Who are you and what do you do?
Judith Baxter, retired, paint in watercolour & oil
Why do you do what you do?
It’s what I do with some confidence and I enjoy doing it!
How do you work?
With some procrastination!
What’s your background?
I have always enjoyed some sort of artistic, have been an artist/illustrator, store in-house/window design, theatre set design, editor/writer….. Jane-of-all-trades
What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
Good light…. good, sharp pencils
What role does the artist have in society?
Huge, whether that artist is in fashion, architecture, social space design, sculpture, music or fine art.….. an active artistic community is as important as sport or business for a living/thriving community
Best and worst thing about your profession?
The people and the people. I’mcoming to this as a fish out of water…. when one works in a commercial field, one works primarily alone, producing what the buyer wants (hopefully) ….. finding acceptance in show/sale art world after seventy means my generational support is non existent and I’m out of my depth regarding new product/styles and pricing. And when it comes to the culture of galleries ….. I have no idea!
What or who inspires you in your career?
I’m inspired at the present with the dedication and quality of the artists in our community.
What work do you most enjoying doing?
Whatever I’m doing at the moment….
What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
Probably one that surfaces is when I was 12….. Bill Martel taught children art in the basement of the NBM on Douglas Ave. Joe Kashetsky and I were picked to be in an international children art travelling exhibition. There’s more to the story, but it illustrates my interest and ability.
What themes do you pursue
I guess I like to express the world I see, Sky, water, earth…..
Why art?
Why not!
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
For a set I did for ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf’ a national critic raved about the set and did not mention the acting crew….. never knew how to take it…. insult because the actors were so bad he had to say something or he really liked it….. tears and laughter in the green room.
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
I’ve spent a lifetime volunteering in museums. They have always been my comfort zone, whereas art galleries terrify me !!
Should art be funded?
Now this is a big subject….. I totally believe art should be funded in the school system, from K-12….. I believe legislation regarding public art should be in place for all new builds and not just public founded construction…..
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Don’t talk to the press.
Professionally, what’s your goal?
To keep painting, maybe try sculpture…… print making…..
Kings County Studio Tour 