Richard Craig Baker

Richard was born in Camden, TN, on November 22, 1955, to the late R. Gene Baker and Peggy Lynn Churchwell Baker. As the son of an Army major, Richard lived in many places while growing up, including Alabama, New Jersey, Germany, Panama, Hawaii, and Kansas. His travels allowed him to explore a variety of landscapes, cultures, art museums and historical sites. After graduating from high school and attending college briefly, he moved to Tampa, Florida and took a job with Busch Gardens, where he worked for 30 years and would eventually become the zoo’s Curator of Mammals. His stories of spending time with chimpanzees, gorillas, warthogs, lions and more never failed to delight.

In Florida, Richard was always at home on the water, often taking his boat out for competitive fishing tournaments. When he could sneak away from Florida, however, it was to heed the call of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, where he enjoyed fly fishing and seeking beautiful mountain views.

He moved to North Carolina in 2006, and, in 2010, after a heart attack, he left the job he held at the time to devote himself to his real passion: art. He opened a studio in Tryon, before moving on to studios in Saluda, Asheville’s River Arts District, and, finally, Waynesville, where he operated a downtown gallery until 2019. During this time, he founded the Smoky Mountains Plein Air Painters, a group that invited regional artists to gather with easels, canvases and paintbrushes at some of WNC’s most beautiful spots, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, Lake Junaluska, the Pigeon River, and Waterrock Knob.

His most recent studio/gallery was located at Folkmoot Studios, in Waynesville’s Hazelwood neighborhood. In this beautiful location, he continued to paint prolifically and to welcome visitors.

Richard’s generosity of spirit was evident in his encouragement of others in the pursuit of whatever creative urge they had, in his time spent sharing his own self-taught techniques of oil painting, and in his friendly acceptance of everyone he met. If someone spoke wistfully of wanting to create, Richard’s question was always the same: “Who’s in your way?”

His artwork, represented locally at Twigs & Leaves Gallery, reveals a keen eye for the beauty in nature and a skillful hand at capturing it on canvas. His paintings of rivers, lakes, creeks, and waterfalls are widely regarded as masterful for their realistic depiction of water: its movement, depth, clarity and reflected light. Overall, his paintings express the great love of the area that led Richard to study the light, shadows, colors, and tones until he could create the distinct atmosphere as well as the topography of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. He greatly admired the Hudson River School artists, but through the years developed an unmistakable style of his own.

Family and friends will fondly remember Richard for many things: the joy he derived from daily life, his friendly smile and hearty laughter, his kindness and compassion, and the hardworking dedication with which he developed and furthered his artistic talent.

He is survived by his partner, Gina Malone, of the home; children Chris Baker of Tallahassee, FL, and Lisa Myers (Richard DeGray) and Michael Baker, both of Tampa; brothers Thomas Baker and Curtis Baker; and a sister Phyllis Fee, all of Tampa; and

grandchildren Katherine Baker, Dylan Baker, Jandor DeGray, Jackson Baker, Grayson Baker and Kacie Baker.

Garrett Funeral Home is honored to assist the Baker family. Messages of comfort may be shared at www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com

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