About Me

​"Viewing William Barkin's paintings is not only a visual delight but also a full sensory experience, a glimpse into the past… an excursion into nostalgia."

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The compelling scenes of time and place exemplify Barkin’s work as a lifelong artist and his mastery of capturing New England's distinct, dramatic seasons – notably the Berkshire Hills where he resided for nearly fifty years. He is especially known for his ability to capture the effect of falling snow – be it a blizzard or a gentle “veil” covering the panorama.

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He has spent countless hours exploring and photographing landscapes – then skillfully capturing their images through his innovative methods of oil on canvas and panel. With a “modified impressionistic” approach to each of his paintings, he reveals the magnificence of actual places and landmarks, as well as the ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary – a barren hay field, an abandoned barn, a forgotten cemetery.

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Barkin was born in New York and moved to the Berkshires at the age of eighteen. Primarily self-taught and inspired by the artistic influences of Corot’s early Italian plein air oil sketches to the starkness of Edward Hopper’s scenes of America, he studied drawing and the craft of oil painting with the noted American muralist and illustrator Alton S. Tobey and painter-cartoonist Leo Garel. After executing abundant works on canvas throughout his career, his support of choice evolved to oil painting on panel, which is not affected by temperature and offers a more stable environment for the paint.  

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Barkin has built a body of work that varies significantly in composition and style. He strives for a balance in the relationship between nature and architecture. In addition to New England landscapes, his works range from Italian vistas to still life to the occasional portrait. His technique is wholly dependent on the motif and desired outcome – believing that composition is paramount and that a skilled painting method cannot make up for a design that is not compelling.  

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Barkin also believes that what counts is “what’s on the wall.”  One can seek degrees or study with a master, but ultimately it is the ongoing self-education, desire, and will that drive an artist who paints to achieve personal artistic goals – striving to create art that evokes an emotional and personal response from the viewer.  He believes that art should be a valued and prized possession that spans the lifetime of its owner and should be cherished by succeeding generations. This is the true legacy of an artist.

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William Barkin now resides in Palm Beach County, Florida, but continues to favor motifs of the Berkshires and New England, and Italian vistas.