Barbara Cleary was deeply inspired by the striking beauty of the Southwest and admired Georgia O’Keeffe as a trailblazing female artist of her time. Like Georgia, Barbara transitioned to painting in oils after exploring watercolor and other mediums, leading her to explore plein air painting. After experiencing the rugged majestic nature of New Mexico, Barbara's passion for the Southwest grew, which led her to travel almost annually for a number of years, where she hosted artist workshops and explored the iconic landscapes that were central to Georgia's work. Barbara's fine art collection beautifully captures the essence of the desert Southwest, pueblo life, and the vibrant scenery of areas like Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, and Taos—places that played a significant role in Georgia O’Keeffe’s creative journey. While Barbara's primary style differed from Georgia's and might be considered impressionist, one can see a hint of inspiration from Georgia's modern abstraction exploration in Barbara's work. However, as Barbara began exploring the Southwest, the range of work also grew, beginning to encompass more abstract work in the late 1980s and early 1990s.