January is National Hobby Month, a time when people of all ages celebrate their favorite hobbies and embark on new ones. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore new interests or rediscover old ones you haven’t thought about in a while.
Barbara Baldwin, an 80-year-old resident at Edgemere, a premier senior living community in Dallas, has been doing gold-leaf art for 20 years and has created some beautiful pieces. Her gold-leaf art can be found at The Dallas Holocaust Museum and the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas.
During her young adult years, she was a papermaker who experimented with different bulbs. However, she eventually decided to try something new. About 20 years ago, she bought the supplies to try out gold leaf art. One day, while working on a project, she picked up a peacock feather and began pasting the gold onto it. It wasn’t long before she became intrigued by how gold-leaf artwork adds an ethereal touch to her projects.
“My inspiration comes from biblical art, particularly the Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. The beauty of gold against the temple is striking. I incorporate gold into my art because it allows me to blend history with modern art pieces.”
Whether you’re young or old, it’s never too late to start a new hobby or reconnect with an old one!