Baker Artist Portfolios

"I was born in a time and place where art had to have a utilitarian function and not to be seriously studied. Thus my early expressions were playing French Horn, sewing, knitting, recovering chairs, painting walls and furniture. Art was a project not a process to be enjoyed. After my kids were grown, I had to reprogram my beliefs and allow myself to be artistic. I took classes, started to paint, then was veered by fate to writing. I'm following a long and winding and interesting road."

Jane Gardner Birch was born and raised in Hermitage, Pa., and received a bachelor-of- science degree in education from Kent State University. She has had careers in teaching, real estate, financial service and mortgage lending. She has three sons and six grandchildren and lives outside of Annapolis, Md. Jane received the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2007 Combs Gates Award for They Flew Proud, her first book. She regularly has signings for the Smithsonian, and speaks at meetings, classes or aviation events on the CPTP. Jane is in the process of writing a second historical fiction book: generational effects of family, based on an actual scandalous grandmother of hers. Jane has written 40,000 words, and the disreputable actions are about to take place..