“My portraits may not
always feature the outwardly pretty or majestic, but
they all share a quiet beauty that asks us to listen and
to feel. My work reflects my personal narrative, yet my
intent as an artist is to create an experience that will
allow the viewers to bring new interpretations to the
symbols, creating their own narrative and own sense of
understanding and place.”
-
Cassandra Christensen Barney
Cassandra
Christensen Barney was born and raised in Orem, Utah. She received her
Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Brigham Young University in 2000.
“I've had a passion for the craft of the portrait since I was a child.
As a young girl, I visited museums around the world with my father,
collecting postcards adorned with 16th century art. Exploring these
simple images captured my imagination, unlocking a world of discovery. I
love the art of storytelling, the layers of symbolism, and would create
my own stories of these quiet women, making the paintings my own. Today
I paint portraits that share my passion for storytelling while revealing
my personal journey of transition and discovery.”
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Angelina`s Paradise
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
“Some paintings just
flow off the end of your brush, others evolve over time. Comfort was one
that took a while,” Cassandra Barney explains. “My husband said that
every time I worked on it I would repaint the whole thing and lose what
was a beautiful painting in the process. I think that happens sometimes.
You have to be willing to give up on something that is not quite there
in the process of finding something better. The layers of color and
luscious texture the painting has taken on are a result of that
repainting process.”
“That approach also
gave the painting the time to evolve into a more pertinent reflection of
the feeling I wanted to express about motherhood. We all want to be a
source of strength when it comes to caring for and protecting our
children and at the same time we have that time need to be loved and
protected as well. It's about giving comfort and the comfort you receive
in return. In providing comfort to my little lambs, I receive the same
in return.”
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
Life is an ongoing series of miracles.
Everyone has something to be thankful for or someone they should be
saying “thank you” to. Prayers, large and small, are answered daily,
sometimes without us even knowing. Ex Votos are fine art offerings
commissioned as the result of an answered prayer and displayed to
acknowledge an appreciation for it having happened. Today, they are most
widely known as the folk art works created on tin and found in shrines
across Mexico. Each Ex Votos celebrates the exceptional nature of the
common and the uncommon: friendship, love, life, family and self. They
recognize the divine nature of those things. This collection is styled
with the look of the Mexican tin-paneled works and they are designed to
be hung in groupings.
Life is an ongoing series of miracles.
Everyone has something to be thankful for or someone they should be
saying “thank you” to. Prayers, large and small, are answered daily,
sometimes without us even knowing. Ex Votos are fine art offerings
commissioned as the result of an answered prayer and displayed to
acknowledge an appreciation for it having happened. Today, they are most
widely known as the folk art works created on tin and found in shrines
across Mexico. Each Ex Votos celebrates the exceptional nature of the
common and the uncommon: friendship, love, life, family and self. They
recognize the divine nature of those things. This collection is styled
with the look of the Mexican tin-paneled works and they are designed to
be hung in groupings.
"I remember well the feeling of holding my
newborn babies in my arms for the first time. It was like holding a
little piece of heaven. Through motherhood, I have experienced a joy
that is pure and beautiful. This experience is not unique to me, it is
shared by mothers all over the world. Everyday I feel gratitude for the
opportunity to be a mother, and hese beautiful souls that have been
placed in my care."
"I see my birthdays as a time to reflect and
give thanks. Each year brings new experiences, as I live and learn.
Birthdays are a celebration of all those experiences that you have had
and all of those that you will have in the year to come."
"I’ve never understood the drive to hold
onto one’s youth. I think people grow more beautiful throughout their
lives as they live and learn through experiences, trial and triumphs. A
life well lived is beautiful and something to be grateful for."
"In this painting, the two individual trees
intertwine to become something bigger, stronger and more beautiful. The
marriage of those trees will yield fruit that will not only nourish
them, but others as well. There are honey bees buzzing over the bride’s
bouquet, enjoying the nectar of the flowers and ready to pollinate the
tree above. I am grateful for love that has grown into something more
wonderful than anything I could have imagined."
"I
am continually touched and grateful for my friends. True friendship is a
gift. It is a gift given without anything expected in return. Friends
are people with whom we choose to share our lives, the good times and
bad. They are the people who buoy us up. They are the people who inspire
us to be better." - Cassandra Christensen
Barney
"I’ve always felt that my mother’s prayers
were like a silent song, guiding and protecting me. It’s those prayers
that set me on my path, inspiring me to be the best I can be. I am
grateful for the love of my mother and her prayers, past and present"
"Gardening has taught me patience and
reverence for the process of creation and the life cycle. Success comes
from creative problem solving, attention on a daily basis, sticking with
it and learning from mistakes. It's beautiful to see the stages of the
plants’ life and then, with gratitude, enjoy the harvest. I am thankful
for each growing season to connect with the world outside, the earth and
all of the things that live on it."
"I
love to dance. When I dance, I feel connected to my body, the earth and
music. I have often felt that dancing is an opportunity to celebrate our
bodies and to feel and express the joy we feel inside. I think we should
dance more"
"I
am 12 weeks pregnant with my first child and I am loving the journey of
the miracle of creation. I'm in constant awe of the growth and
development of my unborn baby. It is all I think about. My story is
simple. My aunt pulled me aside one day and placed in my hand an elegant
gold ring with a single round emerald stone. It once belonged to my
great aunt Ruth. It was her August birth stone. My baby is due in August
and this was my aunt's way of congratulating me, sharing my family
heritage with me, and passing on the legacy of a life well lived. I now
wear that ring with the same devotion I wear my wedding ring. It
represents family, past and present and the link we have to so many
generations. I realize my baby is the next link in this family chain and
that brings me great joy"
“If there
is no opposition, nothing to push against, we would merely float. If
that was the case, how would we grow?. How can we know joy if we never
know pain? We all have our issues to contend with and it is through that
conflict that personal growth is found. Reward comes from engaging in
challenges, finding solutions and learning endurance. At the same time,
is it necessary that this process of resolving has to be a fight? By
changing our perspective, could we see those challenges another way?
What if instead of fighting through life, we dance? And Then They Danced
is a painting about finding beauty in the battle. The figure chooses
this dance, aware and onstage, sharing her conquest and what she is to
gain. Bullfighting is traditional, dangerous and potentially beautiful
but cruel. If I were a matador, I would rather dance. I would turn that
fight into something beautiful"
- Cassandra Christensen- Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
“I remind myself to ‘be
where my feet are’ often,” says artist Cassandra Barney. “My mind tends
to drift toward the future, sometimes planning or worrying about what
lies ahead, missing the present. Being present is where life is the most
rich and colourful. I've even found myself consciously feeling the soles
of my feet on the ground to get myself there.
“I really like the way the images on the vintage wallpaper enriched the
idea. The hunters in the background could be a distraction but the
figure stands with her feet on the ground, amongst the most beautiful
flowers.”
- Cassandra Christensen- Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
“I
was listening to a talk in church about the Atonement. It's something I've heard
about my entire life, but never really tried to understand. As used in the
scriptures, ‘to atone’ is to suffer the penalty for sins, thereby removing the
effects of sin from the repentant sinner and allowing him or her to be
reconciled to God. Jesus Christ was the only one capable of carrying out the
Atonement for all mankind and did so.
“I had a moment of clarity and while I thought, I drew in my sketchbook. I did a
sketch of pure white petals falling from the sky like a gift. The petals are
mallow which is a symbol of gentleness. As they touched the figure they took
away her impurities, leaving her clean and perfect. The red petals symbolize the
blood that Christ spilt for us ... and all the figure had to do was look up and
accept the gift.”
- Cassandra Christensen- Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
The rose has been used for
centuries to convey messages without words. The Latin expression sub rosa
(literally “under the rose”) means something told in secret, thus the rose has
long been a symbol of confidentiality.
The woman here sits sub rosa. Your Name is Safe in My Mouth means that she will
never speak badly of you. This means more than simply
your-secrets-are-her-secrets. This painting is about discovering the trust in
love because having trust in a partner is invaluable. Nothing that will hurt the
ones you love should come from your mouth. It is one way of honoring the people
that you care about.
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
I’ve learned that
people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people
will never forget how you made them feel.
—Maya
Angelou
“The first time I
put on an apron,” says artist Cassandra Barney, “I
thought it created an illusion of working very hard,
which I enjoyed. I also thought it was sassy to
stomp around the kitchen in heels and my apron … but
that symbol has transformed for me into an image of
charity and hard work. It’s not necessarily about
motherhood because there are, I think, opportunities
in every season of our lives for us to give to those
around us. With this painting, I’d like to pay
tribute to those who give because they love.”
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
In "Little
Secrets," a woman is visited by a small bird with a secret trapped in its
beak. Whether the woman has just confided in the bird, or is hoping to hear
its news, one thing is clear: this bird is not telling.
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
Like elegant
mirrors, Cassandra Barney's paintings of women reflect our emotions and
innermost desires. Hortensia's eyes may seem wistful, but do her lips betray
the hint of a smile? It's up to you to discover Hortensia's secret.
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
''The two women in
My Fate is Not Your Fate represent the fork in a lifelong road. As children,
they may have shared similar experiences, but in adulthood their paths take
different directions. Although they stand beside one another as they have for
years, their postures indicate alternative possibilities. We all may share
many common threads but, we don't all have to want the same thing."
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
Listen. Can you
hear it? That little tune in the air, a simple reminder to stop and smell
the roses - or perhaps, a clue to the meaning of life itself. Each of us are
given little gifts, moments that make us see the people, places and
experiences which comprise our world in a whole new way. In Cassandra
Barney's latest limited edition, Eve is experiencing one of those moments.
She appears doe-eyed, lost in her own song, as her companions stare at the
viewer. It is the beauty of Cassandra's charming women, combined with this
evergreen message, that gently remind us to look and listen to the little
moments.
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
Inspired by
mythology and folklore, Barney’s women often take on layers of rich
symbolism and Demetria is no exception. Named
for the Greek goddess of harvest, Demertia glows with fertility and
abundance.
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
"I think of the
garden as a sanctuary, a safe place. The women in this painting finds herself in a
world of her own creation, having discovered the bliss of her own space. In
Fleur, our heroine wears a flower in her hair so she can be reminded of her
special place wherever she may roam."
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
At first glance,
the viewer is drawn to the rich imagery and color of Cassandra Christensen
Barney’s Fine Art Limited Editions. One of the staples of Barney’s exquisite
portraiture is her ability to layer her work with rich symbolism. The
Engagement explores concepts of promise, commitment and hope. The uncaged
bird chooses to offer a gift, presenting our heroine with a poppy—which is
both beautiful and fragile. Within the poppy is a ring, the symbol of
eternity and a flame, symbolizing desire. There are also a pair of poppies
entwined and waiting to blossom.
Influenced by art of the 16th century, artist Cassandra loves the narrative
aspect of portraits. Each of her truly unique paintings is a frank,
compelling and often mysterious portrait of the “muses” of our daily
lives .The feminine charms of her characters have captured the attention of
the sophisticated fine art collector.
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
The Bridesmaids
unveils a whimsical trio getting ready to participate in the wedding party.
Possibly posed for a snapshot, this moment in time captures each of their
personalities as they find themselves caught in a moment of contemplation.
The truth is... you can’t say for sure what exactly Cassandra Barney’s bevy
of painted ladies are thinking, but these three undoubtedly conjure
suggestions of joy and anticipation.
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
'' Red is a
stimulant that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions. I like
red as confidence, happiness and prosperity. But red can also suggest power,
refusing to sink into the background – even when it is the background, as is
the case here.
Dora is not in front of this background by chance. Although she may
look simply passive, the red suggests the fire inside her. ''
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
“Ambiguous and
poignant, they are not vain, not beautiful in the classic sense, unafraid to
bare their melancholy and even show some sadness. Their beauty is in their
simplicity, which easily allows the viewer in and to wonder what they are
thinking. Adara and Her Sister
is rich in symbolism.
The name Adara translates as “beauty,” the butterfly is fragile and
short-lived, and the vines which surround them subtly suggest the bonds of
family.''
-Cassandra Christensen-Barney
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
“While I worked on this
painting, I often thought about paradise,” says artist Cassandra Barney.
“I was thinking about the times in my life when I have felt absolute
contentment, a beautiful feeling that has come at times when I’ve lost
myself in the care of others. The figure in the painting holds a
strawberry, which has many associations including fertility, chastity,
heaven, holy trinity, humility, paradise and purity. Fruit is considered
to be evidence of God’s kindness and a symbol of his Providence. Fruit
is also a symbol of good luck and several kinds of fruit frame the top
of the painting. The lambs are in the care of this ever-vigilant
shepherdess and she is in a state of bliss.”
Limited
Edition Giclée Canvas
Hand signed by the artist
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