I . Ball Gallery
943 Highway #7  Oakwood

I would have never thought about a name for my studio until now, so I’m thinking I . Ball Gallery, established 2014. I am a watercolour artist. I like to paint nature, landscapes and historic buildings.The front room of my house is my gallery space. When I first moved in I installed a hanging shelf one foot from the ceiling 3/4 the way around the room and I have display racks on all the walls. Beside the front door I hang a 1950’s era knick-knack shelf my parents had had in their home. It has 4 shelves and is good for displaying miniature paintings. I found a matching shelf in the Lindsay ReStore a few years ago to hang beside it. I also have 4 spinning display racks. They are one foot by four feet and each take up one square foot, so I display lots of smaller paintings. A couple of years back I counted almost 250 originals being shown.

lan Ball

Original watercolour art depicting nature, places and many other things.

I like all the paintings I create and I have never thought of one as my favourite, but if I have to choose, it would probably be this one of the Pine Grove United Church, which is located in Uxbridge, Ontario. When my mother was a small girl her family attended this church. I have worked as a Freelance Graphic Designer for the United Church of Canada at their head office for the past 25 years. I took a photo of this church one clear winter day and I submitted it into the United Church Calendar Contest. In 2013 it was selected for the month of December. I have used the photo for the basis of quite a few paintings since. I just draw the two roof eave lines and a horizon line. The rest of the image I paint in the details freehand. I recently hosted a Watercolour Paint Night at the Oakwood United Church where I showed everyone how to paint the image. I like painting this image because it allows me to use a few watercolour techniques, the limited palette is a challenge for the pine trees and it allows me to leave the paper white for the building and the snow, which makes things pop.

Over the years I have been inspired by many watercolour artists. Here’s a short list : A. J. Casson, David Milne, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, Jack Reid, Dean Mitchell, Arnold Hodgkins, Nita Engle, J.M.W. Turner

I have participated in the Studio Tour since 2014. For the very first time this year I am hosting a guest, Fabric Layering artist Jane Selbie

(905) 904-9461

i.ballgraphics@gmail.com

Guest Artist: Jane Selbie

Hi there! Jane Selbie’s Art will be found in the historic town of Oakwood at #8 on the tour map at Ian Ball’s studio. What could be handier than us being situated on highway #7 enroute to Lindsay? We will be displaying in the studio and in a vendor tent outside.

This is my first year to be part of the Victoria County Studio Tour. I am excited to be able to show my art to a new audience. I have been creating in Haliburton for over 20 years so some may be familiar with my work or have taken a workshop.

What is my art? It’s unique because I invented it! I call the technique Fabric Layering which covers the process perfectly. However, for competitions and shows the industry calls it Mixed Media– textile. Whatever you call it – hundreds and sometimes thousands of fabric pieces make the details sing with originality.

People often ask how I make my art and why I use fabric? Well, I began as a quilter and overtime made original landscape scenes. I found that the two skills designing and sewing are quite different. My ideas were always way ahead of the time needed to finish a quilt. Once I came up with the fabric layering technique I was hooked into the best part of art.

The equipment required is very basic: toothpicks to apply adhesive, very sharp scissors and oodles of fabric choices. I work from photographs I have taken or have permission to use. Sometimes I make cards and small pictures to try out some colour combinations, or to try an effect. Based on the success this gives, it may lead to a larger version, using the learning, but usually I start any size without trials.

Much like a painter, I create the base first (such as sky and distant content) and work forward to mid ground and then foreground. I have found cottons to be the best to use but to access lots of colours I have to use what I have and test out the adhesive which determines success in the end. There are no rules so I am continuously trying new possibilities and techniques. When I finish the work, I take to a professional framer to dry-mount, matte and frame.

I do teach . Those interested in a workshop can ask for an information handout. I offer one day workshops in my studio and usually can accommodate small groups. Arrangements for out of town workshops often happen by request.

I look forward to meeting you on the tour. Sign my guest book please! Jane Selbie

(705) 457-3412

janeselbieart@gmail.com

www.jselbie.com