Ernie Barnes

Infobox Pro Football player


Caption=
Color=#663300
fontcolor=Gold
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1938|7|15
Birthplace= Durham, NC
Position=Offensive Guard
College=North Carolina Central
Jersey=55
Height_ft=6
Height_in=3
Weight_lbs=250
AFLDraftedYear=1960
AFLDraftedRound=
Stats=Y
Career Highlights=y
Honors=Official Artist of the American Football League
Retired #s=
Stats=yes
DatabaseFootball=BARNEERN01
CBS=
years=1960
1961-1962
1963-1964
teams=AFL New York Titans
AFL San Diego Chargers
AFL Denver Broncos
AFLAllStar=
CollegeHOF=
HOF=

Ernest Eugene "Ernie" Barnes Jr. (born July 15, 1938) is an American Neo-Mannerist artist and former professional football player.

Life and work

Ernie Barnes was born in Durham, North Carolina, and attended North Carolina Central University.

Barnes played offensive guard for five seasons in the American Football League (AFL). He played for three teams: the New York Titans in 1960, the San Diego Chargers (1961–1962) and the Denver Broncos (1963–1964), and was designated as "Official Artist of the American Football League".

Barnes painted "Sugar Shack" which is featured on the cover of the Marvin Gaye album "I Want You" and in the credits of the 1970s U.S. sitcom "Good Times". He also created many other paintings which were featured throughout the show. Barnes also appeared in small roles in a couple of episodes of the series.

His artwork is characterized by elongated figures, usually in motion. Owing to his athletic background, many of his paintings have a sports theme. He was named Official Artist of the 1984 Summer Olympics. He is the recipient of the 1984 and 2004 Sport Artist of the Year Award presented annually by the American Sport Art Museum and Archives.

In 2004, rapper and record producer Kanye West commissioned Barnes to paint an interpretation of West's recovery from a 2002 near fatal car crash. The painting, named "A Life Restored", measures 9 ft x 10 ft and hangs from West's dining room ceiling.

ee also

*Other American Football League playersHe played college football at North Carolina College in Durham NC, now North Carolina Central University.

External links

* [http://www.erniebarnes.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.conigliofamily.com/Broncos.htm#ERNIEBARNES Barnes' 1964 Topps football card]
* [http://www.portercolloquium.org James A. Porter Colloquium on African American Art]