Artist Bio & Statement: Barbara Courtney Jaenicke loved drawing and painting as a child, but she can’t really say that there was any teacher or family member who identified her as a particularly gifted artist at a young age. Barbara’s early career was spent in advertising as an art director, then later in corporate marketing communications. Without much time for painting during these earlier careers, she always knew she would eventually continue her original artistic passion, and in 1999 she gradually but intensely began to do so. Finally, in 2002, she was able to turn her focus to a fine art career, pursuing it full steam ahead.

Working in oil and pastel, Barbara strives to capture light-filled landscapes in a painterly, impressionist style and has earned a number of awards. She holds signature memberships in Oil Painters of America (OPA) and American Impressionist Society (AIS), and has earned the distinctions of Master Pastelist in the Pastel Society of America (PSA) and Eminent Pastelist in the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS).

“Painting isn’t just a job or hobby for me. It’s a passion. Maybe even an obsession. I try to paint experiences and emotions, rather than “things.” To do this, I need to push beyond the basic mechanics of creating the work. No painting is ever easy for me. Each one challenges me to create that magic that goes beyond just a painting of a thing. That magic doesn’t always happen in every single attempt, but it’s those euphoric instances when the painting 'hits' that make it worth going through all the painful 'misses.'"