Photo by Stephen Lanford

Joe Barnett...The Man with the Hands
by Lila Ashmore, Inviting Arkansas Magazine

Upon entering Joe Barnett’s property, the breathtaking landscape, beautiful sculptures and rippling fountains were instantly inviting. Joe’s wife of 26 years, Jennifer, warmly greeted us as we took in the surroundings. Inside their home, amid all the sculptures, paintings and other objet d' art were children’s toys and the aroma of breakfast cooking. The couple’s two young daughters emerged sleepy-eyed and docile while two teenagers appeared ready to tackle their home studies. As Joe's “day” job is owner of Little Rock Land Design, we weren’t surprised by the tree-house feel of his home and surrounding land, a feeling that allowed us, if only for a little while, to retreat to our own secret garden.

Visiting Joe’s home art studio could be an all day affair. Gracing the walls are his inspirations and finished art piece. His children’s artwork is prominently showcased throughout the area. In Joe’s studio, unfinished sculptures carefully strewn about lay near his kiln and neatly arranged sculpting tools.

Joe is a humble, good-natured man, who laughed when telling us that he knew he was on to something when at age 10 he sculpted the bust of Abraham Lincoln “... and it actually looked like him!” As he continued working with several art mediums while attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he further honed his sculpting talents. Throughout college, he supported himself by working for a landscape company; after graduating with majors in drawing and printmaking, Joe began his own land design company.

“Landscaping is a form of art,” Joe remarks. "I incorporate art into my business, and I enjoy utilizing the texture of wood, rocks, and water features when landscaping.” Joe often adds his artwork to his land design as an added bonus, giving his clients a powerful presentation of his own artwork to enjoy.

Although Joe uses several sculpting mediums, he most enjoys working with classic, easy to mold clay. He commented, “When I begin a piece I like to do it with my hands…see my fingerprints. Then I use both tools and my hands to take away what is needed. Then I build again and take away again.” A unique piece Joe enjoys creating is the “relief bowl” – a hand built bowl with relief sculpture around it. His original relief bowls were created as functional yet artistic pieces. “With [bowls,] I like that you have all of the sides around the bowl to tell a story. I like to think of the vessel of the bowl as a body.”

When a client first visits with Joe, he often inquires about their dreams. His philosophy is that “…everyone creates masterpieces in their dreams, and people have their own symbols– kind of like their own special code- that re-occurs throughout their lives.” He looks deep into his subjects and conveys their inner-workings beautifully through his work. Although he prefers powerful sculpture built around water, Joe will sometimes use a sculpture alone as a focal point.

As our time with Joe came to a close, we ventured back to the family quarters where Jennifer was tending to the daily matters of managing a large family. The Barnett’s have 6 children: four biological and two adopted children ranging in ages 2 to 22. “Before Jennifer and I married we always talked about adopting children. We have been able to do that,” Joe says, smiling. “They have all been dear gifts to us. For me, art is all about people…being a dad just makes my art more meaningful-it gets me closer to what I’m trying to express because the love of a father for his children is just so intense.”

Joe’s sculptures and land design can be enjoyed at the Symphony Designer House. You may reach him at 501.666.LAND.

Q. What is your favorite color and why?
Brown – it is like the earth: honest & humble

Q. What is your favorite texture?
I love textures. I like to imagine feeling mountain ranges and then valleys.

Q. What is your favorite time of day?
Just before I go to sleep because my thoughts are both the most abstract and the most clear.

Q. What is your favorite pastime other than sculpting?
Reading my Bible and extreme, intense exercise

Q. What were your aspirations as a child?
I wanted to be a plastic surgeon to help correct things that can happen to people.

Q. When you are in the art studio, what is on your I-pod?
I like U2, Bob Dylan, Aaron Copeland and my friend Jason Truby’s acoustical work.

Q. How do you take care of your hands?
My hands work very hard – I can’t stop that- so I just accept the work that just makes them stronger.