhood. Barbara holds a B.A. with distinction in visual arts from Fayetteville State University. Has written and taught curriculum for art fundamentals courses at Seventy-First High School, North Carolina for seven years. Awarded a MA and MFA in Community Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art. Barbara has worked within five Baltimore communities facilitating four quilt projects and two summer youth programs creating murals. Her recent mural was a collaboration with the Johnson Square neighborhood at Ambrose Kennedy Park and pool. Ms. Combs currently teaches art education in Prince George's County and facilitates murals with Pre-K through high school students, while continuing to create in her studio apartment.  

Artist's Statement

Words are not enough and take too long to communicate the loveliness and motion of life that incites a fervent desire in me to create. The experiences that bring me joy are the stimulus for my compositions. Ideas come to mind and a drawing takes form in my sketchbook. From sketchbook to working an idea out on canvas with thick impasto technique; carving into linoleum or wood and watching the image come to life when the print is pulled; playing with fluid acrylics like watercolors as the textures form on paper…this is my life fuel. The most rewarding part of creating is when an idea becomes visual. I can touch it with my hands, experience it with my emotions, and seeing people totally enjoy the artwork.