David Hooker, instructor at Wheaton College outside of Chicago, has arranged for me to talk with his students by Skype! This will be a first time for me as way of communicating with students using this new technology! I will let you know how it goes....
What a lovely thought.....Everyone should have one!
I was leafing through my sketch book when I discovered this amazing drawing by my granddaughter who is five and a half. We love to draw together and have matching sketchbooks but she just happened to pick this one up and did this lovely drawing without ever mentioning it. As you might imagine, the discovery put a big smile on my face. A special thank you to my granddaughter with love from Mimi.
Remember to contact kdick@gcma.org for more information about the workshop at the GCMA taking place November 15th 2014 in conjunction with a show of my work.
Weekend Workshop with Artist Alice Ballard :: 11.15.14 :: Greenville County Museum of Art
Source: www.gcma.org
Nov 15, 2014 - Artist Alice Ballard demonstrates critical drawing techniques in this process-oriented workshop, helping students explore and develop their drawing skills in translating ideas from the two-dimensional to t...
Clay branch inspires a drawing, a reverse process...
As line making of all kinds with all manner of drawing tools will be an essential part of this workshop, please consider joining http://www.pinterest.com/alicerballard/ and going to my board called "line". I believe it will start you thinking about all the exciting possibilities of how exciting and how expressive line can be...
Rhododendron branch inspires the memory of a walk and a drawing
Teaching Middle School has become one of my passions. Teaching 2 days a week keeps it that way!
Lucky me!!!!
Fall leaf water color resist.
This project is a study in observation (using real leaves chosen by the students), overlapping, warm and cool colors, contour line drawing, contrast, value and the technique of using oil crayon with watercolor to create a resist.
Hanging the first big art project of the year has certainly allowed the 5th grade to make this new space their own! Did I mention they will be able to show them off for Grandparent's Day tomorrow.!
You can probably tell that I am very proud of the joy, energy, individuality and creativity that went into each of these.
Way to go 5th graders and thank you Allison for helping matt and mount this show. I could not have done it without your expert help!
Progress is slow but steady... A compressor that died didn't help but I love the newest smaller and lighter version of Paasche's small compressor for air-brushing.
Final air-brushing
Another view
129 artists will open their studios to the public on November 8th and 9th, 2014.
An 80 page on line catalog with maps is available on the link below.
greenvillearts.com/art-scene/open-studios/
I hope you will drop by for a visit!
"Thinking With Your Hands" is a process oriented drawing workshop on November 15th, 10:30-4:30 in conjunction with my show that opens that day. The next day there will be a talk and gallery walk through at 2:00 on November 16th, 2014. http://gcma.org/contact/
In the mean time, check with Kim Dick, education coordinator, at the Greenville County Museum of Art if you have an interest in this one day workshop and see if you can get on her list. <kdick@gcma.org>
Just as soon as the official information is put out by the Museum, I will put it on my blog....
My garden!!! Though I have planted many things for fall, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, radishes, kale, beets, I am still harvesting tomatoes and beans. What a treat that has been or should I say "bean"!
Rose Bud inspecting the vegetable garden...
I forgot to mention the amazing white eggplants we have had this summer, barely visible on the left, mid-way down. They are milder than the purple ones we discovered.
My grandmother introduced me the colorful colia plant. I adore them for their color and hardiness. I save one plant from each color variety to put in my greenhouse for the winter and start enough cuttings in the spring to fill the yard. I simply root them in water and plant them in a small pot so they can develop a good root system. Then I plant them in the garden.
The cherry tomatoes have been prolific this year and have fed us and all my friends at school. They are still going strong and make fabulous broschutto.
Sedums are another hardy plant that I love year round...
Would you believe Roger built the greenhouse because the lime tree (a birthday present from his sister Linda) in the big pot, mid-right, grew too big to get in the house!
Lily Goldsworthy!!!!!! Watch out Andy!
I love it!
Cross pollination of nature and plastic toys.....I especially love the home grown yellow cherry tomato that is the focal point of the green and yellow leaf mandala.
Fingers crossed!
Alice Ballard's studio. 7 new Half-Pods for the show at the Greenville County Museum of Art, opening Nov. 15, 2014
A new approach to making Wall Pods.
Alice Ballard's Greenville, SC studio
3 views of Pair of Meditation Cups
View 1
View 2
View 3
v
Some still need one more firing but these are finished - ta da!
They will be perfect test pieces for the Wall Pods, even though I will not be using any of the glazes, only the oxides and colored terra sigillata on the outside of these pieces.
Detail - more individual images of these to come...
I knew Jen had been following my blog when she asked "how did the firing go?" I felt so flattered that I want to share those small meditation pieces after the first firing and in the kiln ready for their second firing...
Meditation pieces nesting in a Costco peach box and ready for their 2nd firing
Detail....
Two shelves, each with 3 small pieces, ready to fire.... This is my test kiln and comes in handy for these small pieces, especially since they are often fired 3-4 times to get the layering that adds depth to the glaze and the terra sigillata and oxide outside surface. My other kiln is one of those huge oval electric kilns that I use for large loads and large pieces. Tomorrow, I will show some of the completed pieces, just for you Jen!
A commission for the MUSC medical facility in Mt. Pleasant, SC. 2013. One of 5 niches on a long hallway. The work I created for each niche reflected nature, the seasons, renewal, and hope.
This is one of two of the niches with work inspired by the Southern Magnolia. This one represents spring and summer. The other was representative of fall and winter. The niches were approximately 5 x 6 feet. All elements were created with white earthenware and colored with oxides and colored terra sigillata.