2013 Peeps Challenge

I was invited by four artist friends to participate in the "Peeps Challenge" this year. There are five of us each painting five versions of the beloved Easter candy, Peeps. What fun!

(shown in alphabetical order by artist):

"Happy Hour Peeps", watercolor     Kathleen Ballard

Kathleen Ballard

"Happy Hour Peeps", watercolor on Arches hot press paper, 10"x10".

"I never knew that little Peeps had a dark secret. They are usually seen this time of year hanging out in Easter baskets or lined up in their little boxes. Drinking is so unbecoming of them and they never uttered a peep about loving cocktails!"

"Little Bo Peeps", watercolor                   Chris Beck                

Chris Beck

"Little Bo Peeps", watercolor, 6"x6"

The lovely Little Bo Peep ceramic figurine in Chris' painting is surrounded by sugar free Peeps candies and two little ceramic Peeps salt shakers. Chris Beck's blog

"OTB", oil on canvas, 4"x12"

Jelaine Faunce

Jelaine's internet was been down so her painting was revealed late.
Jelaine Faunce's blog

"A Fistful of Peeps", oil   Geraud Staton

Geraud Staton

"A Fistfull of Peeps", oil 14"x11"

This painting is an inventive take-off on the "A Fistful of Dollars" movie poster with Clint Eastwood. I mean, Clint Peepwood! Geraud Station's Blog

"Equality Peeps", watercolor        Pablo Villicana

Pablo Villican a

"Equality Peeps", watercolor, 6"x6"

Pablo's painting represents the sign of the times and his passion for equality for all to honor his friends and family. Pablo Villicana's blog

The National Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit

Hello Everyone!

The other day I received a nice email from a woman who attended the National Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit, currently in Massachusetts, that she saw my painting, "Balboa Park Pond" and really enjoyed the exhibit. I thought I would share the schedule with you as it may be in or coming to your area.

February 23 to March 25, 2013
Cultural Center of Cape Cod
307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA 02664
www.cultural-center.org

April 2 to May 14, 2013
Southern Arts Society Inc.
301 N. Piedmont Ave, Kings Mountain. NC 28086
www.southernartssociety.org

June 4 to July 16, 2013
Lansing Art Gallery
119 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933
http://lansingartgallery.org/

July 30 to September 27, 2013
Grants Pass Museum of Art
229 Southwest G Street, Grants Pass, OR 97528
www.gpmuseum.com

October 14 to December 6, 2013
West Valley Art Museum
P.O. Box 6777, Peoria, AZ 85385
www.wvam.org

"Balboa Park Pond", watercolor        Kathleen Ballard

Valentine Challenge

I was invited to join three artists for my first Valentine Painting Challenge by Pablo Villicana Lara along with Jelaine Faunce and Geraud Staton. What an honor to join these three super talented painters for a fun run of incorporating Sweethearts candies in our paintings.

After much thought of coming up with ideas for this challenge, I considered painting an unwrapped chocolate foil heart against a background of scattered Sweethearts candies. Crumpled foil is a subject matter I love to do. Once I proceeded with photography of the little still life I set up and drew it on my watercolor paper, it was so involved I thought for sure I would miss the deadline and abandoned that idea.

I choose a glass, heart shaped bottle with a cork stopper filled with Sweethearts and proceeded with a high key watercolor of it.

It sure delighted and amazed me when I saw the finished challenge paintings by Pablo, Geraud, and Jelaine! Wow!

"Heart Full of Hearts", watercolor 10"x8",  Kathleen Ballard

"XO", watercolor 8"x10" watercolor,  Pablo Viillicana Lara

"Candy Love", 6"x6" Oil on Canvas,  Geraud Staton

"Playing with the Queen of Hearts", 6"x6" oil, Jelaine Faunce

The CWA Exhibit

My Husband and I drove up to Pleasanton, Ca to attend the California Watercolor Association's 43rd National Exhibition. It was held at the beautiful Harrington Gallery in the Firehouse Art's Center downtown Pleasanton on Saturday, January 19, 2013. What a wonderful show with a large turn out!

I was so proud to receive my CWA Signature Membership at the exhibit!

Kathleen Ballard receiving CWA Signature Membership

"Metal", Kathleen Ballard at California Watercolor Assoc. Exhibit 2013

New work: "Laguna Wave"

I finally finished this little painting! It was started in 2011 and I meant to get on it and get it done last year! It felt great to finish it but I think I liked it better before completion! But the bright colors and summer subject is a breath of fresh air during this winter!

I shot the reference photo during the time my Husband and I spent a few wonderful days at Monarch Bay in Laguna Beach, CA back in the summer of 2009.

"Laguna Wave" is 9 1/2"x14" and painted on Arches hot press paper.

"Laguna Wave", watercolor,  9 1/2'x14" Kathleen Ballard

Celebrating the Holidays with the Traveling Chicken

The Traveling Chicken and her two friends arrived here in Altadena, California on December 8th, 2012. She and her flock flew in from Texas after spending a fun time with Darla having tea and getting her beautiful portrait painted.

The beautifully wrapped Traveling Chicken Package from sent from Darla

Inside the package: T.C. and her entourage

I was so busy getting ready for Christmas and having out of town guests staying with us that I wasn't able to paint Miss T. Chicken's portrait until after the Holidays.

T.C. was thrilled to spend Christmas with us! It was the first one that she could remember. She happily chose a spot on our Christmas tree amongst all the ornaments right next to one of our big red hearts. She loved how bright and shiny it was and spent hours gazing at it. (probably admiring her own reflection)! Miss T. Chicken celebrated the Holidays and was in her element with being an ornament herself!

"The Traveling Chicken with a big Heart", 8 3/4" x 10 1/2" watercolor
by Kathleen Ballard, 2013

After Christmas she watched her first Rose Parade on television and loved seeing all the floats, bands and horses on New Year's Day.

Now she is packing and getting ready for her next adventure flying to Elle's home in Colorado.

It was so much fun having Miss T. Chicken here for the Holidays and painting her portrait! For more information about the Traveling Chicken Blog, click here.

Love, Kathleen

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!