Oil painter Barney Levitt approaches his creative work with humor and charm. Enjoy his portfolio, and learn more by visiting his website.
![Humorous painting of chickens playing with a beachball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FowlPlay_OilonCanvas_16x20.jpg)
“Fowl Play” oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″
I am a visual storyteller. As a child, I was always drawing. My parents enrolled me in art classes at the local library when I was very young.
![Whimsical painting of an elephant literally in a room](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TheElephantInTheRoom_OilonCanvas_16x20.jpg)
“The Elephant In the Room” oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″
My aunt, also an artist, gave me my first easel and set of oil paints when I was twelve years old. I entered university as a Biology major, but soon switched to Studio Art, concentrating on painting and drawing. I was spellbound by the works of the Dutch and Flemish Masters, particularly Vermeer.
![whimsical painting of a boy lifted skyward by butterflies](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SpiritRising_OilonCanvas_18x22.jpg)
“Spirit Rising” oil on canvas, 18″ x 22″
After graduating with a Fine Arts Degree in painting from S.U.N.Y at Oswego, I took a detour out west and became a ski instructor in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I continued to paint in my spare time, doing oil portraits of the farm animals on a small farm where I lived in a one-room cabin with no running water.
![oil painting of a goat in a pasture](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MarysWorld_OilonCanvas_24x35.jpg)
“Mary’s World” oil on canvas, 24″ x 35″
Mary’s World (a take on Wyeth’s Christina’s World) was my first large oil portrait of Mary the Goat. She wasn’t particularly cooperative as a model, but I captured her essence in the end.
![a painting of a dog wearing curlers in a kitchen](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CoffeeAndCurlers_OilonCanvas_20x22.jpg)
“Coffee and Curlers” oil on canvas, 20″ x 22″
I eventually moved to Boston and frequented the local art galleries, getting inspiration from contemporary artists such as Stone Roberts, Robert Jackson, and Scott Fraser.
![whimsical painting of a heron serving tea](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TheGreatBlueHeronsTeaParty_OilonCanvas_18x14.jpg)
“The Great Blue Heron’s Tea Party” oil on canvas, 18″ x 14″
The turning point came when I applied for and was accepted as a full member of The Copley Society of Art, a prestigious and highly competitive organization, and the oldest non-profit art association in the U.S. Over the years I eventually became a Copley Master and began to take my painting more seriously, getting invitations to show in well-established galleries.
![humorous painting of Mr. Potato Head with french fries](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MrPotatoHeadsDiscovery_OilonCanvas_14x10.jpg)
“Mr. Potato Head’s Discovery” oil on canvas, 14″ x 10″
Much of my work is narrative driven and rooted in realism, but I also create classical still life set-ups in the style of the Dutch Masters. And then there are the quirkier paintings full of whimsy or humor. I strive for imagery that captures the viewer’s attention. Titles are important to me, as they give the viewer better insight into what I’m trying to convey.
![painting of a pair of boots filled with tulips](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AnniesTulips_OilonPanel_16x12.jpg)
“Annie’s Tulips” oil on panel, 16″ x 12″
I create my paintings in layers beginning with a loose underpainting of burnt sienna, adding more and more detail to each successive layer. I usually have several paintings in progress at one time.
![still life painting of Monopoly game](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MoneyToBurn_OilonCanvas_11x14.jpg)
“Money to Burn” oil on canvas, 11″ x 14″
I love sharing my work with the world. If I can get a laugh out of the viewer, or make them gasp in surprise, I’ve attained my goal.
Barney Levitt invites you to follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
I proudly display severalof Barney’s works in my home. They never fail to get the attention of guests. Love the quirky, the whimsy and the serious still life’s. I have them all, and am looking forward to acquiring more of this incredible artist’s works!