Michelle Ball, The Corner Store Gallery. Photograph by Jeremy Simons.

Q and A with Michelle Ball

This July, I am thrilled to welcome a new artist, Michelle Ball, to The Corner Store Gallery. Just four short weeks ago, I extended an invitation to artists for a last-minute exhibition, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Michelle Ball’s artwork stood out with its exquisite beauty, and I knew it would be a perfect addition to our exhibition calendar.

Michelle is a talented still life and landscape painter from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Her surroundings of bushland and water clearly serve as a rich source of inspiration for her work. Her paintings capture the serene and vibrant essence of her environment, bringing a unique perspective to our gallery. We are confident that visitors will be as enchanted by her work as we are, and we look forward to showcasing her work Flora 24 at the gallery this July 3rd to 13th.

Michelle will be taking up residency in the gallery from Saturday the 6th of July until the close of the exhibition. Make sure you pop in and visit her while she creates new work in our beautiful space.

Flora 24 is on exhibition from July 3rd to 13th with the Opening Night celebration sponsored by Angullong Wines on Friday July 5th from 6pm.

The catalogue is available now, please get in touch with any sale inquiries.

Michelle Ball, *Betty’s Favourite*, Oil on board, 30x21cm.

Can you tell us a little about your creative background? When did you start painting?

I was living in New York with my young family. We lived in a loft — next door to Robert de Niro! — and my sister-in-law was running her dance company on the ground floor. I started having drawing sessions with the dancers and also took classes at The Art Students League and The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. I was working at the time for Condé Nast.

How do you approach the creative process from start to finish?

I’ve spent my career creating imagery for stories so that has set me on a path to always make sure I have a story and meaning behind my work. Storytelling is very powerful. Now after a lifetime helping other people bring their stories to life, I work on my own and they are all centred around my love of the Australian bush. I’m drawn to the fragility and uniqueness of our landscape. I always research my ideas first, either by interviewing people or going to the archives of a gallery for example, and then I start with preliminary sketches before I move on to the canvas.

Michelle Ball, gouache on paper still life paintings, The Corner Store Gallery.

Can you describe your studio to our readers? How does it influence your practice?

I live in a remote location north of Sydney, Pittwater, with boat access only and we are on the edge of a National Park. I have access to some of Australia’s most beautiful country with a temperate climate. I love to paint en plein air and in my studio at home in the house my husband Michael, who is an architect, and I built. I belong to a bush care group which has taught me the best practices for protecting and regenerating our local flora and fauna.

Michelle Ball, *The Spotted Pardalot and The Red Tailed Black Cockatoo*, Oil on canvas 76x183cm.

What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your work? Can you tell us more about the birds and vessels you choose?

All the flora and fauna in these larger works are classified as endangered. Some vessels are similar to early Australian ceramics and some bone china are what was available at the time of colonisation, there is a vase that belonged to my great grandmother holding the Angus Orchid that was common where I grew up in Ingleside on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. I have included landscapes on vessels that reflect where I live.

What’s next for you?

I’m painting with other plein air landscape painters and Ive formalised a local group to meet and paint. I willl be continuing my flora and fauna still lifes. I have a good balance in my life at the moment.