NeVada Baker
Vada was the featured artist May of 2024, October 2025
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ARTIST STATEMENT/BIO
"I am a retired graphic artist for the local newspaper in West Liberty, IA and currently teach art classes at the Muscatine Art Center along with being the Gift Shop Manager & Artist in Residence at the National Pearl Button Museum, Muscatine Iowa. I have studied art all through high school; two years at the Art Institute in Minnesota, Muscatine Community College and have had the privilege of being tutored by Iowa artists Ralph Iaccarino, Carol Steinmetz and James Edward Brotherton.
My position as the Gift Shop Manager and Artist in Residence, at the National Pearl Button Museum, has allowed me to expand my art into 3-dimensional pieces. Creating the large 8-foot button covered fish, 8 foot snowmen and giant paper flowers has broadened my creative endeavors. My desire is to create window display art that will attract people and entice them to visit the National Pearl Button Museum.
Art has been a part of my life since its beginning. Surrounded by colorful pieces of hand painted furniture and floor coverings created by my mother Velma Fuller, I inherited her love of color, composition and freedom of expression.
I enjoy painting on most every blank surface available. A few of my painting creations have been on walls, rocks, slate, stepping stones, dried leaves and my favorite, turkey feathers. I began painting with oils, pastels and acrylics; however, my favorite medium is watercolor. Some of my newest creations are button mosaics and jewelry. My love for all types of buttons – plastic, pearl, glass, etc. - has inspired me to create colorful pieces of art work. I began dying plastic buttons in order to create brilliant colors for my mosaics. I have yet to learn the magic recipe for dying pearl buttons!
My largest art piece can be found on the aquarium wall located at the Muscatine Discovery Center. Working with artist James Brotherton, we created a beautiful pond scene surrounding the Center’s large Aquariums. I also painted a large pond scene on canvas for the Discovery Center’s pond sign, depicting a variety of animal, plant and insect life in the area. Small signs surrounding the pond hold depictions of this piece showing various species of plant and animal life in and surrounding the pond.
Working out of my home-based studio in West Liberty, Iowa, allows me the space and time to experiment with various mediums and ideas. I continually experiment with various techniques in order to reach my goal of creating visual enthusiasm in my works of art."
Vada says, “Don’t be afraid to create, there are no mistakes in art, they are learning experiences.”
Vada has also taught a watercolor class at Brick Street Gallery and we look forward to more of her classes.
ON DISPLAY
"Muscatine Bridge Reflections"
Print on Glossy Photo Paper
NB-069
$ 60
GALLERY HISTORY
"Where Did I Hide Those Eggs?"
Watercolor
NB-001 $50 (SOLD)
"Bears in the Mist"
Watercolor
NB-002
$50 (SOLD)
"Is it Spring Yet?
Watercolor
NB-003 $40 (SOLD)
"Sunflowers"
Watercolor
NB-004 $35 (SOLD)
Coasters Mixed Media
NB-005 $6 (SOLD)
Coasters Mixed Media
NB-005 $6 (SOLD)
Coasters Mixed Media
NB-005 $6 (SOLD)
Coasters Mixed Media
NB-005 $6 (SOLD)
Coasters Mixed Media
NB-005 $6 (SOLD)
"Moo to You!"
Watercolor
NB-006 $50 (SOLD)
"Whoot, Whoot"
Watercolor
NB-007 $50 (SOLD)
"Pumpkins and Gourds"
Watercolor
NB-008 $20 (SOLD)
"Carolina Wrens"
Watercolor
NB-009 $100 (SOLD)
"Sanctuary"
Watercolor, Ink, Metallic Watercolor
NB-010
$100 (SOLD)
"Who's Lion?"
Watercolor
NB-011
$75
"In the Pond"
Watercolor
NB-012
$75 SOLD)
"Red Skies in the Morn"
Watercolor
NB-013 $40 (SOLD)
"Whimsy Birdies"
Watercolor & Ink
NB-014
$50 (SOLD)
"Ready for Flight"
Watercolor & Ink
NB-015
$50 (SOLD)
Paper & Pearl
Mixed Media
NB-016
$40 (SOLD)
"The Christmas Tree"
Button Mosaic
NB-017
$200
"The Snowman"
Button Mosaic
NB-018
$200
Pearl-like Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-019
$ 10
Red Gem Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-020
$ 10
Light Green Gem Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-021
$ 10 (SOLD)
Green Gem Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-022
$ 10
Blue Gem Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-023
$ 10
Teal Gem Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-024
$ 10
Pearl-like Drop Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-025
$ 10
Pearl-like Earrings
Metal & faux gem
NB-026
$ 10 (SOLD)
Necklace with blue stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-027
$ 15 (SOLD)
Necklace w. light-green stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-028
$ 15 (SOLD)
Necklace with pearl stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-029
$ 15
Necklace w. light-green stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-030
$ 15 (SOLD)
Necklace with green stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-031
$ 15 (SOLD)
Necklace with aqua stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-032
$ 15
Necklace with red stone
Metal & faux gem
NB-033
$ 15
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-034
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-035
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-036
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-037
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-038
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-039
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-040
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-041
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-042
$ 4
Handmade Card
Mixed media
NB-043
$ 4
"Paper Heart Design in Blues"
Cut & Layered in shadowbox Frame with attached pearl buttons
NB-044
$ 50 (DONATION TO JILL WACHS FUNDRAISER)
"Sunflower"
Alcohol Ink
NB-045
$ 30 (SOLD)
"Negative Painting Trees"
Watercolor
NB-046
$30 (SOLD)
"Mother of Pearl Jewelry Set"
White Mother of Pearl Heart Necklace & Earrings
NB-047
$25 (SOLD)
"Pink Ceramic Jewelry Set"
Pink Ceramic Heart with Pink Beads Necklace, pink beads earrings
NB-048
$ 20 (SOLD)
"Red Heart Jewelry Set"
Red Heart Mother of Pearl Necklace and earrings
NB-049
$20 (SOLD)
"Painted Feather"
Acrylic & Pastels
Frame size: 26 x 22
NB-050
NFS
"Man With Gold Hair"
Watercolor, Gouache, Pen & Ink
Black Frame size=37.5 x 27.5
NB-051
NFS
"I Know This Face"
Watercolor
NB-052 NFS
"The Music Man"
Watercolor, Gouache, Pen & Ink
NB-053 NFS
"Glorious Poppy"
Watercolor, Acrylic, Pen & Ink
painting=7.5"x7.75"
White Frame 13 x 13"
NB-054
$ 150 (SOLD)
"Hiding in Pollution"
Watercolor
Black Frame 14.5x11.25"
Picture size=8.25x5.5"
NB-055
$ 200
"Blue Bird"
Watercolor
Black table top or wall mount frame size=14.5x11.25 Picture size 8.25x5.5"
NB-056
$ 40 (SOLD)
"Cardinal Looking Back"
Watercolor
White Frame size 12x15", wall mount Picture size: 8x9.5
NB-057
$ 50 (SOLD)
"Little Bird on Post"
Watercolor
Black table top or wall mount frame size=14.5x11.25 Picture size 8.25x5.5"
NB-058
$ 40 (SOLD)
"Theft of the Moon"
Watercolor & Metallic Acrylic
Wall Mount Black Frame 30x24" Picture size 18x24"
NB-059
$300
"A Storm is Coming"
Watercolor & Pastels
Wall Mount Black Frame 19x23" Picture size 13x17"
NB-060
$150.00 (SOLD)
"Not All Babies Are Cute Snowy Egrets"
Watercolor & Gouache
Wall Mount Black Frame 13x13" Picture size 7.5x8.75"
NB-061
$250.00 (Removed by artist)
"Butterfly on Flower"
Acrylic & Ink Cut Out Hosta Leaf Attached to Blue Background
Black table top or wall mount frame size=14.5x11.25 Picture size 8.25x5.5"
NB-062
$30
"Foxy"
Watercolor & Gouache
White Frame size 13x16", wall mount Picture size: 8.75x12"
NB-063
$ 150 (SOLD)
"Raven on Painted Feather"
Watercolor & Gold Ink
Wall Mount Brown Frame 16.5x8.5" Picture size 11"x4"
NB-064
$75.00 (SOLD)
"A Bear at Rest"
Acrylic on acrylic paper
Black table top or wall mount frame size=8x10"
NB-065
$30 (SOLD)
"Perched at Pike Run"
Watercolor
NB-067 $75 (Removed by artist)
"Abstract Serenity"
Watercolor
NB-068 $75
"Swimming Alone"
Watercolor & Gel Pen on Watercolor Paper
NB-070
$ 60 (SOLD)
"Missing Gustav A study of Gustav Klimt’s original"
Acrylic & gold leaf on mat board
NB-071
$ 200 (Removed by artist)
"Four M.O.P. Sisters"
Paper, Copper wire, Polymer Clay, Mica Powder, Fabric, Fibers, Mother-of-pearl buttons, Ribbon Buckle (circa 1940's)
NB-072
$500.00 (Removed by artist)
"She Found Her Wings"
Gel print, collage, acrylic paint, ink
NB-073
$200.00 (Removed by artist)
"Dragon Flies & Cattails"
Negative Painting-Watercolor & Gold Ink
NB-074
$40.00 (Removed by artist)
"Muscatine Skyline & Bridge Reflections" Print #4/20
Fine Art Print from an Original Watercolor
NB-075
$70.00 (Removed by artist)
"Glass Flowers in Cracked Vase"
MIXED MEDIA - Glass Buttons (c.1940's), Gel-print collage vase, copper wire, acrylic paint, ink
NB-076
$500.00 (Removed by artist)
"The Long Goodbye"
Gel Print/Acrylic Paint
NB-077
$200.00 (Removed by artist)
"Rooster" Fine Art Print #2/10
Fine Art Print from an Original Watercolor
NB-078
$40.00 (SOLD)
"Coal Tit" Fine Art Print #2/10
Fine Art Print from an Original Watercolor
NB-079
$40.00 (Removed by artist)
"Oriole on Branch" Fine Art Print #2/10
Fine Art Print from an Original Watercolor
NB-080
$40.00 (Removed by artist)
"The Color of Music"
MIXED MEDIA - Polymer, Clay, Paper, Fibers
NB-081
$150.00 (SOLD)
"My Sister's Basket"
MIXED MEDIA - Polymer Clay, Copper, Fabric, Alcohol Ink
NB-082
$400.00 (Removed by artist)
"Mother of Pearl on Blue"
MIXED MEDIA - Fabric, Metal Tape, Alcohol Ink, Fibers, Polymer Clay, M.O.P. Buttons (circa 1930's)
NB-083
$400.00 (Removed by artist)
"Depletion of the Mussel for the Sake of Art"
MIXED MEDIA - Fabric fibers, copper wire, Fresh water mussel pearls, M.O.P. Buttons, Shells
NB-084
$500.00 (Removed by artist)
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