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Originally trained as a painter and printmaker, I turned to photography ten years ago, partially because I was drawn by its ability to capture a moment in time. These moments and images are ones we sometimes take for granted, yet they strike a chord within the soul when we focus our attention.

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The meaning and definition of the word “joy” can be various, ranging from a feeling of great pleasure and happiness, to an emotion evoked by a sense of well-being, contentment and satisfaction. If one includes the words “joy,” along with “joyful” and “rejoice” the number of mentions in the Bible is over 400. In the biblical sense being joyful is dependent upon trusting in a divine plan.

 

When I see a potential photo and chills go down my spine, I feel joy. If the photo makes it out of my camera and looks good, I’m even more joyful. Do I feel solely responsible for a good photo? Hmmm. Almost never. I often have a sense that luck or the universe is involved in being in the right place at the right time. Then again, one has to be aware and receptive enough to “see” the potential shot.

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BIOGRAPHY

As a full time artist living in Suwanee, Georgia, my home away from home is my studio at Tannery Row Artist Colony in Buford, Georgia. Located in a historic tannery building that dates back to 1897, the colony is a collective of 20 artists working in a variety of media. The colony has galleries where the group regularly exhibits their artwork. They also hold two juried exhibitions a year for Georgia artists outside of the colony. Prior to having a studio at Tannery Row Artist Colony, I maintained a studio on Carlyle Street in Norcross, Georgia. I currently serve on the Public Arts Commission for the City of Suwanee.​

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I was born in New Jersey, where I spent most of my life until I moved to Georgia in 2001. A large part of my adult life in the north was spent working in New York. My 16 years in New York allowed me to gain exposure to some of the most renowned galleries, museums and art schools in the world. In 1999 I earned of Master of Arts in Fine Arts from Montclair State University. I’ve continued my education with courses at Atlanta School of Photography, Atlanta Photography Group and Penland School of Arts and Crafts in North Carolina.

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Although I earned my degree in painting, I have focused most of my attention on photography and digital art in the last ten years. As I stated above, like most photographers, I am drawn by photography's ability to capture a moment in time. These moments and images are ones we sometimes take for granted, yet they strike a chord within the soul when we focus our attention.​

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I have exhibited my work extensively since 2002. My work has been in exhibits at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, where I won third place in the Portraits Category for the members' exhibit, and at Atlanta Photography Group in Atlanta. I also exhibit my work at Tannery Row Artist Colony, and Suwanee Arts Center.​

 

Travel has been an important part of my education. In 2007 I traveled with a group from Oglelthorpe University on an art history tour of Italy. The group visited Rome, Pompeii, Naples, Sorento, the Isle of Capri, Assisi, Ravena, Sienna, Padua, Florence and Venice in a ten-day period.

 

One of the most amazing moments of the trip was when a small number of us broke off from our group and walked into a small church, Santa Maria del Popolo, in Rome. There on the wall, an arms length away from me, was the masterpiece The Conversion on the Way to Damascus by Caravaggio, a painting that I had studied in art history courses. There were only five other people in the church with me. To have that very personal moment with the painting was something that I will never forget. It still gives me chills. And it serves as an incredible reminder of the power of the visual arts.

 

I also traveled to Paris in 2009 where I visited the Louvre for three days in a row. 

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I traveled back to Rome and Venice in 2014; at that time I visited Sicily and Malta as well. The following year I spent a week in Cuba with a group of artists. Havana has for years had a very vibrant visual arts culture. We met some amazing artists and visited some incredible studios.

 

I also went on a safari in South Africa in 2017 with National Geographic tours. My trip to South Africa on safari stands out as one of the most amazing times of my life. The photos of the animals I took while I was in South Africa became a body of work that is influenced by conservation and the preservation of life on this planet.

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In 2024 I traveled back to Italy again and also to Croatia. In February of 2025, I went to Yellowstone National Park with National Geographic tours. In the dead of winter, Yellowstone is gloriously beautiful, with few tourists, a winter wonderland indeed. Once our group reached Mammoth Hot Springs, we switched to traveling in a snow coach which was the only way to navigate the snow and ice laden roads.

 

For me personally, the major reason to travel is to see art and make art. My travel and education have both had major impacts on my passion for the visual arts. I am so very grateful every single day to have that passion. No matter what happens, I am absolutely driven to make art.

 

 

Contact Information:

Email: dbarnhartsmith@gmail.com

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Tannery Row Artist Colony

554 W. Main St.

Buford, GA 30518