Ruth G. Barnet material related to Chiura Obata, circa 1950-1968

Collection Information

Size: 0.5 Linear feet

Summary: The papers of artist and teacher Ruth G. Barnet with material related to Japanese American painter and educator Chiura Obata measure 0.5 linear feet and dates from circa 1950-1968. This small collection includes New Year's cards illustrated by Chiura Obata, Ruth Barnet's notes and watercolor studies executed under Obata's supervision during classes, sumi (Japanese ink) and watercolor paint sketches by Obata that he used for painting class demonstrations, and a small amount of printed material on Obata.

Biographical/Historical Note

Ruth G. Barnet (1918-2018) was an artist and teacher in Berkeley, California. Barnet studied with Japanese American landscape painter Chiura Obata (1885-1975) at University of California, Berkeley. Barnet is author of Free Brush Designing (1955), an instructional book influenced by her lessons learned from Obata.

Provenance

The Ruth G. Barnet material related to Chiura Obata were donated to the Archives of American Art by Elna Hunter, Ruth Barnet's daughter, in 2022.

Related Materials

The Archives of American Art also holds the Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000.

Language Note

English .

Digitization Note

This site provides access to the papers of Ruth G. Barnet in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2023, and total 166 images.

Funding Note

Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided in part by The Walton Family Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art.