An Inner Strength 2007

Ernie Barnes’ painting, An Inner Strength, shows a crouched figure and small seedling rendered in earthy hues. I’m thinking about the artist making this work, perhaps even seeing this image somewhere and then finding the right colours that help communicate the mood he wants to capture. Is it hope? Or perseverance? It is very moving. It feels like I’m watching an athlete gather himself before a race, and it speaks of the importance of small beginnings and quiet moments of reflection. Barnes highlights the interplay of fragility and resilience, both in life and in art. I love the colour palette, it creates a sense of warmth and naturalism, while the texture of the wall and floor adds a tactile quality to the painting. This rose pushing through stone, and the figure reaching out to touch it: painting captures these fleeting moments and turns them into something lasting. It’s an exchange of ideas between artists and between the work and the viewer. It asks us to sit with the beautiful ambiguity and uncertainty that painting can provide.