John Charles Barrett Obituary

John Charles Barrett died unexpectedly on March 9, 2021 at his home and studio in Shandon California. He was born in Detroit Michigan in 1952 and at the age of 2 his family moved to Manhattan Beach California where he grew up surfing with his brother Tim Law.

John was a talented artist who created his art using varied mediums from painting, to printmaking, and mixed media. Ranging in sizes from large to small he wanted his art to be accessible and enjoyed by many people.

Due to a traumatic brain injury from being hit by a car as a child, he struggled with learning disabilities throughout his life, and for a while was homeless. As an adult he advocated for better access to mental health care, and addressed homelessness because he said he knew his voice represented the many who couldn’t speak out. He also was a lifelong blood donor. His compassion for people also extended to dogs, especially his rescued dachshunds who showed up in his cartoons called Wayward Wiener Dog Designs c. He was funny, empathetic and lived his faith in God by helping where he could.

He was preceded in death by his father “Red” Barrett, mother Patricia Law, brother Tim Law, his grandparents and aunts and uncles. He is missed by his wife Pamela Barrett and her family, his nephews Keoni and Nalu Law and their families, his niece Jasmine Keeney and her family, his many cousins, friends and his godchildren.

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art is having a show called More than what we see: a Retrospective by John Barrett with a reception on Friday September 1, 2023 starting at 5:00PM.

You can see videos of John and some of his doxies, and art on YouTube at hairandart.