Recognitions
Setting Standards
I am Cliff Barnes. As an artist, I have created original drawings and paintings for almost 40 years. I think that winning awards means my art has met high standards of quality, including composition, mastery of color, value, and design.
National and International Art Exhibitions
In National and International Art Exhibitions, I have won over 40 Gold and Silver medals, First Prizes, and Best of Show Awards. I take pride in my two Gold Medals from the Western American Indian and Cowboy Artists Show, conducted at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, CA
Most Recent Awards
2021
Huse Skelly Art Gallery Award for my watercolor painting, Dry Dock, at the Just Summertime Exhibition at the Gallery on Balboa Island, CA
2020
Golden Spur Award for my oil painting, Going to See my Gal by the American Plains Artists at their Signature Exhibition at the Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.
2019
Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art (for the 4th consecutive year) and the American Plains Artists Publisher’s Award of Excellence for a full-page “Artist Focus” in Western Art Collector Magazine for their 2020 January edition.
2018
Honored as “Master Watercolorist” by Watercolor West International and also received the Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art (for the third consecutive year).
2017
Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art. Received First Prize in Watercolor from the Cowboy Classic Art Show in Phoenix, AZ. The Clyde Heron Award for best depiction of history in Art from the American Plains Artists in NM, and Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (Marquis Who’s Who and Who’s Who in Art).
2016
Awarded the Best of Show Plein Air and Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art.
2015
The Gold Medal in Landscape at the Wildlife and Landscape Show in San Dimas, CA.
2014
Silver Medal at the National Western Art Exhibit in San Dimas, CA.
2013
The “Lush Expressionism” Award at the Fallbrook Center of Art in Fallbrook, CA, at their Signature Watercolor Exhibit.
2012
The Best Plains People Award and Best of Show Award from the American Plains Artists Exhibit in Midland, Texas. Also received the Animal Award from the Oil Painters of America Show in Evergreen, Colorado, and the Silver Medal for Wildlife at the Wildlife Show in San Dimas, CA.
Publications
My artwork has been published in Western Art Collector, Art of the West, and Southwest Art Magazines. It was also published in Contemporary Western Artists book, Preserving the Western Spirit, Who’s Who in American Art, and Who’s Who in America. I was the “Featured Artist” at the May 2016 Wild West Festival at the historic Gilman Ranch and Wagon Museum in Banning, CA. You can search the above listing under “Barnes Events” and “Calendar” to find where my art is being shown.