Born in Virginia, Barbara Downs now lives in Santa Cruz, California.  She did her undergraduate work at the University of Santa Cruz in studio art, focusing on traditional lithography on limestone.

During this time, she made her living as a draftsperson, doing electro-mechanical drawings on vellum, and later in AutoCAD.  Among other jobs, she did mechanical design and drafting for an early private rocket company.  Her drafting background exerts an ongoing influence in her art, in ways both mundane and profound.

When her daughter was born with serious and ongoing medical conditions, Barbara’s appreciation of life’s mysteries was greatly enriched; eventually she was able to turn her attention towards the inward experience created by such trauma and redemption.

Barbara’s art now spans multiple mediums including painting, drawing, encaustic and sculpture.  She has shown regionally, nationally and internationally.  Her work is included in various corporate and private collections.