I went to Indianapolis last week and brought these three Baker paintings home with me. I’m a sucker for Indiana impressionists.
George Herbert Baker (February 14, 1878 – March 11, 1943) was an American Impressionist artist who worked primarily in the Richmond, Indiana area and was a member of the "Richmond Group" of painters. He worked in oil, watercolor and pastels. He worked for a time in Brown County, Indiana and is sometimes associated with that group of artists.
Born in Muncie, Indiana, Baker lived in Richmond and Centerville most of his life. He studied with John Elwood Bundy, at the Cincinnati Art Academy and the Boothbay Art School. In 1925 he was a visiting instructor at Miami University.
His work is represented in the collections of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art, Richmond Art Museum, Earlham College, Miami University Art Museum, Morrisson-Reeves Library, Centerville, Indiana Library and a devoted group of private collectors. A painting titled "November Meadows" painted during the time he was an instructor at Miami University hangs today over the mantle in the formal living room of the Miami president's home, Lewis Place. Wiki
George Baker (1878-1943) was born in Muncie, Indiana and moved to Richmond, Indiana in his early teens. Considered a brilliant colorist, Baker demonstrated artistic ability early in his life. This interest in drawing landed him a job at the Gaar-Scott Company where like Charles Conner; he painted scenes on farm equipment. The farm equipment could be decorated with anything from pinstripes to completed landscapes. It was Mr. Scott who introduced Baker to the dean of the Richmond Group, John Bundy. In addition to art instruction with Bundy, Baker studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy and at the Boothbay Art School, Maine.
Baker was a charter member of the Richmond Palette club, serving as the president of the organization. His was known for his landscapes of all seasons and moods, painting nature around Wayne County. His daring use of bold color led to rumors of alcoholism, yet these cannot be confirmed. When asked about his use of color Baker responded, “I don’t paint nature the way it is. I paint nature the way I wish it was.” Considered to be one of the finest landscape painters in Indiana, Baker was invited to serve as a visiting instructor for two semesters at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1925.
Later in his career he worked in pastel and depicted marine scenes. Baker painted on the New England coast and in the mountains during the summer of 1931. In that same year, sixty oil paintings of Marine scenes and pastels were placed on display in the Westcott Hotel. He exhibited in Cincinnati, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis and various cities throughout Indiana and Ohio winning numerous awards including the Howard Spaulding Jr. prize of $100 at the Hoosier Salon Exhibition, Nye Prize, 1930 and the Muncie Prize in 1910. Baker was a prominent local artist of his time and influenced many Hoosier artists. Artists that studied with Baker include Harry Townsend, Zeb E. Pottenger, Lawrence McConaha and Howard Leigh. Courtesy Wayne County website.
Congratulations to the winner of the Worst Flag Wars, Brown County, Nebraska!
I shouldn’t be saying congratulations, considering it won for being awful, but it is undeniable that this flag is truly special. It really means something that it beat Pocatello, one of the most notoriously worst flags of all time. I think it is deserving of the title of the worst flag ever. With a recent wave in American city, state, and county flag redesigns over the past few years, maybe Brown County will get a redesign eventually just like Pocatello. I had a lot of fun with this tournament! I will be continuing to host bonus rounds, and I will also be starting a completely new Flag Wars competition. I will post a poll soon so people can decide what the theme of this tournament will be. I’m glad everyone enjoyed this tournament, and stay tuned for our next tournament!
Brown County Appraisal District CAD owners reduce their property taxes by 5% through tax protests. 40-70% of property tax protests are successful. Visit https://www.poconnor.com/brown-county/