environment with a kind of new insight. I paid more
attention.
Of course; there were other moments and issues
that have become a part of me. I hope my work
has and is reflecting of those positive moments
and issues.
Because of education I was able to come in touch
with basic principles of art and theory. With
education I have learned about some of the
variations in how artists approach their work. Of
course; there were other moments and issues that
have become a part of me. I hope my work has
and is reflecting of those positive moments and
issues.
Some artist are trained. Others are not. Our
desire to categorize or organize our arts and
artists is a part of the Western culture. The hope
is that these artists are reflective of the periods of
time. That is not always the case. Some artists
chose not to associate themselves with the
masses of the period.
I have met and held discussions with some
prominent and more successful artists than
myself. In particular, I once had a long discussion
about art with Alex Katz, an artist of the
Contemporary Period. Other artists that I looked
to for inspiration in my desire to succeed in art
were Fairfield Porter, Vincent VanGogh and
Jacob Lawrence.
The more successful artist advice was always the
same. “You must be your own person and artist.”
The meaning of this to me was; "your concept or
idea should be expressed as strongly as possible
attention.
Of course; there were other moments and issues
that have become a part of me. I hope my work
has and is reflecting of those positive moments
and issues.
Because of education I was able to come in touch
with basic principles of art and theory. With
education I have learned about some of the
variations in how artists approach their work. Of
course; there were other moments and issues that
have become a part of me. I hope my work has
and is reflecting of those positive moments and
issues.
Some artist are trained. Others are not. Our
desire to categorize or organize our arts and
artists is a part of the Western culture. The hope
is that these artists are reflective of the periods of
time. That is not always the case. Some artists
chose not to associate themselves with the
masses of the period.
I have met and held discussions with some
prominent and more successful artists than
myself. In particular, I once had a long discussion
about art with Alex Katz, an artist of the
Contemporary Period. Other artists that I looked
to for inspiration in my desire to succeed in art
were Fairfield Porter, Vincent VanGogh and
Jacob Lawrence.
The more successful artist advice was always the
same. “You must be your own person and artist.”
The meaning of this to me was; "your concept or
idea should be expressed as strongly as possible
"The more successful artist advice was always the same: “You must be your own
person and artist.”
person and artist.”
Inclination, 26 x 40
Desert Plant, 26 x 40
Decaying Landscape, 26 x 40
I remember the trips from Jacksonville, Florida to
Savannah, Georgia. These were usually trips to
visit family. Of course, I had other family in the
south. For some reason, I remember the rides in
the back of the car. For some reason I thought of
the car as a green 1953 Chevrolet. We would get
up early in the morning and ride in the car until we
reached our destination.
I understand now there were legitimate reasons for
a black family to start the trip early in the morning
before light. This time was the early 1950’s. Some
of those reasons as I see now as not wanting to be
harassed by white policemen along the way. Being
sure; that when you had to stop; it was an
establishment that was friendly to black people.
This is the way I interpreted these family trips in the
south for black families. I would sit and stare out of
the window as a small child. During these long
lengths of time; I would become transfixed in time. I
would lose sight of time. The time no longer
became an issue. It almost became hallucinatory.
Though obviously I was moving; the panoramic
view became stationary. I was immersed in the
setting. My mind became locked in some kind of
distance within space. I felt that I could walk within
that space.
I think this is the period of my life that set me on the
path as a visual artist. I became more in tune with
my environment. I looked at elements of my
Savannah, Georgia. These were usually trips to
visit family. Of course, I had other family in the
south. For some reason, I remember the rides in
the back of the car. For some reason I thought of
the car as a green 1953 Chevrolet. We would get
up early in the morning and ride in the car until we
reached our destination.
I understand now there were legitimate reasons for
a black family to start the trip early in the morning
before light. This time was the early 1950’s. Some
of those reasons as I see now as not wanting to be
harassed by white policemen along the way. Being
sure; that when you had to stop; it was an
establishment that was friendly to black people.
This is the way I interpreted these family trips in the
south for black families. I would sit and stare out of
the window as a small child. During these long
lengths of time; I would become transfixed in time. I
would lose sight of time. The time no longer
became an issue. It almost became hallucinatory.
Though obviously I was moving; the panoramic
view became stationary. I was immersed in the
setting. My mind became locked in some kind of
distance within space. I felt that I could walk within
that space.
I think this is the period of my life that set me on the
path as a visual artist. I became more in tune with
my environment. I looked at elements of my
Lawrence Baker in his Cleveland, Ohio studio
Resulting Discovery, 26 x 40, graphite
in your work." I have always tried to
adhere to these basic principles. In
maturity I see myself as having come
full circle. My fixed medium at this point
is graphite. I am focusing on aspects of
landscape drawing. This is to a degree
the same kind of views that hypnotized
me as a child. The subject matter is
the same kind that so intrigued me as
a child.
I am now trying to convey that kind of
mental envelopment to the viewer.
adhere to these basic principles. In
maturity I see myself as having come
full circle. My fixed medium at this point
is graphite. I am focusing on aspects of
landscape drawing. This is to a degree
the same kind of views that hypnotized
me as a child. The subject matter is
the same kind that so intrigued me as
a child.
I am now trying to convey that kind of
mental envelopment to the viewer.
I work with a combination of large flats of graphite, and
pencil-shaped graphite.
As with many artists, my work has evolved. I have a long history
of doing figure painting. My paintings tend to use the figure as
part of the subject matter, both as primary and secondary
sources, as well as a combination of the two for the subject
matter. I am concerned with the total design which includes the
effects on the viewer.
pencil-shaped graphite.
As with many artists, my work has evolved. I have a long history
of doing figure painting. My paintings tend to use the figure as
part of the subject matter, both as primary and secondary
sources, as well as a combination of the two for the subject
matter. I am concerned with the total design which includes the
effects on the viewer.
My approach to painting was influenced by watching cartoons
and lots of what I considered classic movies of the mid 20th
century. Who can forget “Withering Heights” with Sir Lawrence
Olivier, and the “Third Man” with Joseph Cotton and Orson
Wells? Watching cartoons and old movies elevated my spirit. I
was transcended. My meager and drab existence did not exist
for me. A method through the viewing of cartoons and classic
movies became a part of me. Tom and Jerry cartoons and old
movies such as “The Maltese Falcon” with Humphrey Bogart
were important for me.
Cartoons which used such basic shapes in creating characters
were so simple as an idea and implied so much; a minimalism of
artistic projection. I strive to paint with the simplicity and clarity of
cartoons, as well as to induce the expressive qualities of the
classic movies.
and lots of what I considered classic movies of the mid 20th
century. Who can forget “Withering Heights” with Sir Lawrence
Olivier, and the “Third Man” with Joseph Cotton and Orson
Wells? Watching cartoons and old movies elevated my spirit. I
was transcended. My meager and drab existence did not exist
for me. A method through the viewing of cartoons and classic
movies became a part of me. Tom and Jerry cartoons and old
movies such as “The Maltese Falcon” with Humphrey Bogart
were important for me.
Cartoons which used such basic shapes in creating characters
were so simple as an idea and implied so much; a minimalism of
artistic projection. I strive to paint with the simplicity and clarity of
cartoons, as well as to induce the expressive qualities of the
classic movies.
A
merican
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| Establishing partnerships between artists and art museums |
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The method of color usage is important. Ranges attributed to particular
colors help to convey ideas and emotions as well as evoking emotion
through sources of illumination.
The arrangement of color shapes creates volume. Volume becomes form.
All forms have been subject to a plethora of emphasis, although my
approach is to intensify viewer emotions by use of implied simplification.
colors help to convey ideas and emotions as well as evoking emotion
through sources of illumination.
The arrangement of color shapes creates volume. Volume becomes form.
All forms have been subject to a plethora of emphasis, although my
approach is to intensify viewer emotions by use of implied simplification.
Other than simplicity and clarity there are the invigorating problems of
painting which artists know only too well: principles of design, mood, focal
point, composition, etc. We solve these problems by drawing from a rich
emotional layering of experience.
After 30 years of teaching I have retired. I'm not sure what that word
implies. Like most artists I know that I'll never retire from creating art. After
all, there are a multitude of problems to solve .....
Lawrence Baker, M.F.A.
Cleveland, Ohio
© 2011
painting which artists know only too well: principles of design, mood, focal
point, composition, etc. We solve these problems by drawing from a rich
emotional layering of experience.
After 30 years of teaching I have retired. I'm not sure what that word
implies. Like most artists I know that I'll never retire from creating art. After
all, there are a multitude of problems to solve .....
Lawrence Baker, M.F.A.
Cleveland, Ohio
© 2011
Cartoons and old movies...
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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lawrence Baker recently retired after teaching art for
30 years in the Cleveland, Ohio school system. His
art career has been the subject of numerous
exhibitions in Northern Ohio art galleries and
museums. He writes us the following article:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
30 years in the Cleveland, Ohio school system. His
art career has been the subject of numerous
exhibitions in Northern Ohio art galleries and
museums. He writes us the following article:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>