jbakerstudio

I’m happiest when I’m either out in nature or inside working in my studio. I find inspiration in so much of my environment. The colors in my paintings vary with the subtle changes of the seasons and how the fog and light reflect on the water. Right now I’m doing small mixed media collages and paintings using graphite, torn paper, old letters, photos and other ephemera from my grandmother and layers of paint. Some of these works on framed panels are covered in resin. One single element usually influences the whole piece.

My creative journey started in an old beach house in New England where I grew up, and my amazing parents encouraged my creativity as early as I can remember. My father brought home all kinds of art supplies for us-including a huge drafting table, and they encouraged us to paint anything we wanted-including our bedroom walls and furniture.

When I moved to San Francisco I began my career as an artist showing in several Bay Area galleries, including Shorebirds in Belvedere, Greenleaf Gallery in Saratoga and The SFMOMA Rental Gallery in San Francisco. Along the way, I also worked as a textile designer, designed window coverings, then closets and offices using CAD. And I even owned a restaurant! All of these experiences continue to influence my art. You may see small pieces of rusted silverware in some of my resin paintings, and I use old woodblocks on some of my paintings.

I graduated with a BFA in painting from UMass in Amherst, MA and attended the Museum schools both in Boston and Worcester, MA and Rhode Island School of Design before moving to California. Chuck Close had been a professor at UMass, and when he spoke at our graduation he became the biggest influence on my decision to pursue painting seriously.