Ralph Baker (1908-1976) Born: Deckard, TN; Studied: Mark Hopkins Institute of Art (San Francisco), California College of Arts and Crafts (Oakland); Member: Society of Western Artists. Ralph Baker came to California as a young man and after studying art in the Bay Area, became a commercial illustrator. His watercolor illustrations were reproduced as magazine illustrations and pictorial label designs. From the 1930s until the 1970s, he also painted fine art watercolors depicting landscape, cityscape and mining camp scenes. Baker taught art in the Sonora area.