R.I.P.: Denver Bronco turned artist Ernie Barnes

Ernie Barnes, who died yesterday, is a former Denver Bronco -- but his days on the gridiron constitute one of the less interesting aspects of his career. After his playing days were done, he became a successful artist, creating canvases that drew upon sport and life with vibrancy and élan...

By Michael RobertsMay 1, 2009

Audio By Carbonatix

Ernie Barnes, who died yesterday, is a former Denver Bronco — but his days on the gridiron constitute one of the less interesting aspects of his career. After his playing days were done, he became a successful artist, creating canvases that drew upon sport and life with vibrancy and élan. His personal website, ErnieBarnes.com, which opens with the somber yet cool image seen above, offers a wonderful gallery of his work. Click “Continue” to see a sampling, and then visit his site, to see why his artistic accomplishments will be remembered for longer than his exploits on the football field.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword‘s news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master’s degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

michaelrobertscolo@gmail.com

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R.I.P.: Denver Bronco turned artist Ernie Barnes

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