Ernie Barnes By: Joel Mukendi. Ernie Barnes Ernie Barnes, was an American Neo- Mannerist artist born in Durham, North Carolina, on Friday July 15, 1938,

Ernie Barnes

By: Joel Mukendi

Ernie Barnes

• Ernie Barnes, was an American Neo-Mannerist artist born in Durham, North Carolina, on Friday July 15, 1938, and deceased on Monday April 27, 2009, Los Angeles, California.

Ernie Barnes, even as I say it I still do not have a visible picture of him in my mind. Growing up the former football player was always interested in drawing. He attended North Carolina central where he played football, as an offensive guard and majored in art. Following his college years, Ernie entered then American football league. Barnes played for several teams including: the New York titans, San Diego Chargers, and the Denver Broncos. While playing the Football league, Barnes was designated as the “Official Artist of The American Football League.”

Early years

Art WorkEvery artists has a certain habit or a way they envision their art work to appear. Barnes had a way where he placed several details to art pieces, showing the strain of competing bodies in the curves and exertions of the figures. An example would be the piece he called “ His Effort” Most of his work is characterized by figures in motion. And often includes work focusing on fabled black athleticism, or sport theme.

Opportunities

• With his ability to capture peoples thoughts, Barnes got the opportunity to paint an interpretation of rapper and recording artist Kanye West’s recovery from his fatal car crash titled Life restored which is located in Kanye’s house. Also marvin Gaye, used one of Barnes most famous painting titled, Sugar Shack on his Album I Want You.

Life Restored

• Sugar Shack

Marvin Gaye

Opinion• Their could have been several reasons to why I chose this

artist, sure he’s African American like myself, and yeah he does paint artwork to appeal to majority of the black community but those reason alone do not explain ,why I chose him. First, I enjoy the details that are displayed on every art work. Barnes is fascinated by the human movement, and that is shown on a lot of his work, he paints with elongation, distortion, finesse, and disregards the human anatomy. Also I’m a sport fanatic, Barnes is a former professional football player who uses his knowledge and experiences in a high level sport to portray a view in which fans are not exposed to while watching sports. Every picture that Barnes draws or paints tells a story. For example in the art piece, The Competitive Spirit, one could conclude that the athlete is fatigued from an intense race in which he won but the exhaustion prevented him from celebrating his victory.

The Competitive Spirit

A Drum Major • The View

“The Metamorphosis of Rocky”

This artwork was one of Barnes’ most challenging painting of his career. It took up 18 months to complete. The artwork was commissioned by actor/producer Sylvester Stallone.

A Dream Confirmed

Victory in overtime