Highlights of the Year

I follow Lori Koop's blog, TRU. She mentioned making a list of 10 things that happened during the year that were significant. What a great idea!


So here are my 10 things that felt like accomplishments in 2102:

 (1) Took an Art Marketing Course led by a friend, Robin who used Alyson B. Stanfield's        method. I did a blog post "Books for Artists" in March 2012 mentioning Stanfield's book.

 (2) Joined a Cooking Club with friends, Libby, Cindy, Kathryn and Joan where we rotate meeting every other month at one of our homes with our Husbands to share making a themed dinner.

 (3) I turned the big 60 and my Husband had a wonderful Birthday party for me!

 (4) Started "Kathleen Ballard Watercolor blog, Celebrating the love of painting with watercolors".

 (5) Creative Catalyst featured me and my painting with an interview on their blog. I posted a blog entry about that in April 2012.

 (6) My Husband and I planted a garden which also included building an enclosure fence.

 (7) I met a new artist friend, Kate. She's a wonderful person and a super artist!

 (8) I was fortunate to be accepted into nine shows and won two awards this year.

 (9) I had two solo exhibits this year. One at the Coffee Galley, Altadena, CA and one currently at the Center for Wellbeing in Sierra Madre, CA

(10) Attended Chris Beck's watercolor workshop in San Carlos, CA. I admire Chris' paintings and was thrilled to attend one of her workshops.

Happy New Year!

Looking back

I ran across this old photo and scanned it to share and post here on my blog. Yep, that's me in the foreground painting at a workshop in beautiful Idyllwild, CA. The Idyllwild School of Arts holds summer art programs for children and adults. I took three of them years ago . . . I'm guessing it was in the late eighties? The photo had no date and I can't remember which workshop it was taken in.

I attended workshops, three in different years; with the talented and well known artists Gerald Brommer, Elaine Harvey and Joan McKasson if I remember correctly! They would be Friday evenings, Saturday and Sunday. I had such a wonderful time up there in the mountains taking those watercolor workshops. Ah, memories!

Kathleen Ballard painting in Idyllwild, CA at a workshop in the 1980's.

Merry Christmas!

I painted "Ruby Poinsettias" for this year's Christmas card. It's a 10"x13 1/2" watercolor.
So here is wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"Ruby Poinsettias", watercolor 2012                      Kathleen Ballard

California Watercolor Association Signature Membership

I am proud to announce that I have been accepted as a Signature Member of the California Watercolor Association! What an honor!

CWA's 43rd National Exhibition is opening on January 17, 2012 thru February 16, 2013. The Artist's Reception is January 19th, 2013 in Pleasanton, CA at the Harrington Gallery in the Firehouse Arts Center 1 to 3pm.

My entry "Metal", juried in by M.E. Bailey will be on exhibit there. For additional information, click here to visit the CWA website.

"Metal", watercolor 20"x28"                                  Kathleen Ballard

The Center for Wellbeing - Water Paintings

I am happy to announce that I will be exhibiting my Water Paintings at The Center for Wellness, 31 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA.

The Artist's Reception will be Friday, Dec. 14th, 2012, 7pm - 8:30pm. I hope you can join us for light refreshments.

The exhibit will run from Dec. 7th, 2012 - Jan. 27th, 2013.

The "Water Paintings" Exhibit at The Center for Wellbeing

Segil Fine Arts Small Works Holiday Show!

I am pleased to announce that I was accepted in Segil Fine Arts 10th Annual Small Works Holiday Show! I will have two pieces in the exhibit. "Glittering Koi" and "The Neighbor's Roses", watercolors, each 9"x12" I hope you can join us!

For more information, go to www.segilfineart.com

Chris Beck Watercolor Workshop

Hello Everyone,

Gosh, I haven't done a blog entry in a long time but I'm so excited to share my recent workshop experience that I just returned from!

This past weekend (October 20th and 21st) I attended Chris Beck's watercolor workshop held at Guy Magallanes' studio in San Carlos, CA

click on image to enlarge

I drove up north on Wednesday (the 17th) to visit my Sister-in-Law, Cheryl in Los Gatos and stayed with her for two nights. It was great visiting with her!

On Friday I headed up to Belmont and checked into my "home away from home", the "Hyatt House-Belmont / Redwood Shores" which was a short distance from there to San Carlos for the workshop.

I've always admired Chris Beck's watercolors! She is an amazing painter that has a precise style and painting method. She is also a very good teacher and fun to be around! I learned some of her techniques, information on the materials she uses and also a few experimental methods of working with watercolor that were new to me!

Chris Beck starting her watercolor demo

She chose to demonstrate the way she paints with her "Dippy Duck" image, one of her "vintage critters" subject matter. We all followed along working on our ducks! At the end on the workshop, Guy put up all our ducks-in-a-row!

Our versions of Chris Beck's "Dippy Duck".

The workshop was fun and informative. I had a truly good time and enjoyed meeting the other attendees, Guy and Chris (actually I was lucky to meet her and her Husband at the opening reception of the National Watercolor Annual International Exhibit for the first time prior to the workshop). I came away with insight on the way Chris works and learned techniques that are new to me. All in all, it was a wonderful experience!

My two "ducks", one finished & one to be finished.

My finished painting.

To check out Chris Beck's website to see her work, click here. To view her blog entry about the workshop and to see her photos, click on "I'm Painting as Fast as I Can. . .".

Guy Magallanes was a super host that supplied his studio for the workshop. I enjoyed meeting and visiting with him and enjoyed seeing his wonderful watercolor paintings. To view his blog entries and photos about the workshop, click on "my E-scapes"

Protea Watercolor

Hi everyone!

Yesterday I finished the watercolor I've been working on. It's a full sheet, 20"x28" and the title is, "Farmer's Market Proteas". Last summer when I was in Santa Barbara with my friend, Libby, we went to a wonderful farmer's market there. One of the flower vendors had a big tub of Proteas for sale along with other beautiful flowers. I photographed them then and decided to paint them this year. I like the dynamic of the "opposite" colors , red and green. The painting reminds me of the fun we had there in Santa Barbara! 

"Farmer's Market Proteas", watercolor, 20"x28"    Kathleen Ballard

Watercolor West International Exhibition

The 44th Annual Watercolor West International Juried Exhibition will be at the beautiful City of Brea Art Gallery October 13th thru December 16th, 2012. The opening reception will be on October 13th from 5 to 7pm. This watercolor society only accepts transparent watercolor paintings. It's always a great show not to be missed!

Watercolor West postcard front

Watercolor West postcard back / info

The City of Brea Art Gallery will also be offering Watercolor Workshops held in the community room above the gallery and are taught by Watercolor West members. Also check out the list of presenters for watercolor demonstrations.

Campbell's Soup Warhol Line

Campbell's Soup is releasing a special edition Andy Warhol Tomato Soup line based on Warhol's original soup label art. These are to celebrate Warhol's 50th Anniversary that he did his first paintings of the soup cans. They will be sold at Target Stores starting this weekend.

The Pop Artist exhibited his soup-can paintings at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1962 which was his first West Coast Gallery show.

Art imitates life and now life imitates art! Check out this article.

"Campbell's Soup Cans"                    Andy Warhol

Upcoming Exhibit!

I am happy to announce that I will be exhibiting some my watercolors at The Coffee Gallery in Altadena, CA. Hope to see you there!

News of an Award!

Yesterday I was contacted by The National Watercolor Society that my "Balboa Park Pond" entry has been chosen for an award and to be included in the traveling show which will tour the USA for a year! It's such an honor to be exhibiting in the National Watercolor Society's 92nd Annual Exhibition September 29th - December 2nd, 2012.

"Balboa Park Pond" watercolor                           Kathleen Ballard

Art Vending Machines

Today in the L.A. Times there is an article about the City of Newhall, CA debuting it's new Art2Go vending machine. For depositing $10. the machine will dispense a small, original piece of art such as an oil or watercolor painting or a tile piece.

For more information, check out The City of Santa Clarita's official website in the public art section.

Yeaaa!

I just got notification in the mail today that my watercolor, "Two Geese on Pond" was juried into this year's Brand 41 Works on Paper! The exhibit runs October 5th to October 25th, 2012. The Brand Library Gallery is closed because of renovation being done in the library so this year's exhibition will be held at the City of Burbank Creative Arts center in Burbank, CA. The opening reception will be on Friday, October 5th, 2012 from 7 to 9pm.

"Two Geese on Pond" watercolor, 20"x27 1/2"      Kathleen Ballard

"Metal"

Today I finished painting a "Foil Series" watercolor titled "Metal". It was fun to paint but this subject has a very limited palette of mostly burnt sienna and blues. I really love the way the light hits the foil and makes the glittery look!

"Metal" watercolor, 20"x28"

Good News!

I just got notice that my entry "Balboa Park Pond" was excepted in the National Watercolor Society 92nd Annual Exhibition which runs September 29th thru December 2nd, 2012.

"Balboa Park Pond" watercolor 20"x28"

"Silver Heart" was juried into the San Diego Watercolor Society 32nd Annual International Exhibition, 10-28 thru October 31st, 2012

"Silver Heart" watercolor 19"x27'

I am pleased that "Edible Flowers" are currently on exhibit in Segil Fine Art's Summer Show, "The Farmer's Market - from Field to Farm, Market to Table", June 23rd thru August 18th, 2012

"Edible Flowers" watercolor 15"x23"

"Foil Grid Fold" is currently on display in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America's 36th Annual Exhibit, June 15th - August 5th, 2012. It won The Founder's Award

"Foil Grid Fold" watercolor 20"x28"

Bridge Party!

Yea, it's that time of year again!

For information, click here

Pasadena Heritage's 35th Birthday Party on the Bridge

Pasadena Bridge Party Festivities

Pasadena Bridge Party information

Movie: Gerhard Richter Painting

"Gerhard Richter Painting" is a documentary movie that is currently playing at our local Lemmele Theatre. http://www.gerhardrichterpainting.com/# Check out the movie trailer on this movie site to view the trailer.

Gerhard Richter Painting movie poster

Accepted!

I just received notification that my painting "Silver Heart" has been juried into the San Diego Watercolor Society 32nd Annual International Exhibition October 5th thru October 31st, 2012. For more information go to http://www.sdws.org

"Silver Heart' watercolor, 19"x27"

Frasier attends "Art on Millionaire's Row"

I am looking forward to this Friday evening and Saturday's "Art on Millionaire's Row". Besides entering the "Salon" exhibit part of the Festival (see my May 11th blog post), I also am also entering "Eyes on Art" in which participants incorporate eyeglasses as a theme (supplied by the Altadena Library) into an art piece. These creations are a donation to the Art on Millionaire's Row" committee for display and sale at the Salon Show and the Library will receive the proceeds.

I think it is a great idea and hopefully my piece, "Frasier and His Morning Paper", a shadowbox assemblage, will sell and benefit the Library. Fun and a good cause; I couldn't resist!

Come and enjoy a fun filled Art Event!

"Frasier and His Morning Paper", Shadowbox Assemblage
Kathleen Ballard

click to view larger

Shirley Pettibone

I think of Shirley Pettibone often and miss her very much since her passing last year in February. Her paintings are amazing and I am fortunate to own three of her watercolors. I took semi-private watercolor classes with Shirley in her studio for several years and was influenced by her more than any other artist. Through the years she was always supportive of my art and remained a dear friend.

"Black Swans Floating", 30"x40" Oil

"Floating Flowers 5", 16"x24" Watercolor

"Found Garden 3", 20"x20" Monotype

Shirley Pettibone is represented by George Stern Fine Arts.

Camera Lucida

I received an email message today from Watercolor Artist with the info and sales of the Lucid-Art™ Camera Lucida. "The LUCID-Art is a modern version of the classic camera lucida drawing tool that has been used by artists for centuries. Great Masters from Michelangelo Caravaggio and Jan Vermeer to Jean Ingres were said to have used camera lucidas and similar devices to help create some of their masterpieces". Wikipedia explains its description and history.

What I discovered on the website for the Lucid-Art™ Camera Lucida is a video interview (here's the YouTube version) by David Hockney who wrote the book, "Secret Knowledge, Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters". It sounds fascinating!

"Secret Knowledge" by David Hockney

Funnies

Bizarro Comics by Dan Piraro

Yea, an award!

I was notified from a board member of The Transparent Watercolor Society of America that I received the Founder's Award for "Foil Grid Fold" currently showing at their 36th Annual National Exhibition at the Kenosha Pacific Museum in Wisconsin. Yea!

"Foil Grid Fold"     watercolor      20"x28"

Art on Millionaire's Row

Altadena Library's "Art on Millionaire's Row" is a fun art and craft festival held at the beautiful Altadena Library. This year is the 3rd Annual Art Salon Exhibit which will be my third year of participating in. The Artist's Reception is Friday evening, June 8th, 2012 from 6 to 9pm. The Festival and Salon is the next day on Saturday, June 9th, 2012 from 10AM to 6PM. Come join us for a fun time of art, music and food!

"Pond Patterns", watercolor 20"x28"

New painting

Today I finished working on my current watercolor, "Edible Flowers", a diptych which is 15"x23". It's my first painting of artichokes and it was really fun to do! I'm now ready to start my next painting!

"Edible Flowers", watercolor 15"x23"

Sneak Peek

I've been working on a painting that I should finish by the end of the week. I thought I would share a sneak peek of it. When it's completed, I'll post it.

Detail of "Edible Flowers", 13"x21" diptych

2012 Garden

Spring is planting time! Our vegetable garden of the past years had fallen into disrepair. The old fence finally just wore out and fell down so our former garden turned into our dog's territory and a rather sad home for a few straggling plants.  A new garden fence was needed to keep the new plantings separated from him.

We have been working hard on clearing out the old plants and weeds. Robert built a new fence and we've added mulch to get the soil into condition. Now it is ready for planting which will be the fun part! We plan on putting in several varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, lettuces, lots of different herbs, bell peppers and swiss chard.