Bill Barnes
Artist

Born in Savannah, GA, Bill lived his first nine years there, learning an intense work ethic from the habits of his father and working hard to develope an innate talent with the encouragement of his mother. When the family moved to Macon, GA, Bill received the first formal art lessons of his life in after school sessions taught by the county art teacher. Later, on summer break from prep school in Chattanooga, TN, Bill studied drawing and painting under instructors in Atlanta.

Seeking to combine a love of art with the practical need to earn a living, Barnes pursued a Certificate in Interior Design from New York's Pratt Institute until the U.S. Air Force called him to duty as a ground photographer during a post-World War II re-mapping project. Beginning in 1951, he spent three years in Europe keeping his camera and paint box close at hand in his personal travels across a dozen countries. He won top awards in both photography and oil painting during his years in the service.

In 1956 Bill completed his B.F.A. in Interior Design from Pratt and joined a Commerical Interior Design firm in Atlanta where he was named head designer within eight years. From 1966 to 1976 he headed his own Interior Design frim in Atlanta.

When the lure of entrepreneurship grew too strong to deny, he moved his family to Hilton Head Island, SC where he spent the next eleven years developing commercial projects, opening a retail antique and gift shop and creating a trend setting business, The Original Lighthouse Collection. Bill and his wife relocated this business to Monroe, GA to be closer to family. In the slower pace of a small town, the idea of painting full time began to flower.

In 1966, after putting aside his other ventures, Bill realized his dream. Today he can be found upstairs in a studio filled with photo files and mementoes of a life spent in pursuit of fine design and excellent art. Bill paints daily, and the hours he spends at his easel are the happiest hours of his days. Photos from years gone by - from Europe, for example are coming back to life under the skilled touch of his brush.