Jeannie Baker is an English-born Australian children's picture book author and artist, known for her collage illustrations and her concern for the natural environment. Her books have won many awards.
Jeannie Baker
Born
Jeannie Baker 1950 (age 73–74) Croydon, London, England
Occupation
Artist, author, film maker
Nationality
English Australian
Period
1975–present
Genre
Collage constructions and children's picture books
Website
www.jeanniebaker.com
Biographyedit
Baker was born in London, England[1] on 2 November 1950. She studied graphic design at Croydon School of Art and Brighton Polytechnic, earning honours in art and design, before making her home in Australia in 1975.[1] In the early 1980s, she lived in New York on an Australia Council Visual Arts Board residency.[1] Her book, Home in the Sky (1984), was developed there.[1]
Baker developed the illustrations for her first book, Grandfather, during her final year at Brighton College of Art.[2]
Baker uses a variety of textures in her works. "When I can, I like to use textures from the actual materials portrayed, such as bark, feathers, cracked paint, earth, knitted wool and rusty tin… so that their natural textures become an integral part of the work".[3] Baker’s collages illustrate her picture books, but also stand individually as works of art. They are part of many public art collections and have been exhibited in galleries in London, New York and throughout Australia.[4]
Circle - A travelling exhibition has been organised by Newcastle Museum in collaboration with Baker, which will follow the migratory path of the Godwits, visiting museums and galleries across Australia and the world
Children’s book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award Commended 1985
Young Australian’s Best Book Award Shortlisted 1986.
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijScobie, Susan, ed. (1997). The Dromkeen Book of Australian Children's Illustrators. Scholastic Australia. pp. 22–25. ISBN 1863886958.
^McCartney, Tania. "Chatting with Author and Artist Jeannie Baker". Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^"Candlewick Studio - Baker, Jeannie". Candlewick Studio. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^Morris, Linda (30 May 2016). "Interview: Children's author Jeannie Baker follows an endangered bird's path". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^"News - Australian Society of Authors (ASA)". www.asauthors.org. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^"Nominees for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2021". Mynewsdesk. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^"Australians nominated for 2022 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award". Books+Publishing. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
^"Award-winning children's book author and collage artist wants kids to stop copying, start experimenting". www.abc.net.au. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2021.