A move to an eighty acre farm in Western Michigan from Detroit suited Janet Richardson Baughman to a tee. She and her three siblings loved country life, and relished the many numerous adjustments to their new surroundings. The one-room schoolhosue she attended, for example, contrasted sharply to her previous school. Sports programs had been fairly sophisticated in the city. Rural sports consited of her teacher pilling everyone in her car, including the trunk and then driving the children to another one-room schoolhouse for games. When Janet reached the sixth grade, a chapter in American history closed because all of the one-room schoolhouses were annexed by the nearest cities, but that unusual educational experience is something Janet fondly remembers.
Growing up in family that was very artistic, it is not surprising that Janet loved to draw. She and her brothers and sisters would make Christmas decorations for the Christmas tree and had ongoing art projects all year long. Her architect father was an artist in his free time. As the children have become adults, they are all involved in artistic endeavors from carving to sculpture. Janet’s high school years wher spent riding and showing her horses. “That was my life” she says. Living on the farm allowed her freedom to indulge her love of animals including the dogs that were so special to her. Active in 4H, Janet became an accomplished seamstress and an excellent cook. She took no art classes in high school although she sometimes helped her father with drafting.
Starting college with the intention of majoring in speech and drama, Janet took an art class only because it was required. She found the art classes so appealing that she took one after another. Eventually, having taken every art class offered, the university had to design independent studies for her. With her beloved horses back on the farm, Janet discovered a new passion, and that was ceramics. First working as a waitress during college to earn income, Janet later became a Student Assistant and lived at the Ceramics Studio. As an assistant, she would make clay and glazes, fire the kiln, and assist the instructor however she could. At first she had planned to become a high school teacher, but she was encouraged to earn her graduate degree and pursue her artistic endeavors, in addition to teaching. Janet graduated in 1975 with a BFA in Ceramics and Weaving from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI.
Following her mentor’s advise she went to Indiana State University for her graduate work where she studied under Dick Hay,. Demanding but way laid back personally, Professor Hay expected a lot from Janet and she grew from his expectations. She joined the National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) which is a ceramics networking organization. It has a national conference each year where ceramists, educators and studio artists meet. She was on the Board of Directors for two years, Janet received her MFA in 1977.
Moving back to Western Michigan, Janet found teaching positions with various colleges nd taught art history, ceramics and a myriad of classes. However, she never forgot her mentor’s advise which was to continue her craft. Janet met a businessman/artist John Baughman, who sold her artwork around the country. Janet bought a studio and her work was selling so well that she no longer needed to supplement her income with teaching. Janet and John had a business relationship for several years until life took one of those magical twists, and their relationship blossomed into much more. Later the two of them were married.
John and Janet bought acreage and moved to the country. Turning one of their buildings into a studio, the pair became extremely successful influencing them to concentrate only on their artwork and discontinue the sales end of his business. Roesenbaum Fine Art made them an offer they couldn’t refuse, and the opportunity for them to work together was irresistible. Janet says it has been very, very good for them and has caused different things to happen. The challenges of commissions make her think in directions that it is unlikely she would have done on her own.
