First Fridays this month will feature the art work of Barry Roesler, music by Bierwax, beer by US! Come celebrate on the waterfront!

About the Artist:

Barry Roesler is a newly minted painter and the first artist using water guns as a painting medium (at least that he’s discovered). Water Gun Painting is Barry’s first visual art endeavor, but he has always been creative. In his spare time, he also writes short stories and songs, and plays guitar. Barry loves horror movies, craft beers, live music, and NFL football. 

Originally from the Texas Gulf Coast, he has lived in New York City for nearly 20 years. He works in the banking industry and has a degree from the University of Houston.  He lives in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn in a one bedroom apartment/painting studio with his very patient fiancé, Carolyn. 

You can find Water Gun Painting on Instagram @water_gun_painting.

About the collection:

Water Gun Painting was created by Brooklyn artist Barry Roesler as a form of art therapy through a year-long illness that left him mostly homebound with limited mobility. Barry harnessed his energy into painting, which allowed him to focus on the canvas instead of the pain through multiple surgeries and, ultimately, to heal. He created his first Water Gun Painting piece in July 2022 and has since produced more than 40 paintings, all of which have been painted in his small Boerum Hill apartment. 

Barry employs the simple, plastic water guns from childhood as his paintbrush, incorporating play and levity as a key element into his art. Embracing imperfection has been fundamental to Barry’s artistic journey. Using water guns introduces a level of unpredictability into how the work might turn out; less control of the paint meeting the canvas means you must trust the paint. This results in paintings that are completely original, irreplicable works of art.

He is the first artist to use water guns as an art medium (at least that he’s discovered) and has experimented to develop new techniques for crafting these works. He creates his paintings by layering paint together in different directions, sometimes applying painter’s tape as the only means of control for the paint. Each piece is a multi-hour, often multi-day process. Barry enjoys painting with bright, vibrant colors in hopes of sparking joy. 

As of May 2023, Barry’s medical issues are behind him and he is thrilled to celebrate his health and his first exhibit of Water Gun Painting. Each piece on display is accompanied by a QR code that links to a video of Barry’s creation process.