Local artists discuss the evolution of their art over the years and present digital photos of their work at a monthly Art Salon held on the last Sunday of the month at the Ashland Library.

Bruce Barnes combines his love of the outdoors and architecture with his painting. He has climbed, hiked and painted in Oregon, California, Canada, and across Europe, and his sketchbook, paints, and brushes are always part of his pack. Late in his technical career (big Oil; big Pharma) an artist friend noticed his drawing ability, and urged Bruce to try watercolor. He enrolled in U.C. Berkeley Extension courses , and soon was invited to join the Berkeley Watercolor Society. In 1993 he retired and began an idyllic nine years in Mt. Shasta where he painted with local artists.

In 2002 he moved to Ashland where he quickly joined the Rogue Valley art world. He now paints en plein air with several local art groups. Bruce has attended numerous painting workshops, and is guided by his painting icons James Fletcher Watson, David Howell, and Virgil Harton, all Englishmen. Bruce is a past member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, was featured in Ashland Magazine, and has twice been voted one of the favorite artists in Ashland. Dozens of his paintings now hang in homes and businesses across the country, with a few in Europe. He created popular OLLI classes at SOU focusing on plein air sketching and watercolor painting. He has been featured in a dozen or more one-artist showings at Rogue Valley galleries and wineries.

More of his paintings may be seen at the Art and Soul Gallery in downtown Ashland.