OPAL; Ohio Pastel Artists League

Ohio pastel artists league (opal)

https://www.orchardviewstudio.com

"Message in a Bottle", 11"x14", $550

Pastel painting done from a reference photo from Pixabay on PastelMat paper. Pan Pastels and Carbothello Stabilo pastel pencils were used. The painting portrays a scene of an old wind bottle that was washed up on a beach. One can barely make out that there's a piece of paper inside that perhaps contains a secret message! Who will find it and what will the message reveal?

Elaine is self-taught and enjoys creating art in just about any medium, any genre. She's painted just about everything - including portraits, flowers, still life, classic aircraft, contemporary and landscapes. Although acrylic has been her main media, Elaine has recently acquired a love of pastel painting and has made that her main interest. Her mentor, OPAL member Katherine Taylor-Green, has been helping Elaine greatly in the art of pastel portraiture.


Elaine also enjoys watercolor, colored pencil and graphite, and has done several commission pieces. She also creates unique crafts that show off her original artwork. In 2008 Elaine donated one of her aircraft paintings to a show sponsored by the Pentagon and is a member of the Air Force Art Program (AFAPO). In 2010, she donated 2 more pieces of art to the AFAPO, and in 2013, has donated three. The program now has a collection of over 10,000 pieces of artwork since 1947 which have been donated by artists all over the country to record the history of the United States Air Force. Elaine is very honored to be in the company of such great artists. Some of her donated works are hanging on the walls of the main floor and Command Section of the Air Force Materiel Command HQ Building, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Fairborn, OH. A detailed 4-page demonstration on how to paint a Chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy using acrylic paints is included in North Light Publishing’s book, Painter’s Quick Reference: Cats & Dogs.


Elaine has participated in several professional art shows and galleries, including the John Ruthven Gallery, Georgetown, OH, and had her own gallery in the Historic Oregon District, Dayton, OH. She has been represented by the Art Vault, Troy, OH; Studio 14 Fine Arts Gallery, Tipp City, OH, and is a member of the Ohio Pastel Artists League and the Appalachian Artisans Guild, and on-line “FineArtAmerica.com”. One of her mixed media pieces won 2nd place in that category at the Middletown Art Center, Fall of 2023, and in April 2024, the Tipp City Area Artist Council awarded Elaine 3rd place in the pastels professional category, 1st place in the professional acrylic category, and also the prestigious Ellen Cotterman Award for her painting, 'Creative Chaos', which both won monetary prizes. In addition, she won 3rd place for acrylics at the 2025 Piqua Arts Council Show, Piqua, OH, and was awarded a monetary prize.


Elaine has led several painting classes over the years: Creative Court House, Washington C.H., OH; Art Town Center, Bellbrook, OH; White Fence Gallery, Washington C.H., OH; Lynchburg Art Center, Lynchburg, OH; Millcroft Art Gallery, Milford, OH, &. She also holds classes/painting parties in her home studio. A book about her late uncle, B-17 Tail Gunner, S/Sgt William James McQuoid, Jr., who was killed in WWII contains her original drawings. “Letters from the War – Between the Lines” is available for sale on Amazon.com, https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Between-Lines-Elaine-Balsley/dp/1643381180/ .

AWARDS

Biography

gallery

classes offered

  • John Ruthven Gallery, Georgetown, OH; Studio 14 Fine Arts Gallery, Troy, OH & others

Elaine Balsley

  • Ellen Cotterman Award, Tipp City Arts Council, Piqua Arts Council Show, 3rd Place

Exhibitions

(Click on an image to see title, size, and price)

  • Pastel/Acrylic workshops offered. "Paint Your Pet" classes using acrylic paint is most popular.