Study for Improv 1998

Ernie Barnes made this painting, Study for Improv, and you can almost feel him working spontaneously with the oil paint. Check out that sandy, yellow ochre color. I wonder if Ernie was in a jazz club when he thought up this painting. I can almost see him, brush in hand, conjuring this scene in his mind. The texture of the paint is incredible; you can see how each layer builds up to create this dynamic composition. The dancer’s hands, slightly distorted, reach out, pulling you into the rhythm of the painting. His body is so alive, bent forward with the beat. Barnes's art reminds me of Jacob Lawrence, who was also painting about everyday life and the black experience. Artists engage in an ongoing conversation, constantly inspiring one another’s creativity. Each brushstroke is an invitation to interpret and connect. It's a dance of expression, an embrace of ambiguity, and a celebration of the ever-evolving dialogue between artist and viewer.