Ashland Art Works

David Barton was born in Cincinnati and grew up in Hamilton, Ohio. He appreciated the rolling hills, deciduous forests, creeks, rivers, lakes and farm land. Art was a part of the public school curriculum though limited in scope. Most of his creative efforts were doodling while in class. A habit that endures today!  

Often graphic design-like, David’s pieces are intense, colorful, bold, and influenced by patterns in nature, indigenous arts of the Americas, and aboriginal art. For many viewers the pieces seem to move or show depth when studied. His works include acrylics on canvas and panel boards and permanent marker pen on watercolor paper. 

David attended and graduated from Utah State University, in 1971 with a BS in Fishery Management. During the Vietnam era, he enlisted in the Air Force and had tours in Texas, Mississippi, and Fort Meade, Maryland. He earned a BS in Science Education at Oregon State University in 1977 and taught science for over a decade. He worked with alpine and rock garden plants at Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery and served fellow veterans at the VASORCC in White City, Oregon. David retired in August 2019 with over 20 years of government service.

Interests include gardening, rocks, fossils, cowrie shells, antique bottles, listening to music, modern art, dining out, beach combing, cooking, history, spider-man, beading, fishing, spending time with friends, and trying to create art! David has a fascination for the bright and shiny and for things of beauty that are joys forever.

David’s premier art show was in the Community Space for Guest Artists at the Ashland Art Works in February, 2025 and joined Ashland Art Works in March. He is grateful to be able to grow and expand his horizons in the art world and share his work with friends, community, and the Ashland Art Works patrons and members.