We had the good fortune of connecting with Jane Lawton Baldridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jane Lawton, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from a small coastal town in Texas. My life has been water based. Working at a boatyard and racing sailboats early on, then continuing a pattern of racing and boat deliveries throughout my journey. My story is that of a sea level girl who feels the salt water in her veins every day.

Perfection is having the bow cut through the wavelets like a hot knife through ice cream. Surrounded by diamonds, glinting off of the wrinkles on the water. Intoxicated by the fragrance of the sea breeze.

If not scudding across the water by sail then perhaps, floating in the delicious turquoise, buoyant from the salt and the magnesium surroundings. Or, if standing toes in, hopeful that treasure will arrive on the next wave. I used to think the highest achievement was finding a perfect specimen of a Queen Conch on one’s walkabout. The real treasures are the fragments of shape and color with better stories behind their journey.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

After 48 years creating, I still have to make new fresh art that is true to my self. Amongst all the people, sailboats and flowers I have created, I have a pattern of going to painting moving water abstractly. My realization of this reoccurring focus was made obvious after we moved from living aboard for 10 years to a land based home. I consolidated three studios and in seeing everything in one space, realized the pattern of painting abstract water moving series over and over again in different media, different points of focus but always coming back to that. In every one of my five decades creating art, the focus on water has presented, but in different forms, styles and media. I feel like I am expressing my sea stories in a more articulate way than any previous attempts. It is a path true to who I am.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have taken my visiting best friend to the historic House of Refuge, the Elliott Museum, the beaches, and the downtown waterfront. Also to Johnathon Dickinson State Park. The restaurants are plentiful, Boathouse, red taco truck, Pirates Cove, The Gafford, Spritz,and more. The Palm Room Art Gallery and Josephine’s Restaurant is always on the tour, Of course our backyard is lovely too. Boat rides are also a common attraction for my ilk.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who have supported my path and practice. My racing skipper Ellen Gerloff has always been there to shore up any sagging confidence. My middle school art teacher Susan Smith who gently encouraged me and set my creativity free and put my art in places to be awarded and recognized, my sister Debbie, who was my “Theo”, my professors at Cal Arts that made sure I understood the necessity of creating something new, more recently husband Jeff who is my biggest support, my friends from Southport, NC and finally my friends at the Martin Artisans Guild. Also, Edithy Marcellis deserves a shout out, she often reassures my path when the other voices get too loud. another nod to Alicia Weber for her belief in my work and wonderful curation of my exhibit at The Elliott Museum.

Website: https://www.artspeaks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janelawtonbaldridge/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-baldridge-7475987/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneLawtonBaldr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintings.janelawtonbaldridge

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuwAa3ynBg7c6fP-lqijHOg

Other: https://www.singulart.com/en/artist/jane-lawton-baldridge-33636

Image Credits
Olga Hamilton (me and dog) Tom Grissman (artwork)

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