Ladies with long pegs provide inspiration for So Cal painter
Craig “Skibs” Barker loves women —the shoe-wearing, skirt-draping parts of them anyway. Yes, this Huntington Beach surfer is a leg man and, like most artists, he paints what he likes, as evidenced in his new show, “Stay Right Here” at Thinkspace in L.A.
“I am definitely a ‘leg man’,” he says “but it started as a series of suggestive paintings of women, and my wife/model was a little shy about having her face in them. It gives the work that kind of voyeuristic, anonymous feel. I do paint the entire figure a little more often now, but I still enjoy the legs.”
Southern California culture also plays a huge role in Skib’s compositions, even though it may be an entirely subconscious effort on his part. The “old Polaroid” influenced color palette, the skirt lengths, and the pair of pointy kitten heels in every frame lend themselves to a time warp of his own making, modernized by depictions of his wife’s tattoos. “I don’t consciously say ‘I’m going to use distinctly Southern California colors’ it just kind of ends up that way…I just mix colors that I like,” says Barker. “When I take pictures for my paintings I let my wife and her friends (my models) pick whatever they think is cute. Which I suppose is somewhat regional since we live here. If I lived in New York my work would probably be different. I think climate, fashion, and culture are very influential in art, but it’s hard to say how different it would be.” The type Barker uses in his images pays tribute to the stenciled slogans associated with punk. However, he conceptually softens the original harshness of the font edges with more heartfelt messages, like “still here”, “carefree”, and “true”.
Whereas Barker was in high school during the punk rock 80s, it proved to be a definitive time in his life—it was then that he got his nickname (Skibs), made his career choice (art), and discovered his favorite music (the Clash). “I got the nickname “Skibs” when I was about 14 or 15. I used to hang around with one of the older H.B. punkers nicknamed “Scab”. Everyone said I wasn’t big enough to be a full “Scab” I was just a little “Skib”…from there it has been every variation you can think of…Skibbles, Skiblets, Skibbies, Skibaroo…etc. But, “Skibs” is the one that has stuck the longest. I’ve had friends for years that never knew my name is Craig, “ explains Barker. “It was around then that I realized that you could make a living as an artist. The majority of my working life has always been in a creative field of some kind…I work as an Art Director now. So, after a few life detours I’m giving the fine art/gallery angle a solid try. My “Sight For Sore Eyes” show at Thinkspace gallery has been big boost for me. I think the day that I can have painting and gallery shows as my full time job, that‘ll be pretty big.” —Shelley Leopold / Hurley Art
