It’s never too late to be what you might have been. – commonly attributed to George Eliot
Hello Again
It’s been a while! I’ve been on an adventure…
As an artist, I often experience imposter syndrome, having so many questions about making, about meaning, about art history and the art world. A series of events seemed to lead me toward doing something about it, toward my “What if?” For the past year, at 54 years old, I’ve been a student in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Mount Allison University. I’ve met a lot of great people, learned so much, and grew in my creative practice more than I could have imagined. The pace of the program was brisk, the workload heavy. We were asked to step outside our comfort zone. There was fear — of vulnerability, of failure. There were tears. I often thought I couldn’t do it, but took the next step anyway, and found I could. And every day I gave thanks for the opportunity to do something I often wished I had done when I was younger.
Here’s a sampling of my responses to a few of the year’s assignments.
Blue Jug, Lemons and Spoon, acrylic on cotton paper, 30 x 22″ 
Dad, acrylic on board, 24 x 18″ 
Hello, Gorgeous IX, oil pastel on cotton paper, 50 x 50″ 
Earth Remains, 42 x 16 x18.75″ x 
Gaia Reigns, acrylic on canvas, triptych, 36 x 72″ 
Do You See?, paper mache sculpture 
Fingertip Drawing, ink on cotton paper, 30 x 22″ 
Saturday Afternoon on the Common, etching, 5 x 10″ 
Finding Light in the Darkness, etching, 6 x 12″ 
The Joke’s on Me, distorted grid drawing, 30 x 22″ 
What is Home?, 22 x 30″ 
Detail of “An Apple a Day,” ink on cotton paper, 30 x 22″
I’ve lived enough now to know that we don’t know how things will work out. But today, I am so lucky to be living as the person who I might have been, had my younger self possessed the self-knowledge and courage to pursue creativity.
The Magic and Mystery of Starting
In reading about the creative process, I learn that sometimes when we take the first step, unseen forces rally to lead us on. The year’s efforts have led to another opportunity this summer. Through Mount Allison, I’ve been offered the Bourne Internship in the Arts. Thanks to the guidance and support of those at Saint John Arts Centre, I will be making art this summer as the Artist-in-Residence for the town of Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada.
Art Show in Rothesay This Weekend
After a long winter, nurture yourself — immerse yourself in beauty through the eyes of an artist. Rothesay Netherwood School is hosting its 34th Annual Art Show and Sale in person and online this weekend. A couple of my etchings are among the work of 70 Canadian artists. The work is online now with the online store opening May 12-15, 2023.
Join Me This Summer
Follow @darlenebakerart or visit darlenebaker.com for info on new work, the creative process and more! Thanks for reading.
DARLENE BAKER 