Title: Platter of Items
Artist: William “Bill” Barnes
Medium: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 22” x 16”

A surreal still life steeped in mystery, Platter of Items invites viewers into a layered dreamscape. Iowa artist William “Bill” Barnes blends realism with fantasy, placing symbolic objects—a fish, a playing card, a wooden figure—on a table that feels part map, part altar. Behind it, a richly patterned curtain parts to reveal a moonlit seascape framed by stone and lantern. Barnes is known for his imaginative compositions and masterful control of light, often weaving narrative and symbolism into quiet, contemplative scenes. This piece exemplifies his gift for merging the familiar with the uncanny.