John Leonard Barnwell was born on March 17, 1922 in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up during the Great Depression in Oceanside, CA with his younger brother Stephen and sister Peggy. At the age of 20, John enlisted in the army to fight in World War II, serving in Europe. After the war, he went to the University of California, Berkeley on the GI Bill and received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. In the early 50’s , he moved to New York City and started to paint.

Barnwell studied at the Art Student’s League, under Frank Riley and Jack Faragasso, and also at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts. Later, he continued to study privately with Ed Whitney and Ferdinand Petrie. His work ranged widely as Barnwell experimented in various styles and genres, including expressionism, surrealism, traditional landscapes, and fantasy. Despite his artistic curiosity, a strong visionary theme permeates his lifetime body of work, which Barnwell calls “Romantic Realism.”

Barnwell was a member of the noted Salmagundi Club in New York City. He was also the president of the New Jersey Miniature Arts Society and a member of the American Artists Professional League, the New Jersey Watercolor Society, and several local arts organizations.

He has exhibited numerous times in galleries in New York City, as well as galleries and museums in New Jersey, including the Monmouth Museum, the Jersey City Museum, and the Bergen County Museum. His gallery exhibitions include the Salmagundi Club, the American Artists Professional League, New Jersey Watercolor Society, and many other venues in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.

Barnwell’s work has garnered many awards including New Jersey Watercolor Society, the New Jersey Painters and Sculptors Society, Bergen County Guild of Artists, Miniature Arts Society of New Jersey, Ringwood Manor Association for the Arts, Essex Watercolor Club, West Essex Art Association, and the Community Arts Association of Allendale.

He passed away in 2015 at the age of 93.