When Baer was four years old the family moved to Southern California. In first grade Baer made her first portfolio of outfits to wear on vacation. At the age of seven she won a prize in a local television show drawing contest. All through school she was in charge of art projects ranging from science diagrams to program covers and posters for class plays. In her junior year in high school she was juried into the San Diego Conservatory of Art. She studied drawing, oil painting and watercolors. Upon graduation she was asked to donate an original watercolor to her high school's collection.
Drawing has always been something Baer has enjoyed. In the 1970s, pen and ink drawings were very popular and, at that time raising two children, she couldn't afford anything but a bottle of India ink and a crow quill pen. Drawing everything from animals to the California Missions, she established a good background for her art career.
Baer also helped the family financially by running a dressmaking business out of the home. In the 1980's she started a line of children's clothes. The company was very successful, acquiring clients all over the US. After divorcing, she closed the business and moved to Los Angeles, obtaining a job in the garment district doing everything from designing and pattern making to production supervision. What she enjoyed the most was pattern making. It was the most creative and artistic aspect of her job. She enjoyed the sculpturing of the pattern and dealing with the details of accuracy.
She started painting in watercolor again and joined several art guilds and entered local art shows. She remarried in 1995. Her husband was very supportive of her work and encouraged her to take classes and paint. Once her children were grown he encouraged her to paint full time.
Judith's work can be seen in many local, national and international exhibits. Her work has been published in numerous books and periodicals and is held in private collections throughout the world.