Jake Baddeley

 

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In the realm of art, there exist two distinct lights – one that illuminates physical spaces and another that radiates from within our minds. It is this inner light that I am drawn to capture on canvas. My paintings are imbued with the ethereal glow of imagination, the very essence of truth. The landscapes I create are born from the depths of dreams, infused with the same luminosity. They evoke emotions, convey moods, and ignite ideas. They bask in the nostalgic light of distant memories, the enchanting radiance of childhood’s magical gardens. When an image crystalizes in my mind, I strive to seize it, to complete the painting before it fades into obscurity. I refrain from excessive questioning, editing, or filtering, as such interference often leaves me with mere dust in my hands or a less captivating artwork. Instead, I trust the still voice within, the intuition that guides me. I leave the interpretation and contemplation to the viewer, for meaning may at times elude us, and reason may remain shrouded. Yet, within a successful composition, there is an unmistakable power, an inherent luminosity that transcends all attempts at clarification. It is this enigmatic quality that I cherish, for I would never trade it for the most meticulously constructed idea.

Jake was born in Nottingham, England, in 1964, and has been drawing since his early childhood. After finishing his education as an illustrator at the University of London in 1988 he decides to travel around Europe, which leads him to the Netherlands for the first time. During these travels he meets his wife Vanessa and in 1990 he decides to live in The Hague and to work as an illustrator. Inspired by the Dutch Masters he starts working with oil paint in 1992.

In 1996 he has his first solo exhibition. This exhibition is, much to his own surprise, such a success that it offers him the opportunity to paint on a full time base. Ever since he has had successful solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally and his work has found it’s way into many private and corporate collections.

Jake draws his inspirations from many sources: the Ancient Greeks, the Italian Renaissance Masters, the Dutch Masters, iconography, mythology, psychology and philosophy. But most of all he relies on his own subconscious and intuition which has proven many times to have a logic and curious independence of its own.