ArtTour International Magazine
- Barbara Tyler Ahlfield
“ e Essence Of Beauty”
American master artist Barbara Tyler Ahlfield creates dramatic, evocative, and emotionally layered portraits that are whimsical and profound, elegant and refined, technically accurate yet spontaneous. Working in various media, she prefers the use of graphite pencil combined with India ink line, colored pencil, watercolor, gouache, and oils. She carefully orchestrates portraits capturing her subjects' psychology through harmonious compositions that emanate intimacy, delicacy, and strength.
With a strong foundation in art training, Ahlfield studied at Ohio State University, Columbus College of Art & Design, and the Schuler School of Fine Arts. She moved from a thriving career as a fashion illustrator to success as a fine artist. Her roster of clients has included very recognized firms like Coty, Carlisle, Dillards, Foleys, Garfinkels, Hutzlers, Joskes, Lord&Taylor, Marshall Fields, Marshalls, Nordstrom, and J. Wanamakers. As lead fashion illustrator for Lord & Taylor, she saw her double-page illustrations in the New York Times' Sunday editions.
Her experience with Fashion Illustration has influenced her work as a painter, becoming the thematic and technical foundation of her contemporary work. The concept of beauty and glamour is quintessential in her paintings, being the root of her inspiration.
Last year Ahlfield partnered with her daughter Alexandra Ahlfield and embarked on a new path of creativity, launching a lifestyle fashion brand Sisumoi. The brand promotes the ideal of fine art incorporated into everyday aspects of life. Her signature paintings are brought into a new atmosphere through clothing garments and everyday accessories.
Ahlfield's background as a lead fashion illustrator has propelled her into new heights for this line and sharing an awareness that beauty starts with one's commitment to their passions and truth.
Barbara Tyler Ahlfield is a passionate animal rights advocate who supports welfare causes by donating her services as an animal portrait artist to raise funds for animal rescue groups. She is a proud sponsor and board member of the nonprofit charity Pet Philanthropy Circle.
During her extensive career, Barbara Tyler Ahlfield has received several honors, including the NORMA award for lingerie advertising and cosmetic advertising, the Seklemian award for reflective color advertising, the Federated Dept. Store advertising award (Lazarus Division-three consecutive years), and she is a member of the Society of Illustrators. In 2019 Ahlfield was chosen as Artist of the Year by ArtTour International Magazine to recognize her successful career as a visual artist and contribution to the arts.
www.barbaratylerahlfield.com
Barbara and her daughter Alexandra Ahlfield launched a new business in 2020 using her fashion and fine art images and printing them on apparel and accessories. Their business is called “Sisumoi” and can be found online.