Dianne D. Ballard - Artist Supreme

The Pied-à-terre

 

So many of you are familiar with the old rooms of CDLV. While they were lovely, they were dark, heavy, and they had become somewhat oppressive. I knew that I needed not only to be able to move forward in my life, but to move away from that dark and heavy interior and into a bright, neutral space in my new apartment.

 

Having such neutral interiors means that anything with color becomes a standout, so I knew that the art had to be two things: 1) really beautiful and of great quality, and 2) meaningful and interesting. Enter my friend, long time reader, and amazingly gifted artist Dianne D. Ballard.

 

Dianne lives in North Carolina, and grew up in a family that valued art. When she was a child, her parents had her portrait done by a local artist. It was before computer technology, and she had to sit daily for the artist to study her features and paint them on canvas. For Dianne, it was magic! The canvas came alive with every brush stroke, and in watching that process, Dianne knew that was what she wanted to do with her life.

 

Dianne D. Ballard

 

After graduating from college with a degree in fine art, Dianne worked in every facet of the interior design business, from doing department store window displays to working with clients on interior design projects. She continued her love for art - painting, doing faux paint treatments, murals, and finally teaching art in the public school system. When she retired from teaching, she knew that it was just the beginning of having the freedom to paint whatever she wanted each and every day.

 



Dianne D. Ballard

 

Naturally, having such talent for interior design and having been a long time reader of my blog, Dianne knew without hesitation exactly what she wanted to paint for me. Within a few days, I went from conceptualizing art with Dianne via email, to having the art in my hands - wonderfully packaged for safe and secure shipment, and ready for framing.

 

 Dianne D. Ballard

 

Each of my four paintings from Dianne are hand painted on paper, something I requested for ease in framing. She used a mix of media for the art, including soft pastel and acrylic. For other commissions Dianne has done both canvas and paper.

 Dianne D. Ballard

Dianne was a joy to work with from the beginning, right through to the end. She communicated with me throughout the entire process, letting me know what she thought would be best for the space, collaborating with me on color ideas and the way that the art would be hung. I could tell that Dianne wasn't just painting something I could buy to hang. She was painting and creating ART for ME!

Dianne D. Ballard

 

Having been the first time I had ever commissioned anything at all, I was unsure what to expect, what to think, how to feel. But Dianne held my hand through the whole process, and was comforting and reassuring. She was confident in her ability to make the art exactly what I wanted - and boy did she ever! 

Dianne D. Ballard

 

I love everything about the paintings that Dianne did for the pied-à-terre; including how they work en masse and separately. It will be art that I will enjoy for a lifetime, and isn't that what art is supposed to be? They are exactly what I wanted for the space: interesting, provocative, soothing, emotional, captivating, and personal. Without a doubt, the most incredible art I own, and by far one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had in creating a living space.

 

When I asked Dianne if I could blog about my art, my experience with her work and the process of commissioning art from 400 miles away, she was gracious enough to let me share with you not only the art she had created for me, but work from past clients as well.

 

 Dianne D. Ballard

Dianne D. Ballard

Dianne D. Ballard

Dianne D. Ballard

 Dianne D. Ballard

 

 Dianne D. Ballard

 





Dianne D. Ballard

 

Dianne writes: "I am grateful to God for this gift of talent. I thank my parents for supporting me with so many opportunities while I was growing up and I feel very lucky to have adult children that remain my loudest cheerleaders. I am Southern to the core and have lived on the Carolina coast most of my life. I now have a studio in my home and am represented by Studio 413 on Broad in historic New Bern, N.C.."

 

If you have ever thought about commissioning art for your space, I recommend you talk with Dianne and have her create something as spectacular as she did for me, for you. Pictures can not capture the warmth and character of these pieces. To know, and experience art is to hold it in your hands, and study it yourself - and if you get the chance to do that with one of Dianne's pieces - well, you'll be in for a real treat!

 

If you wish to commission a painting there are many ways you can do it. Dianne can be reached at   diannedballard@gmail.com or phone 252-497-6246 to discuss the possibilities for your space.

 

Thank you again Dianne, for creating such wonderful art for the pied-à-terre, I love it!