Rising Stars: Meet Jill Pam & Shannon Baer of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Pam & Shannon Baer.

Jill and Shannon, thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We are Jill and Shannon, two friends who create customized art pieces to delight the soul and remind you to appreciate the beauty of TREES, even after they’ve given up shading us, making clean air and providing safe haven.

Our friendship has always intersected around creativity. We started working together on large installments for local events in 2020. During a creative session for one such event, we found a passion for nature and began to collect tree ‘cookies’, hoping the rings and patterns could be captured for stage decor. Bringing Shannon’s work with linoleum block printing and Jill’s research and lab science background, we experimented on paper and canvas. The event was a success and the stage prints were auctioned off to excited participants.

We honed the process, worked on the technique and customization and a year later, we’ve now opened our online shop.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, the process of discovering a beautiful specimen is the most fun. We get to bring it home, put some real physical work into the sanding, firing, soaking, drying, inking and praying for a gorgeous print. But, you never know how it will come out so trial and error is part of the day. Some patterns just aren’t as appealing as they look in nature or don’t translate well to canvas.

Most of our interest and sales have been word of mouth or features we’ve done at local businesses. A few auctions and charity events have sent people our way and social media helped us to start marketing outside of our immediate circles . We did one outdoor art event which helped us ready our inventory but didn’t really reach our target audience. We were the most expensive pieces at the show and at the end of the day, had just 2 sales.
We are ready for the next wave, with our website up and running, and gorgeous new ‘tree cookies’ in process all the time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Jill : I’m not an artist by training, in fact I spent the first half of my life pursuing a career in science as a chemist. I’m inspired by my love for CA and the many hidden natural gems that surround me. If I had to draw a parallel to the arts, it would be in experimentation. Every technique is a procedure, every variable has to be taken into consideration with the smallest changes having profound effect and every pull is the result. Both disciplines are attempts at understanding the world around us. In order to inspire, a scientist and an artist must create something original. However, unlike scientific experiments, each piece of art is unique and not easily repeatable. Our tree prints showcase nature’s hidden beauty, only visible once the tree is no longer standing. I love the moment of unveiling of each and every print and I love perfecting the process along the way.

Shannon: I have always embraced the wonder of creation and have been making things with my hands out of discarded, broken and found objects ever since I can remember. In school while studying art history I was drawn to the seeming randomness of Alexander Calder’s kinetic sculptures and the boldness of Claus Oldenburg’s large installations. Later, I found a love in linoleum block printing – just me and my students carving and printing away, little did I know the master carver had already created designs in the heart of a tree. Years ago after a wind storm a very large sycamore tree had to be cut down in my back yard and it felt like such a loss, but low and behold many months later I watched a small shoot rise up from that tree stump. What joy! That encapsulates how I feel about these tree prints – surprised at how a little tree stump sharpens the imagination and changes our perspective. After we have printed one, Jill and I step back and often say, wow, what do you think? And every single time I am reminded of the chance, boldness and beauty these tree prints display.

We specialize in making one of a kind tree prints using ink on canvas, Most prints you see sold are done on paper. The canvas brings a very natural element to the pieces and a softness to the black and white palette. We then stretch and frame the prints adding custom labels or quotes. We will stretch to any size for your space, and perfectly frame to showcase your art.

What matters most to you? Why?
Honestly, we just love to wander the forests and trails around our homes in California. A unique piece of art is the start of a great conversation. Each one tells a story. Our prints remind us there is still beauty from fallen things. A fallen tree can evoke a sense of timelessness and history. It’s rings tell the tale of its growth, and can make you ponder the many years it stood before it fell. We love giving them a chance to sing.

Pricing:

• 24″ x 24″ print $250
• 24″ x 36″ print $300
• 30 x 30″ print $300
• custom sizes – contact us for a quote

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.treeprintsbyjs.com/our-story
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treeprints_js/

Image Credits
Karley Carillo @ itsmekarley photography