Barbara was born in The Netherlands and lived in Europe until she immigrated in 1981 to Canada. She lives and works in Vancouver.
After travelling extensively throughout Europe, South, Central and North America, Africa and Asia, as well as working in the fields of, hospitality and travel industry and in interior design and photography and as a TV host, her search for a deeper spiritual meaning led her to a career in painting. After attending courses at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, in Vancouver, B.C., in addition to private training under well-known artists such as Jeanne Krabbendam, Barbara is working full time as a mixed media artist and has a studio on Granville Island.
In 2017 Barbara wrote a coffee table book that was published by Granville Island publishing. The book offers short stories about her travels and a glimpse into her art.
Her work has been selected for many juried exhibitions and she holds solo exhibitions every year. Numerous of Barbara’s paintings have found a home in Europe, North America and Canada
Barbara has a great passion for life, music, and nature, and has found that painting has become a necessity in her life. Painting gives her a feeling of harmony and balance. As it is in life, so it is in painting. She enjoys allowing her paintings to take on a life all their own and begins with a ‘get acquainted‘ period before seeing what the painting is about. The spontaneously created pieces reveal a passion for colour and exploration, using methods that include acrylics, oils, wax, graphite, charcoal, antiquing processes and inks.
Barbara’s work is inspired by human emotions, the earth’s shapes and movements, and sometimes reflects social commentary. Barbara’s long association with the world of art, combined with her love of travel, is evident in her colourful, rhythmic paintings. Her style of work is between representational and abstract.
The works of artists Mark Rothko, Piet Mondrian, Robert Rauschenberg, Gerhard Richter, Jackson Pollock, Cy Twombly, Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning have all inspired Barbara.
Podcast "Fascinating Women" with Mark Laurie
Host Mark Laurie chats with Barbara Arnold to reveal her journey, both the highs and the lows and the events that shaped her. This interview shares Barbara's values and her insights.
April 14, 2021
Check out Barbara’s artist talk at The Gallery George “What Joy” exhibition, where she elaborates on the meaning and inspiration of some of her paintings on display at this show.
June 3, 2021
Check out Barbara talking about her art practice on the Dutch radio show on Connect FM Canada. Barbara elaborates on how she became an artists and on her artworks.
July 10, 20121
Check out Barbara being interviewed in her studio on Granville Island by Mass Abedi of Tulip TV
October 3, 2012
“Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.”
“Without atmosphere a painting is nothing.”
—Rembrandt, Dutch Artist
“Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.”
—Claude Monet, French Artist
“I believe painting is about the balance of the mind as it is in life, so it is in painting.
Painting fills ‘the space in between’ a great passion for life, music and nature.”
—Barbara’s Artist Statement
