I WAS BORN IN AN ARTISTIC FAMILY.  MY FATHER DID TEXTILE DESIGN UNTIL THE ADVENT OF WW II WHEN HE BECAME A TOOL AND DIE MAKER.  HE WAS MY FIRST INSTRUCTOR.  FROM THE AGE OF 10 UNTIL 15 I STUDIED AT THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF FINE ART.  AFTER THAT I STUDIED PHOTOGRAPHY WITH AN AUNT AND UNCLE LEARNING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE SELDOM IN USE TODAY EVEN AS AN ART FORM.  FOR SEVERAL YEARS I CONTINUED MAKING DRAWINGS OF THE PAINTINGS I SAW AT THE MUSEUMS.  I WORK IN ALL MEDIUMS BUT PREFER WATERCOLOR, OIL AND GOUACHE IN THAT ORDER.  WHEN WORKING WITH WATER MEDIUMS I AM OFTEN INCLINED TO MIX THEM.  I LIKE TO START WITH POURED INKS ON WET AND DRY 300# PAPER ALLOWING THEM TO FLOW AND CREATE THE PIECE WHICH CAN THEN BE COMPLETED WITH WHATEVER SEEMS TO WORK BEST.  THIS IS THE METHOD I USED FOR "BOTTOMLAND".  THE DETAIL IN THE LEAVES WAS COMPLETED WITH WATERCOLOR PENCIL.  I AM NO LONGER CAPABLE OF DRIVING WHEREVER THE MOOD TAKES ME BUT DO TAKE MY CAMERA AND A SKETCHBOOK AND PENCILS WHEN I RIDE THE BUS.  SOMETIMES I JUST GET OFF THE BUS AND OTHER TIMES I PLAN TO COME BACK ON ANOTHER DAY.  I LIVED FOR 40 YEARS IN NEW MEXICO AND MUCH OF MY WORK IS OF SCENES I HAVE SEEN IN OLD AND NEW MEXICO.  I LOVE TO PAINT AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY LOIOKING AT THEM AS MUCH AS I ENJOY CREATING THEM.

B.BAKER