Ernie Barnes
By: Joel Mukendi
Ernie Barnes
• Ernie Barnes, was an American NeoMannerist artist born in Durham, North
Carolina, on Friday July 15, 1938, and
deceased on Monday April 27, 2009, Los
Angeles, California.
Early years
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.”
Art Work
Every 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