Rick’s artistic journey has followed a non-traditional path with a number of interesting side trips. He was born in rural western Pennsylvania, where he enjoyed drawing during his youth and eventually ventured into oil paints. His early paintings focused on his passion for the outdoors and wildlife.

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After high school, Rick’s goal of going to college was postponed until he had completed a 4-year enlistment in the United States Air Force. While serving in the Air Force, he had the good fortune of being stationed in Washington State and Alaska, where his love of the outdoors increased through opportunities to experience the wild and rugged mountain and northern landscapes. It was here that his desire to focus on landscapes began to take root and flourish.

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After fulfilling his enlistment at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, Rick decided to stay in the 49th State and build a future. It was there, in Anchorage, where he met his wife, Carisa, and together they began their family of four children. Supporting a family on sporadic artwork did not seem to be a prudent plan, so at the age of 23, he went back to school to earn a BS degree in Civil Engineering and an MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alaska.

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After finishing his master's degree, Rick thought it was time to advance his artistic knowledge, so he enrolled in a Painting 101 course at the university. The instructor did not understand Rick’s desire to learn more about representational landscape painting and discouraged him from pursuing it. The instructor’s opinion was that landscapes were more interesting as abstract works with purple trees, orange mountains, etc., and that if you wanted a realistic landscape, you should take a picture—it would be more accurate. There were no meaningful discussions or instruction on values, shapes, form, linework, etc. needed in landscape painting. The course was dropped, and that was the extent of accredited art instruction for Rick Barnett.

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The creative and organic mindset of an artist may seem inconsistent, and even competing, with the logical and calculating mind of an engineer… and it is! But for the next 35 years, the logical/calculating mind paid the bills while the artistic mind never left and yearned for the time and opportunities to paint the beauty of Alaska, North Carolina, and all places in between.

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Today, Rick and Carisa are back in Western PA, enjoying the beauty of the forests, streams, hills, and rural scenery. Since his recent retirement from engineering, he has more time available to pursue his painting passion and grow as an artist.

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Over the last 30 years, he has been blessed with opportunities to learn and improve by studying the works of other artists and by taking workshops and online study courses from a number of outstanding artists. But, as any good landscape artist knows, there is no substitute for getting outdoors for plein air painting and spending studio time putting paint on the canvas.

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Painting is a journey that can take you to great places of fame and fortune or simply help you express a deep and abiding appreciation for the beauty of the world in which we live. The important thing is to enjoy the journey. I hope the joy of my journey and appreciation for God’s amazing creation can be seen in my paintings.