Margaret Barker was born in Cleveland, Ohio, traveled to Chicago for university, where she received her BA degree, thus beginning a lifetime of travel throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. Throughout these travels she has continued to paint and learn from the culture of these countries, also improving her artist techniques. She has studied at the Chicago Institute School of Art, B.A. Degree, Barat College (Lake Forest, Illinois), Beverly Art Center (Chicago, Illinois) and the Des Moines Art Museum School (Des Moines, Iowa). In England, the Guilford Surrey School, was the source of further education. In Switzerland, where Max Ernst was a neighbor, she attended the Lucerne School of Art. When living in Melbourne, Australia, she found a whole palette in the Australian countryside, studying at the Waverley Art Center, Glen Waverley, Australia. Margaret resided in Hong Kong, where she mastered the art of Chinese watercolors. The world is truly her canvas.

          Throughout these travels Margaret has had varying exhibitions, some of which were at the Waverley Art Gallery. Mt. Waverley Australia. Reicher Gallery (two person show), Lake Forest, Illinois; Holzheimer Interiors, Palm Beach, Florida, College of Lake County (joint show); private show at Ville De Cascade in Shatin, Hong Kong. She currently sells through several galleries, and does much work on commission as well as teach art which gives her great pleasure, particularly watching the progress of her students.

          The use of color by the Impressionists (Renoir and Monet), the technical drawing skills of Rembrandt and Daumier, the techniques of dripping paint and staining, as used by Helen Frankenteller and Jackson Pollach, and the superb works of female artist, Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keefe have all had an influence on Margaret.

          This combined with all of her technical training, travels, and unending search for knowledge have made her works what they are today, always changing, always new and always interesting.

Note from the artist

          In the formal Chinese technique in my paintings, I individually paint each feather and fine line on the peacocks, birds and flowers, overlaying many times to give depth to the subjects.
          In the rough method, I use large Chinese brushes, using large bold strokes, finishing with the finer lines.
          I use Chinese and Japanese paints on varied materials, such as Chinese and Japanese papers, including gold and silver, dragon cloud , ma paper, and Chinese silks. This carries the ancient art of Chinese painting to a new modern level.

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