John Barry

John has been painting since the 1970s. After 7 years in the teaching profession and 33 in the military, he has retired to Diamond Harbour where rural and maritime subjects abound.

John can, and does, paint in all mediums but has recently developed a love of pastel painting.  He is an inaugural member of PANZ (Pastel Artists of NZ) and is the Canterbury area rep. His  pastel paintings have won awards at both provincial and national level.

John’s subject matter is never the same.  While he does landscapes and seascapes they are seldom without people in them.  In fact,  he claims that figures always add interest to a painting and also often provide a sense of scale.  Because people interest him, he often paints portraits of friends and relatives.

Much of his spare time these days is spent providing classes in the various mediums.