Barney Levitt’s oil paintings blend meticulous, naturalistic detail with playful, narrative-driven storytelling. His work puts a spin on traditional realism with his often wry and humorous take on life. It can be as varied as a platter of oysters reflected in a martini shaker, or a flock of chickens riding a roller coaster. There is always a level of detail that keeps his viewers mesmerized. No subject matter is safe when filtered through the prism of Levitt's zany imagination. Born near the Adirondacks in upstate New York, Barney Levitt has been drawing and painting ever since he could grip a crayon and scribble on his parents' living room walls. His aunt, also a painter, gave him his first easel and oil paint set when he was twelve years old. Levitt attended art classes at an early age, and graduated with a Fine Arts Degree from SUNY Oswego. While studying painting, he was wowed by the work of the Dutch and Flemish Masters. Vermeer came to be one of his favorite painters, and he strove to emulate the fine detail and rich color of the Low Countries' grand tradition. Levitt comes from a long line of storytellers; he is an avid reader and published author himself. Hence, not surprisingly, he is always thinking of the story behind his paintings. He prowls for new ideas, and keeps a running list of word play and phrases and images that capture his imagination. Titles are also important to him, as they afford viewers insight into the (often wacky) creations of his canvases. Levitt works from a mixture of photos and other assorted references, starting his paintings with a loosely applied monochromatic underpainting of burnt sienna, which he builds upon layer by layer.Barney Levitt's work has appeared in dozens of galleries and has been accepted into such prestigious shows as Oil Painters of America, The International Guild of Realism, The Salmagundi Club, and The National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society. He has received many awards, including the "Realism Excellence Award" from Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. He became a member of the Copley Society of Art in 2004, and earned his Copley Master status in 2017. His work is also represented in many private collections nationally and internationally. Barney Levitt is thrilled to share his work with the world, and hopes he can evoke a laugh, spur a gasp of surprise, or inspire a sense of wonder with his pieces.