Dave Barnhouse Biography scroll down to view works

Dave is an all-American boy who’s every bit as comfortable behind his John Deere wheel as he is in front of the easel. He’s a man of simple passions who paints the things he knows and loves. To sit with Dave in his little, cabin-esque art studio, you would never guess that this humble man was one of our nation’s most valued and accomplished painters. But a look at any of Dave’s canvases tells the story.

These paintings are more than attractive home décor. Dave’s paintings are a window into the heart of small town USA. Life is just plain good in times and places where the air is clear.

Dave was raised in Richmond, Ohio, the little town he still calls home. 

School held little interest for Dave. No matter the lesson, Dave would wonder about the world outside the schoolhouse walls, the fields, houses, and barns. The town squares, cars, motorcycles, and trucks. And the people, always the people.

You’ll see these themes throughout Dave’s paintings. Some would call it classic Americana, but for Dave Barnhouse, the parts of a good life drew him in.

Dave’s artwork took flight as a second career after decades of work in the steel mill. Fans might say that this wonderful run began with the print run of Dave’s first commercially successful painting, “Repairs.”

But family and friends know better. That’s because drawing and painting have always been a part of life for Dave. Before he learned he could make a living at it, creating art had been a consistent, lifelong pleasure. The proof is in a thousand creations in garages, bedroom walls, scraps of paper and cardboard, even a giant mural outside the local high school.

When Dave finally decided to put his talent to the test, he discovered that he had something special. The images that he creates remind people of a treasured time. Sure, it’s the carefully rendered automobiles and landscapes. But it’s also the men, women, and children that live in these beautiful settings. Each one has a story to tell.

From that first painting until now, Dave has never looked back. He’s been grateful for every moment he gets to do the work he loves