MUEN: HELLO BRYAN, I GUESS OUR FIRST QUESTION IS "FOR HOW LONG" HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART, AND DID YOU HAVE FORMAL TRAINING?

BRYAN BARNES: Hi, how are you? I've been drawing from what I can remember since I was four. My grandmother who is an artist had a profound impact on me when I was little to pursue art. In high school I received a basketball scholarship to the University of Cal State San Bernardino and after only a year and a half, I focused on my true passion of art (and studies). While in college I became deeply focused on my photography and illustration and found my 'style', so to speak.

MUEN: ALONG THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER, AT WHAT POINT IN TIME DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD CALL YOURSELF "AN ARTIST?"

BRYAN BARNES: Probably when I knew that is all I wanted to do in life, sometime in college. I work in the corporate world where I'm paid for my design sense and when I'm not at the office I work on my own projects both photography and illustration. My family and friends are for the most part all artists and musicians, so I'm constantly surrounded by the art realm.

MUEN: WHAT ARE ALL THE MEDIUMS YOU WORK WITH, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THOSE MEDIUMS?

BRYAN BARNES: I work in photography and graphite (pencil). Both mediums are challenging in there own way and push me in different select areas. I never really was attracted to painting as I was amazed by the realism you could capture with graphite. And with photography, it can be astounding to see what you can capture behind a lens.

MUEN: WHAT TYPE OF MODELS DO YOU WORK WITH, AND ARE YOU CONTINUALLY SEEKING MODELS? IF SO, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT YOU?

BRYAN BARNES: I always have a very focused vision on what I'm trying to communicate with every piece and the models are chosen based on that. I'm currently not seeking models as of right now, but all model inquiries may be sent to [email protected]

MUEN: WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU THE MOST?

BRYAN BARNES: I'm influenced or inspired by some common and not so common ‘darker’ artists, both contemporary and of the past. I always loved studying Goya in college and the tattoo artist Paul Booth from New York has a cool vibe.

MUEN: WHAT IS YOUR 3 LATEST CREATIONS? AND ARE THEY FOR SALE OR AVAILABLE IN ANY FORMAT?

BRYAN BARNES: I'm currently working on new photography and illustration series depicting a person's perception of beauty and self, rejection fetishes with the broken and manipulation of the past. It'll be some cool dark stuff!

Original works and prints are available for sale on my site at www.traumaisart.com

MUEN: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO JUDGE ART, BESIDES FROM IT JUST BEING A "MATTER OF SOMEONES OPINION".. WHAT DO YOU FEEL ARE THE UNIVERSAL (USUALLY AGREED UPON) STANDARDS, FROM WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THUS FAR?

BRYAN BARNES: To me art can be so subjective. But, I always look upon the technical aspects of how a piece was created and what the piece is looking to communicate.....hopefully something powerful and unique. A lot of "art" these days, however falls into category of just following what is popular amongst other artists and the subjects are composed of cartoonish figures with not depth at all.

Interview by G. Cataline

Bryan Barnes
[email protected]
www.traumaisart.com
www.myspace.com/traumaisart