jcliff

The Artist

Jill Cliffer Baratta, MFA, NAWA*

Taught Printmaking and Art From Our Hearts at the The Art School at Old Church (TASOC)

Facilitated The Art of Healing in the infusion center at Englewood Hospital (2015-19).  

Art therapy for autistic children, Marblejam Kids, NJ, 2010 - 2013

Art therapy intern and employee Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ, 2003- 2006

Artist-in-residence at the Tenafly, NJ Middle School, 1996 -- 2010

Graphic Artist, NYC, 1980 - 1987

EDUCATION

Ms. Baratta studied:

- The College of New Rochelle (New Rochelle, NY) art therapy, masters level core

- School of Visual Arts (New York, NY) illustration and design

- New York University Tisch School of the Arts (New York, NY) dance, MFA

- Grand Valley State University* (Allendale, MI)  dance and art, BPh

- University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana, IL) graphic art

- The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL) drawing and painting, h.s. level

Studied watercolor painting under Denise Collins (student of Edgar Whitney)

at The Art School at Old Church in Demarest, NJ 1990 - 1997.

Studied printmaking with Dorothy Cochran at TASOC  2006 - 2017.          

BACKGROUND & ART-RELATED INFLUENCES

The signature “jcliff” is a variation on a family signature. My father, Harold Jacob Cliffer*, was an architect, author, cartoonist, actor, and family man who died at the age of 40. He often signed his work “hjcliff,” and was known to many friends as “Cliff” or "Hal".  I pay tribute to my father with my jcliff signature. He served in World War II, and lived all too short a life, passing just before my 12th birthday from leukemia. His father, John Cliffer, was also an artist who painted portraits and earned a living designing store windows.

My mother, Cecile Adler Cliffer, was a teacher, tutor, and marriage & family therapist.  Humbly claiming that I inherited the family passion for art-making and social adjustment/healing, I welcome you to explore the multi-faceted explorations I have produced over the course of a varied career.

  - Jill Cliffer Baratta

*

Harold J. Cliffer studied architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology, under Mies Van Der Rohe.

thus, influences of the Bauhaus and Mies were present in the household where I grew up using furniture

designed by Knoll, Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, Herman Miller, etc. While my work does not reflect this

modern influence directly, it has informed many choices

*

At Grand Valley, I was advised by Basil King, artist, who attended Black Mountain

College. As of this writing in 2020, I occasionally visit Basil to see what he is up to in his Brooklyn studio.

About the Artist