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“The Baker District in Watercolor,” an exhibit by Ruth Ann Clayton, opened Monday, Sept. 21, at Nature’s Way in downtown Mountain Home with nine paintings of the district and 60 other works from her years as an artist. It runs through Saturday, Oct. 3.
The Baker District paintings give the show its name, but they are only part of what is on the walls. The other pieces come from Clayton’s life’s work and include oils and pen and ink along with watercolors, said Jack Clayton, her husband and a co-owner of the store.
Ruth Ann Clayton has painted in watercolor for years.
The show hangs at 16-18 E. Seventh St., on the same square she set out to paint. She is inviting residents to celebrate their community and explore downtown through her work.
The painting featured in the exhibit’s announcement shows the square in soft color. A statue stands at the center, framed by lampposts, benches and brick walkways, with a downtown building rising behind it.
Many readers know Clayton for a different kind of work. She is a dietitian who spent years in public health and hospital settings, and she is a co-owner of Nature’s Way.
The setting fits the subject. Nature’s Way has been on the square since 1978, and Ruth Ann and Jack Clayton grew the store into what residents know today.
Their son, Duncan Clayton, moved home in 2015 to take on the business, and his wife, Meagan, joined him in 2018. The Observer named Nature’s Way the 2025 Heartbeat of the Baker District in January.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Ruth Ann Clayton is taking part in the Art Odyssey Studio Tour. She is not affiliated with the tour or the organization that runs it. The story also wrongly described watercolor as a new pursuit for Clayton, who has painted for years, and did not reflect that the exhibit includes 60 works beyond the Baker District paintings. The Observer regrets the errors.
