| Barbara was born in No. Andover, graduated from Johnson High School and Emmanuel College, was married to Albert W. Burns, lived in Boston, Cambridge, Wayland, and finally Methuen, which is where she now resides. Her husband was a dedicated English teacher who taught in Wayland and Wellesley High Schools, and finally as a professor at Merrimack College. He died in 1969, leaving her with 6 children to raise, which at the time seemed an impossible task, not having worked outside her home for 17 years! They all struggled through those difficult years, and her children did, after all, and with much help from family, wonderful friends, and themselves, turn out to be a great joy to her.
As a child, Barbara loved to draw, but never had any formal training until the 1980’s, when she enrolled in art classes at NECCO, ULowell, and the DeCordova Art Museum School, studying watercolor, pastel, and oil. There followed a hiatus during which time her only drawing was of her fellow workers during long and tedious staff meetings at the Social Security Administration!
In the mid-1990’s, she resumed art classes with Bill Swank in Salem, NH, and joined the Greater Salem Artists Association, the Arts Institute of Merrimack Valley, Greater Haverhill Arts Association, and the Newburyport Art Association. She has also studied with Mark Hayden (a Copley Society Master). She has won several ribbons and awards at local art shows. Some of her art work is now in private collections in New England and on the East Coast. Her art is an ongoing learning process. Her walls are covered with vacation scenes, “notable” scenes from Methuen, Boston, Portugal, New Zealand, and some portraits. Her preferred subject matter is people interacting with other people, somewhat on the idea of “candid photos” using photos she has taken at meetings, luncheons, reunions, etc. Her pictures often “tell a story.” She is now “retired” from the world of working for a living, and can now devote herself to all those joys which were too long deferred by economic necessity.
AWARDS AND RIBBONS
“Conversation” (WC)--Honorable Mention, Greater Salem Artists Association (GSAA) Holiday Show, December 1998
“Liz” (Pastel)-- 3rd Place, GSAA Spring Show, May 1999
“Tranquility” (Pastel)— 3rd Place, GSAA Holiday Show, December 1999
“Methuen Music Hall” (WC) -- 1st Place, GSAA Spring Show, May 2000
“Is It Spring Yet?” (Acrylic)— 3rd Place, Derry Snow Show, March 2001
“Waterfront at Cassis” (Acrylic)— 1st Place, GSAA Holiday Show, December 2001
“Lighthouse at Monhegan Island” (Acrylic): Honorable Mention—GSAA Spring Show: May 2002
“Boston Public Gardens (Swan Boat)” (Acrylic): Second Place—GSAA Holiday Show: December 2001
“Cape Cod” (Acrylic): Third Place—GSAA Spring Show: May 2003
“Boston Public Gardens -Swan Boat” (Acrylic): Second Place—Arts Institute of the Merrimack Valley, October 2003
“Portuguese Fishing Vessel” (Acrylic): 1st Place, GSAA Spring Show, April 2004
“Summer Memories” (Pastel): 2nd Place, Greater Haverhill Arts Association Show, May 2005
“Father’s Day” (Acrylic): Theme Award, Arts Institute of the Merrimack Valley, November 2005.
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