Artist & Teacher Rich Baker
Rich Baker is a professional wildlife artist who’s been sculpting in metal for over 15 years. His work has been exhibited across Canada and collected around the world. Inspired by the animals he sees in the wild near his countryside studio (with one notable African lion exception!), Rich is known for capturing raw emotion and lifelike movement—especially in his signature birds of prey.
Before diving into the world of sculpture, Rich spent years as a structural welder and restores custom vehicles and motorcycles. That hands-on experience shapes the way he approaches metal—pushing its limits, mixing precision with creativity, and bringing each piece to life in a way that feels both powerful and real.
Nature’s got this built-in beauty that always grabs me—shape, movement, purpose. My art’s a mix of that inspiration, my own perspective, and a drive to see how far I can push the metal—and myself.
Now, Rich is now turning his attention to teaching, sharing what he's picked up over the years and helping others get fired up about working with metal.
Why I Teach
I love welding, and I love creating. I first picked up a torch in an industrial setting—but the real passion came later, through trial, error, and a lot of messing around in my own shop. Over the years, I’ve found my rhythm with metal, and now I’m excited to help others find theirs too.
Welding can seem a bit intimidating at first—but it doesn’t need to be. My goal is to make it approachable, hands-on, and even fun. Once you start to feel how the metal moves, how the tools respond, and how it all starts to click, there’s this moment where it just opens up. That’s what I want to share—the thrill of turning an idea into something real, solid, and entirely yours.
Why Learn to Weld?
Ready to dive into artistic welding—whether for fun, creative release, or the start of something bigger?
When you know how to shape metal, you can build just about anything: a bold sculpture, custom garden art, a one-of-a-kind table—or even a new career.
Welding isn’t just sparks and steel. It’s creativity in motion—hands-on, expressive, and surprisingly meditative. You don’t need to be in a factory or an art school to do this.
In this workshop, you’ll get messy, explore design, learn real skills, and walk away with the confidence to keep going. Small class size, full support, and practical tips—even for setting up at home.
Let’s fire it up.
