In 2007, Reginald Baylor was awarded a grant for a one-month residency at Ragdale in Lake Forest, Illinois. This opportunity proved pivotal in the development of Baylor's artistic practice. Prior to the residency, Baylor's work primarily focused on landscapes. However, the residency provided a space for experimentation, leading Baylor to explore portraiture and figurative acrylic painting on canvas for the first time.

Following the residency, this newfound focus on portraiture culminated in the creation of "Bernard," an acrylic on canvas painting completed in Milwaukee between 2007 and 2008. The subject of the painting, a personal friend and acquaintance from church, was photographed by Baylor himself.

"Bernard" showcases several design and technical elements that continue to resonate within Baylor's current body of work. Notably, the piece exemplifies Baylor's signature technique of isolating figures from photographs (often sourced online) and placing them within constructed backgrounds to create fictional compositions. In this instance, the background for "Bernard" was inspired by an image found in an antique shop's interior design magazine.

Following "Bernard," Baylor continued the exploration of figurative work with "The Quintessential 1950’s Family Sets the Stage," an acrylic on canvas painting completed in 2008.

Part of the Museum of Wisconsin Art Collection. Gift of Sande Robinson and Sharon and Kevin Ingram.