RT's Paper Crown oil on linen, 16 x 20 sold

David Baker’s paintings go beyond the typical still life or interior by telling a story or by capturing a familiar moment in everyday life. He uses ordinary objects, carefully placed in intricate compositions to draw us into the story. We sense a human presence—one that stepped outside the room just a moment ago. One never tires of trying to imagine the story behind the painting.

In “Nesting” Baker captures a mood of peaceful contentment. A working woman, about to remove her shoes at the end of a long day, is surrounded by the symbols of her active family. Although not in the painting, her children are very much part of the scene, and we can imagine their daily activities. Baker chose a large canvas for “Nesting,” which leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.

Baker’s expert ability to apply paint and his exquisite use of light, create a poetic atmosphere that defies the realism of the image. Sometimes the light in Baker's images comes from a nearby window, reminiscent of the Old Dutch Masters. Baker says he is most influenced by the 19th century painter Thomas Wilmer Dewing, who “used a very restrained palette and was able to get these wonderful atmospheric effects.”

“Something about the light he achieved struck me early on,” Baker says. “I keep going back to it. Dewing and Andrew Wyeth. Those painters who have the ability to establish a sense of reality and yet—Wyeth convinces you he has an incredible amount of detail, but a lot of the time he is leading you on.”

Baker moved to Maine In 2000. Formerly from Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania, he holds a degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has received numerous grants, awards, and exhibitions outside the state of Maine. Baker’s works are included in the United States Mint, the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Rohm and Haas Corporation and several private collections.