LINGLE – In a small farmhouse a few miles outside of Torrington, at the very end of a dirt road and in the middle of a landscape that can be undecidedly described as agricultural, twin sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Baker have created their own world of art in stark contrast to the monotone fields that surround them. 

The sisters work with most mediums. In their house, there’s a room at least partly dedicated to their craft. There’s dried clay caked to the table, scraps of fabric sitting by a sewing machine, leatherworking tools and, most importantly, absolutely unique artwork. 

“Art really is a channel for self-expression and individualism,” Danielle said. “It’s where you can really be yourself. No matter if no one likes it but yourself or if you’re just practicing, it’s ok. It’s really a piece of yourself.”

Danielle likes to make people laugh. She does that by creating art featuring her own characters, such as an anthropomorphic ‘cool’ cucumber, and her minis, which are leather figurines she’s created to reflect her agricultural upbringing. She paints watercolor, and is hoping to take up both woodworking and metal art. 

Gabrielle is an acrylic painter. Her works reflect her surroundings, as well – one of her pieces is called ‘A bird for all seasons,’ and features a bird on a limb throughout all four seasons of the year. She works with textiles, and her current project is what she called an ‘intricate duvet cover’ for a paying customer. 

The sisters also have interests in photography, sculpting, writing – and in general, just creating. 

“The question of being marketable put aside, we do it because we enjoy it,” Gabrielle said. “If we could make money from it, that would be great. I think for the most part we do it because we enjoy it.”

The twins learned to paint at a young age from their grandmother, a western painter, and their interests grew from there. All it took was a little encouragement, and art became a huge part of the Baker’s lives. 

“Our mom really encouraged us, and all of our siblings, to be creative be ourselves,” Gabrielle said. “Whatever we were interested in, she would make sure that we had supplies.”

When you observe the sister’s work, you can see that individual spirit.  

 “We’ve been pretty independent from young ages,” Danielle said. “We’ve probably tried most of everything.”

The independence has ensured the sisters’ styles aren’t like anyone else’s. Selling their art has been a struggle because of that, Danielle said. She set up a booth at the Sheridan Leather Show, but surrounded by Sheridan-style leather products – know for western themes and intricate details – she struggled. But she wasn’t discouraged and kept at it with the help of Gabrielle. 

“Like I told her, they’re very in the box,” Gabrielle said. “She’s not. You can see what she made – it’s stuff nobody else has made. It’s so unique that I think most people, especially in leather, her work is really unappreciated in that setting.”

“It’s tough to be different when there’s something of everything out there,” Danielle said. 

And the sisters do have different products than a lot of people. The Bakers hope to get their items into a few local craft fairs soon, and they work on commission as well. The struggle, Gabrielle said, is just finding the unique customers for their unique pieces. 

“With most things, we have somebody in mind when we make it. We gear it towards what that person would like,” she said. 

“We just need to find a market for it.”

To reach the Baker twins and see more of the unique touch they can add to your home or art collection, call 307-575-7214.