Courtney Barnard
Courtney Barnard is an intuitive abstract expressionist painter who acknowledges and validates people’s experiences through her work. She helps create connections and community with her topics and encourages people everywhere to feel and heal.
She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with honors, from West Chester University and, after some time away to start a family, Courtney came back to painting with a whole new purpose. Having hit rock bottom emotionally and physically, painting became not just something she enjoyed, but a way to heal. Through meditation and journaling, combined with her art practice, Courtney unlocked a new way to express emotions and connect with those going through similar experiences. It has become her mission to help those struggling with trauma recovery to feel validated and part of a bigger healing community.
Losing Myself Trying to Save You
Many of us know how difficult it is to watch someone you care about struggle with addiction. For some of us, it almost swallows us whole. We become so desperate to save that person that we sacrifice our own happiness and opportunities. This piece represents the light within us being drained and consumed with that determination to save someone.
Acrylic on canvas
Garden of Imperfections
For those that struggle with perfectionism and the desperation to be validated by others, this piece shows us just how beautiful our imperfections are when we just take a step back to see what we’re really capable of. The words within the background are the beliefs we hold both subconsciously and consciously, hoping and begging for approval, all while tearing ourselves down completely. The flowers in the foreground represent the repetition and lengths we go to in order to make something appear perfect or impressive. But while driving ourselves mad, we lose sight of the beauty we are creating despite the negativity we are drowning in.
Acrylic on canvas
