Lisa Baker, smiling outdoors, her long auburn hair over her shoulders

Lisa Baker, a watercolor painter from a family of artists.

She paints places, animals, flowers and everyday things in her home studio in Arroyo Grande, on California’s Central Coast.

Many of her paintings are of a real place, one you may know and love

Here is Pismo Beach Pier at sunset in a photograph, and as Lisa painted it.

A photograph of Pismo Beach Pier at sunset: the pier in black silhouette against an orange sky over dark blue water — The pier at sunsetPhotograph by Jennifer Bourn

Pismo Beach Pier, a watercolor by Lisa Baker: the pier's long wooden legs running out into blue and silver water under a sunset sky of gold, teal and violet clouds, a bird flying overhead — Pismo Beach PierWatercolor by Lisa Baker

The camera keeps the pier in silhouette. In her painting the sky opens into color, the water catches the last light, and a bird crosses overhead.

California CoastThe sky along the top, across the painting’s full 21¾ inches. Some cloud edges are soft, some crisp.

Watercolor seems to have a mind of its own, and Lisa lets it lead

Lisa has painted with oils, acrylics and many other mediums, but she prefers watercolor because it challenges her.

Today she paints in watercolor almost exclusively.

Look closer, and every window, branch and light is there

For as long as she can remember, Lisa has loved drawing, painting, sculpting and woodworking. Working with her hands has always been how she expresses herself.

Kylemore Abbey, Ireland (Fall)Stone towers and tall windows, in fine lines over soft washes

Poppy HillAn olive tree, about 5 inches of a 16 × 12 inch painting

San Francisco Bay BridgeThe bridge lights, about 7 inches of a 21 × 14 inch painting

Grapes in Fall, a watercolor by Lisa Baker: clusters of purple grapes among red, gold and green autumn leaves, her signature at the lower right — Grapes in FallPainted right to the edge, signed at the lower right

Finished down to the edge of the paper, and signed in her hand

Grapes in Fall runs right out to the edge of the sheet. She signs her name in a corner.

Pismo Beach PierThe lower right corner, where her name meets the edge of the sheet

Raised among painters, she went on to teach art herself

A California native, Lisa grew up with three sisters, and a mother and father who were all naturally creative and loved to paint. Surrounded by their talent, she was not always aware she had a gift of her own. Art was her outlet, the one thing she felt she was good at.

She is a retired teacher’s aide who taught art at an elementary school in Visalia, California. She is a wife, the mother of three girls and a grandmother.

She has studied with two well-known artists

Carlene Kostiw: Artist, of Clovis, California
Tricia Reichert: Taught art classes through Cal Poly Extended Education, San Luis Obispo, from 2004 to 2020