Ball's paintings on display
December artist of the month Sally Ball’s felted fabric paintings were on display at the Artist Retreat Center, featuring a wide array of colors, shapes and textures occasionally accented by small objects.
“I’m painting with wool, silk — different fibers,” Ball said.
It isn’t wholly unique, she said, but it’s not a common art form either, and she believes it will give her a chance to stand out.
Ball said she learned the technique when she worked at Cooper Elementary and a teacher taught her the skill.
“Taking what I was doing as a painter but with a different medium,” she said.
The medium creates an excellent challenge and provides opportunities for interesting textures that give the art a more tactile experience, allowing the viewer to examine these pieces with a wider range of senses, she said.
Ball said her work can be seen on her Instagram account, Yorkieslave, and she can be reached at yorkieslaveart@gmail.com.
Her works on display included natural scenes, several birds and a handful of abstract pieces.
“Nature obviously is very influential to me,” Ball said, noting she watched birds when she lived in New Hampshire and her parents were researchers.
Ball said she appreciated the award.
“I’m so honored, it is super exciting,” she said.
Mayor Peter Christie said he’s routinely awestruck by Bella Vista artists and this was no exception.
“It is absolutely fascinating,” he said.
Arts council member Terry Wilson said Ball is the 24th artist of the month and he’s very impressed by her work.
“She does some really, really unique things,” he said.
Among those attending the presentation were Ball’s neighbors, Ken and Barbara Stratton.
Ken Stratton said he’s seen her work in other media, but this was his first time seeing her fabric work.
“This is all new,” he said. Barbara Stratton said she appreciated the complexity of this work.
“It’s fabulous,” she said. “It’s so unusual and distinctive.”