Kevin Barton
About the Artist
Based in:Petoskey, MI
Website: http://kevinbartonartist.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartonsartloft/
Biography
Celebrating 30 years as a full time plein air painter during 2026 Petoskey based Kevin Barton is one of Michigan’s most well collected artists with artwork in collections across the nation and beyond. Mr. Barton’s art has garnered numerable awards and accolades including the Manoogian Museum’s Gold Medal Award and Signature Member status with the American Impressionist Society. His work has been featured in many publications, covers, group and solo shows over the years along with his art being honored with manifold best of show awards.
He discovered the idea of plein air painting from books, in his late teens, as he set out on the journey of his art career. Hence, it has been an integral part of his process from the beginning. It brings bold spontaneity, and not entirely paradoxically, decisiveness to the decision making. There is a sense of being celebrated now, and more alive when working on location. And If anything he strives to bring more of this to his studio creations and sees both processes as equal for different reasons.
Therefore, Barton is glad to reside in Northern Michigan with its wealth of subject matter befitting his tastes and talents with painting. The area is home to vistas of the Great Lakes, charming family farms, diverse architecture, gardens, and unique waterfront towns he often depicts in the golden hour. While all this provides endless opportunities to create, his oil painting has also taken him to places like Sedona, California, Chicago, New York City (with a group show at the prestigious Amsterdam Whitney Gallery) and most recently to Key West and Naples Florida.
Artist's Statement
“It looks just like it… but it doesn’t.”
This is one of those instances where kids say the darndest things. The word “art” means different things to different people and could range from photo realism to abstract expressionism. Yes, Barton enjoys capturing the specific details of a subject, yet he wants people to know they are looking at a “painting”. To look at his style is to see the world made of paint. The heavily textured and brightly colored paintings that result engage the viewers imagination and uniquely instill in them a sense of participating in something timeless while the sense of loose detail always gives the collector new things to find in a piece. He enjoys plein-air not only for the quality and sensitivity to light it brings, but also for the sense of spontaneity and creative solutions it brings to the process and brush work.
Exhibitions and Events
2011 Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, Gold Medal Winner
2013 & 2016 Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, Second Place
2014 Crooked Tree Arts Center Paint Out, Best of Show
2015 D’Art for Art, Featured Artist
2015 Paint Dexter, MI Plein Air Festival, Awards Judge
2016 Sole Exhibition, “Tales Lost to the Wind” Crooked Tree Petoskey
2016 Crooked Tree Arts Center Annual Paint Out, Awards Judge
2017 Crooked Tree Arts Center Paint Out, Best Farm Scene
2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2021 Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Poster Contest, Winner
2019 Paint Grand Traverse “Small Wonders,” Best in Show
2021 Crooked Tree Arts Center “Play it Forward” Autumn Paint Out, Best Of Show
2023 Mackinac Manoogian Art Museum, 2nd Place
2023 Crooked Tree Petoskey paint out, 2nd place
2023 Accepted in the American Impressionist Society all members on line exhibit
2025 D’Art for Art, Best in Show
2025 1st Place. Crooked Tree Petoskey Area Paint Out
2025 Paint Grand Traverse, Award of Recognition
2025 Mackinac Manoogian Art Museum, 2nd place