Robert T. Barrett is an award-winning professor at BYU and has also established himself in the industry of children’s literature by illustrating such books as “The Nauvoo Temple Stone,” “The Story of the Walnut Tree” and “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
Barrett has recently finished illustrating a children’s book about President Obama titled “Only In America.” The book contains 25 illustrations, almost twice as many illustrations as other children’s books.
Barrett has painted portraits of the prophets, which paintings may be viewed in the Caroline Hemenway Harman Building. Some of Barrett’s art is displayed in his home, he said.
“I have the privilege of being the largest collector of my own work,” Barrett said with a chuckle.
Barrett grew up in the shadow of the inspiring red cliffs of Moab. His parents were painters by hobby and impressed him with the magic of art.
“I remember the smell of oil paints in the front closet,” he said. “I was taken, smitten with the idea of painting … [and] aspired to do art and be an artist.”
Choosing art as a profession has proved, for some, to be a difficult road, but Barrett was confident that it was what he should do.
“All things kind of led to where I am,” he said.
After Barrett completed college, he accepted a grant to study art in Germany. After working for the Ensign, Barrett began teaching at BYU.
Barrett emphasizes the importance of hard work, deadlines and illustrating on demand to hisstudents.
“Having a deadline causes you to work at a different level,” he said. “Limitations open up creativity.”
Julia Stowell, 20, of Winnetka, Ill., said it was one of the most important lessons she learned from Barrett.
“[Barrett taught] that drawing is not just a guess, but it’s hard work,” she said. “You’re an artist and you have natural talent, but it’s hard work, like everything else.”
In 1995, Barrett was the recipient of the Karl G. Maeser Award for Teaching Excellence.
“I feel lucky to have really talented and motivated students,” Barrett said. “[I have] a lot of great students willing to do what you ask.”
Richard Hull, professor in the Fine Arts Department for 22 years, credits Barrett for expanding the illustration program to its current success.
“It was Bob who really began the illustration program here,” Hull said. “He’s the one who had the vision of the program.”
Barrett has a great understanding of the essential skills necessary to be a successful illustrator in a very unstable profession, Hull said. He describes Barrett as a brilliant, visual storyteller with a great understanding of illustration and an incredible memory.
Hull mentioned Barrett’s ability to stand in front of a piece of work and teach about the history of that work and its painter.
“He can recall facts,” said Linda Sullivan, the chair of the Department of Arts. “He is a person of great capacity.”
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