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Ernest Eugene Barnes, Jr. (July 15, 1938 – April 27, 2009) was an African-American painter born in Durham, North Carolina. He is well known for his unique style of elongation and movement, particularly the paintings featured on the tv show Good Times.

Barnes credits his college art instructor Ed Wilson for laying the foundation for his development as an artist. Wilson was a sculptor who instructed Barnes to paint from his own life experiences. “He made me conscious of the fact that the artist who is useful to America is one who studies his own life and records it through the medium of art, manners and customs of his own experiences.”

All his life, Barnes was ambivalent about his football experience. In interviews and in personal appearances, Barnes said he hated the violence and the physical torment of the sport. However, his years as an athlete gave him unique, in-depth observations. “(Wilson) told me to pay attention to what my body felt like in movement. Within that elongation, there’s a feeling. And attitude and expression. I hate to think had I not played sports what my work would look like.’

Barnes’ first painting sale was in 1959 for $90 to Boston Celtic Sam Jones for a painting called Slow Dance. It was subsequently lost in a fire at Jones’ home.

Critics have defined Barnes’ work as neo-mannerist. Based on his signature use of serpentine lines, elongation of the human figure, clarity of line, unusual spatial relationships, painted frames, and distinctive color palettes, art critic Frank Getlein credited Barnes as the founder of the neo-Mannerism movement – because of the similarity of technique and composition prevalent during the 16th century, as practiced by such masters as Michelangelo and Raphael.

Commonly Asked Questions

Who painted the pictures for Good Times?

Throughout the Good Times television series (1974–79) most of the paintings by the character J.J. are works by Ernie Barnes. However a few images, including “Black Jesus” in the first season (1974), were not painted by Barnes.

How did Ernie Barnes die and where is he buried?

Barnes passed away on Monday evening, April 27, 2009 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California from myeloid leukemia. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in Durham, North Carolina near the site of where his family home once stood, and at the beach in Carmel, California, one of his favorite cities.

What team did Ernie Barnes play for?

Ernie Barnes, American artist and football player, drew inspiration from his years (1960–64) as a football player for a series of professional teams (the New York Titans, the San Diego Chargers, and the Denver Broncos) to create vibrant motion-filled paintings featuring elongated figures of athletes, dancers, and other people in action.