Caron Shahrestani has been painting “barre” inspired artwork in her silicon valley studio since falling in love with the fitness regime in 2010. Using acrylic paints on canvas, she recreates the long lines and shaky energy of exercises that use body weight and small ranges of motion to isolate specific muscle groups.
Find her most recent artwork peppered on Instagram at @caronmodmedia
Email her at caron@caronmodernmedia.com
Some see a dancer holding a ballet barre in this figurative piece.
Others see a warrior holding a staff.
Hence the name, “Barre Samurai.”
Painted by barre fitness addict Caron Shahrestani in the summer of 2015, this long and lovely piece has a truly unique simplicity to it. As the most talked about piece at the artists first Art Night that fall, “Barre Samurai” is intriguing to men and women alike.
Depending on the discipline in question, martial arts and modern dance have various similarities in stance, posture and the use of props. Having originally painted a very detailed and distinctly feminine figure down the center of the canvas, the artist took time away from it. When she came back, it was to bring it down to the posh stick figure you see today. Simplicity, as she realized, has a wider appeal.
Inspired by a barre fitness exercise that targets the glutes, this canvas portrays a tall silver skeleton of a figure holding her body against a ballet “barre” for stability. In the eyes of the artists friends who practice martial arts like karate, the figure is neither feminine, nor still, as it holds a long weapon like a warrior.
Concocted with acrylic paint and currently for purchase unframed, the 18″ by 36″ canvas adds color and life to a range of decors. Using a combination of flat brushes and palette knives, the artist strived for an androgynous figure against an ethereal curtain.
Just as its less than modest size and very regal color scheme made it stand out in its first art show, so shall “Barre Samurai” bring lively conversation and beauty to any wall it graces. Enjoy this unique artwork and the fitness inspiration it radiates so powerfully!
Original, One Of A Kind
18″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas
$299
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With many US states having banned plastic grocery bags, you can never have too many totes. Time to update your shopping bag selection with a smart barre fitness inspired design!
Printed from an original artwork by Barre Artist Caron Shahrestani, this versatile tote bag brings class and elegance to everyday errands. Whether you fill it up with organic produce at the farmers market or with cool threads from your favorite local boutique, this colorful accessory is sure to spark conversation at the register.
The original canvas had a landscape orientation and showed three distinct figures bending toward the ballet barre during a mid-workout stretch. While the artist typically adds a bun or ponytail to her subjects to lend a little femininity, she forwent the addition on this piece to make it more universal.
The androgynous figure printed on this tote is vivid and compelling in its color combination. Having been first painted between two fellow exercises, the subject stands alone on this gift item as if the others never existed.
With one ankle resting on the ballet barre and the opposite arm stretched overhead, the elegant figure elongates the oblique muscles while releiving tension in the hamstrings. Taken from more traditional stretch sequences of ballet and dance, the barre fitness stretch maintains the beauty and grace of its origins with long strong lines.
The original artwork sold at the artists first art show in 2015 to a collector with a kindred passion for barre fitness. Now you can enjoy the same creative composition in your day-to-day routine with an eco-friendly tote bag!
Double-sided, carries up to 30 lbs
Made from 100% recycled materials
12″ x 13.5″ x 7″
$19.95
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Rosy in color yet fierce in detail, Shaky Thigh Pendant is a vibrant piece of barre fitness inspiration. Printed from an original canvas by Barre Artist Caron Shahrestani, the printed porcelain pendant brings energy and warmth to any modern decor.
The artist painted the original canvas in Summer 2015 using acrylics and palette knives to create a shaky sensation. The figure in motion and her quasi abstract backdrop demonstrate little contrast. Thus the artist framed it in a thick, dark wood.
The female figure models an advanced barre fitness move which requires raising one leg and pulling away from the ballet barre. Her shaky body implies an approaching muscle failure, as her quads literally bounce off one another in high exertion.
Like many of the artists barre inspired works, the ballet barre is implied yet absent to achieve a dreamlike feel. Captured in the smooth finish of porcelain, Shaky Thigh Pendant allows you to adorn any space with this dreamy composition.
Easy to hang and cool to the touch, this art piece is small enough to fit in your palm but heavy enough to impress even the fussiest artisans. First marketed as a holiday ornament in winter 2015, Shaky Thigh Pendant is also a tasteful accent to office walls, walk-in closets and even as statement jewelry.
Original art can be truly intimidating in both size and budget. Support the arts without breaking the bank by purchasing a barre art pendant!
Double-sided porcelain
3.5″ diameter
$19.95
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Printed from an original canvas of almost equal size, Kneeling Quads Pendant is unique in it color and composition. Set against an earthy yet metallic backdrop, the black figure is seen on profile in a distinct quadriceps exercise.
Barre artist Caron Shahrestani painted the original work in spring 2015 after being inspired by this extremely challenging pose. Using acrylic paint and tight brushstrokes, she kept the background and the figure simple to highlight the complexity of the position.
Targeting the rectus femoris and other quadricep muscles, this workout move requires kneeling on a soft surface and hinging back at a diagonal from the floor. With the help of a ballet barre, the exercise also engages the glutes and postural muscles to maintain a dramatic angle.
The artist chose to print this specific piece on porcelain when the client who bought the original professed her love of everything “barre”. From ornaments to coasters to tote bags and tank tops, the client said she would love every single incarnation of the canvas. Hence, the piece is also included in a barre art coaster set, which features six of the artists most popular images.
While the original canvas sold almost immediately, you can still enjoy this unique piece through the convenience and versatility of printed porcelain. Whether you plan to hang it at home as fitness inspiration or gift it to a fellow art collector, Kneeling Quads Pendant is a creative accent for spaces big and small!
Double-sided porcelain
3.5″ diameter
$19.95
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Planks are a very popular exercise because they engage all the major muscle groups at the same time. The Plank Challenge pendant is a colorful reminder to stay active and be consistent in your strength training goals!
Based on an original artwork by barre artist Caron Sharistani, this double sided porcelain pendant is a unique gift idea and an eye-catching accent to any interior design. The artist completed the original canvas in summer 2015 using acrylic paints and palette knives to achieve a display of exertion.
Set against a rich teal backdrop, the figure is shown on her forearms in impressive form for the exercise. By keeping her hips in line with her shoulders and her knees straight, she is seen working her abs, glutes and quads simultaneously.
Measuring three and a half inches in diameter, this is one of several porcelain art pendants designed by the artist. While the most obvious implementation of the pendant is as a holiday ornament, recent customers have bought them to adorn their workplace or even wear as a stylish statement necklace.
Originally conceived as a raffle prize item for a Silicon Valley art show, the Plank Challenge Pendant has all the same energy of the original canvas at a fraction of the price! Cool to the touch and easy to hang, this porcelain art piece is a welcome addition to any art lovers collection.
Double-sided porcelain
3.5″ diameter
$19.95
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Capturing the earth shaking movement of a woman working out, the Leg Day Pendant is a colorful reminder to stay active and push the limits. Based on a barre fitness inspired artwork, this cool double-sided art piece hangs well on walls, over vanities and as an ornament on Christmas trees.
Modeled after a barre fitness exercise that targets the quadriceps, the original canvas was painted by Barre Artist Caron Shahrestani. Employing various brushes and palette knives to achieve a sense of movement, the artist strove to harness the uncontrollable shake associated with muscle failure during interval training.
Leg Day Pendant was one of four porcelain pieces designed as raffle prizes for a San Francisco Bay Area art show in fall 2015. As the second most popular item at the show -behind Red Hot Glutes – the pendant proved popular among art lovers and fitness buffs alike.
Beyond its initial appeal as a holiday ornament, Leg Day Pendant can also be displayed as fitness inspiration at the office, a workout reminder in the closet, or even as a statement necklace. The possibilities are copious!
When the canvas is speaking to you but the price is not, the Leg Day Pendant is a compact alternative at a reasonable price. This printed product is a perfect purchase for art collectors on a budget!
Double-sided porcelain
3.5″ diameter
$19.95
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Created as an affordable gift item for art lovers with less space, the Booty Workout Pendant is a printed porcelain keepsake based on an original barre fitness artwork. At 3.5″ in diameter, this pretty blue trinket is a sweet accent for any decor.
Barre artist Caron Shahrestani painted the original canvas – Booty Workout with Ball – after being inspired by the upright exercise. Using an inflated ball for added hamstring engagement, the standing pose targets the gluteus maximus muscles through persistent activation.
The artist chose a cooler palette of colors to imply an evening barre class, mixing acrylic blues and earth tones for depth. With the three figures slightly staggered and the ballet barre absent, the piece has a somewhat abstract quality.
Inspired by barre fitness art but struggling to find the wall space? These classy porcelain pendants are easy to love and even easier to hang. Barre art pendants are also ideal gift items for picky art collectors!
Double-sided porcelain
3.5″ diameter
$19.95
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Printed on both sides of a cool porcelain pendant, Red Hot Glutes is a eye-catching work. From the fiery back drop to the multi-colored figure at center, this barre fitness inspired piece has a vivacious beauty in its simplicity.
Barre artist Caron Shahrestani painted the original artwork in fall 2014 and progressed through various stages and layers to achieve the final work. One year later, she chose to print an image of the popular painting on porcelain pendants for her first Silicon Valley art show.
Designed as festive raffle prizes for art show attendees, the pendants became the hottest item of the night! Displayed as tree ornaments, art show attendees lined up to special order for the holidays.
Since the event, the artist has created several other pendants using her original barre art. The holidays aside, recent customers have bought their art pieces to hang at work, display on their vanity or even to wear as a statement neckalace.
The barre exercise demonstrated targets the gluteus maximus muscle by lifting one leg horizontally. The muscular stabilization required to balance on one leg – combined with the pull of gravity on the working leg – makes this an intense workout for the whole body.
Love the idea of barre fitness inspired art but don’t have the wall space or the budget? These porcelain pendants are a compact decor alternative and a unique gift idea for avid art lovers!
Buy one to remind yourself to stay active or collect them all to create a colorful arrangement of barre art!
Double-sided porcelain
3.5″ diameter
$19.95
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An arresting vision in orange and red, this original artwork channels the intensity of a barre exercise that involves pulling away from the ballet bar. As in many of her fitness inspired artwork, Barre Artist Caron Shahrestani included a small ball in the lower left corner of the canvas to imply more than dancing or light stretching.
The figure is seen in advanced form, with an extremely high working thigh and impressive back flexibility. Caron used a combination of acrylic brushes and palette knives to create the shaky, unstable sensation of the central figure. Assumed to be feminine with a small bun on top of her head, the figure appears to be activating every major muscle group to hold the exercise. From the heel off the floor too the length in the upper back, her body shows shows strength and good posture.
Caron painted this composition in fall 2014 and sats she was definitely inspired by the colors of the changing seasons. Deep red, orange and pink hues allow the piece a fiery and passionate emotion.
While the figures shows some definition in some areas – the glutes and hamstrings and shoulders – and none in others, the sense of movement is enhanced. The backdrop takes on a dream-like quality due to a somewhat visible lower layer. Beneath the paint strokes and knife cuts is a separate composition unrelated to fitness inspiration. The artist believes repurposing unsuccessful canvases births possibility in the imagination of the viewer.
With a size as versatile as 11x 14 inches unframed, this canvas offers hot and exciting conversation to any decor. In its black wooden frame, the color of the composition pops and sizzles against darker surroundings.
11 x 14 inches acrylic on canvas
15 x 18 painted solid wood frame
$195 before shipping
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In this whimsical yet edgy barre artwork, the figure is seen performing a ballet move called “arabesque” against an abstract backdrop with a metallic sheen. Painted on canvas and cut with palette knives for effect, the piece is elegant and beguiling in equal measure.
The multi-colored dancer exhibits almost perfect form with the height of her leg and the lift in her head. As a ballet dance move or as a barre fitness exercise, arabesque engages the glute and core muscles simultaneously for an intense workout. Deep red implies the heat and struggle of the figures effort.
While she strives to vary her work, Artist Caron Shahrestani confesses to having painted more arabesques than any other dance move or barre exercise. Caron painted Arabesque at the Barre during Spring 2014. She notes the long lines of the body, the accentuated curve of the low back and the practically posh engagement of the upper back as the arabesque attributes she enjoys painting most.
The figure is notably feminine, wearing a prim bun on the crown of her head. This silhouette of elegance contrasts with the slashing horzontal knifework, which peeks through the subject to a visually compelling background.
The true interest in the backdrop lies in the layer of paint below the composition… a previous piece that was later repurposed for Arabesque at the Barre. If one looks closely, textures, lines and even shapes imply a completely different artistic direction below the newer strokes.
Unframed, this 11 X 14 inch canvas manifests a sense of time, balance and composure in any room it graces. Framed in a distressed styled wood with black painted finish, the cutting marks across the figure find harmony with the scratch-like grooves of its surroundings.
11 x 14 inches acrylic on canvas
13.5 x 16.5 black painted wood frame
$195 before shipping
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Siarta Barre Art 