Hugoton resident, Jennifer Baffoe's, "art journey" began in Western South Dakota, where she is originally from. She moved to Hugoton in January 2023 from Washington State.
Not long after moving to Southwest Kansas, Baffoe was welcomed at MainARTery in Ulysses.
"I have been showcasing my art with the Main ARTery since mid-2023," Baffoe said. "It has been nice feeling connected to a group of artists."
Baffoe's travels highly influence her artwork.
"The art that I like to make pertains to my travels, my life experiences and thoughts," Baffoe said. "I also like to challenge myself with trying different techniques in oil to capture my feelings about the subject."
Subjects Baffoe enjoys painting include landscapes, florals and portraits
"I have (also) delved into commissions of horses, cows, cats and dogs," Baffoe said. "These are fun to make; however, I love painting from my life."
One of her pieces currently at the MainARTery is Baffoe's interpretation of the Sahara Desert.
"My travels to Morocco have me enthralled by the colors that show up in the desert at different times of the day," Baffoe said. "It feels so isolated, yet inviting."
Art has been a part of Baffoe's life since early childhood.
"I have loved making art since childhood," she said, "but one instance stands out from the second grade when I recreated John Singer Sargent's 'Madame X' with torn paper. I thought she was so beautiful."
Art is an important part of who Baffoe is.
"Being a creator is embedded in my spirit," she said. "I am compelled to create no matter how little time I have. In 2016, I began selling paintings to raise funds to support a school in West Africa that my husband started. This gave me a sense of purpose."
When asked who her favorite artist is, Baffoe said "she couldn't tell one."
"I couldn't' tell you a favorite artist, but I can tell you what I love about the ones that have influenced my art," she said. "I love Rembrandt for his use of light, John Singer Sargent, for his combination of formal portraiture with impressionism, and the current artist named Richard Blade for his abstract landscapes."
What guides Baffoe's work?
"My current aesthetic is to find the dynamic light in everything I paint," Baffoe said. "Light creates drama or whimsy. Whether soft or dramatic there will always be a sparkle in my paintings."
Baffoe and her husband, Stephen, have two boys: Amir and Anwar.
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