Embracing Change Through the Sunsets of Figueira da Foz, Portugal

“In the Sun, I feel as one.”

Kurt Cobain

I’ve been in Portugal for a month now. Its been difficult emotionally and physically, I’m not going to lie. But when I wake up in this beautiful town, see the stunning sea and walk along the beach, I feel comforted and soooo peaceful and can feel myself healing in many ways.

I have two really sweet neighbors and I’ve been warmly welcomed. These gestures of kindness have meant so much to me 🙂

I’ve been moved to create a small series of paintings made on synthetic paper and water soluble pencils. They explore the magical landscapes and beauty of the sun and the sea. All of these were painted from life or from photos I’ve been taking on my daily walks.


“The Sun shines upon good and bad alike

Hans Christian Andersen


Small Bursts of Joy

Smalls no. 1-5
Size:10.5 x 7.5cm
Medium: inktense pencils on synthetic paper
Price: £20
Framed:£30

Smalls no. 1-5
Size:10.5 x 7.5cm
Medium: inktense pencils on synthetic paper
Price: £20
Framed:£30


“Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?”

Rose Kennedy


Slightly Bigger Sensuous Sunsets and Scenes (A6 size)

A6-sized no. 1-5
Size:15.5 x 10.5cm
Medium: inktense pencils on synthetic paper
Price: £35
Framed:£45

A6-sized no. 1-5
Size:15.5 x 10.5cm
Medium: inktense pencils on synthetic paper
Price: £35
Framed:£45

 


Sea and Sky Come Alive! (A5 size)

A5 sized no. 1-6
Size: 21.5x 15.5cm
Medium: inktense pencils on synthetic paper
Price: £45
Framed: £55

A5 sized no. 1-6
Size: 21.5x 15.5cm
Medium: inktense pencils on synthetic paper
Price: £45
Framed: £55

FRAMED! Want your painting ready to hang?

Want a painting? Contact me to buy a piece of my Portugal journey!

email me: jessicakballantyne@gmail.com

Laughter Yoga For Creatives

Laughter is the best medicine!

I’ve been exploring ways to feel better during these troubling times and came across laughter yoga during a silent retreat in Portugal a few years ago.

I’ve decided to share the joy of my discovery of laughter yoga with as many people as possible and so, am offering laughter yoga sessions online!

Join me for a laugh as we breath and laugh our way through the stress of being cooped up.

Laughter yoga is a proven way to increase positive feelings and give a boost to your immune system. Your brain can’t tell the difference between real and fake laughter- it produces feel good endorphins either way! Laughter also reduces stress, is a natural pain reliever and helps you heal.

Join us for a session or book a private session for you and your friends 🙂


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Sacred Nude: Workshops

Complementing my solo show: Sacred Nude, opening on 22 September 6-9pm at Retreat Yoga studio, We will be hosting four workshops designed to stimulate creativity and mindfulness. The exhibition is free but workshops need to be booked in advance.

All workshops are £5, limited spaces available

Workshop Schedule:

MEDITATIVE MANDALA MAKING–  With Jessica K Ballantyne

29 September 2018 2-4pm

Join the artist for some meditative mandala magic. The workshop will start with a short, guided EFT meditation to relax and get in touch with your own personal symbols. Next we will experiment with different shapes and patterns before designing our mandalas.  We will play with different painting techniques before colouring our mandala with a range of different materials provided for you.

There will be templates for those not wishing to create their own design or for those wishing to carry on the meditative experience at home.

Location:

Retreat Yoga Studio, 367 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AT

 


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ART THERAPYWith Eden O Shoro

6th October 2018 2-4pm

Art has the potential to heal. Join Art Psychotherapist, Eden O Shoro, for an easy goingintroduction to Creative Art Therapies and engage in an experiential Therapeutic Arts Workshop ‘Mind.Body.Art.’ exploring the mind-body connection though imagination, creativity and spontaneous art making. Art materials provided, no artistic skill required, only a willingness to be present.)

EDEN O. SHORO, ART PSYCHOTHERAPIST, +44 (0) 7415536164, edenarttherapist.com

Location:

Retreat Yoga Studio, 367 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AT


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LIFE DRAWING- with Niel Venter

13 October 2018 2-4pm

Master life drawer Niel will guide this friendly and fun life drawing session for beginners and experienced life drawers alike. The class will begin with a short introduction to life drawing and, after a few warm up sketches there will be a longer poses to hone in your skills. Materials provided but feel free to bring your own sketchbooks.

Location:

Retreat Yoga Studio, 367 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AT


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EXPRESSION AND MOVEMENT- With Eden O Shoro

20 October 2-4pm

Express yourself in this fun and fluid workshop ‘Merging Senses’ led by Art Psychotherapist, Eden O Shoro, and Drama, Dance and Movement Therapists. Discover and re-awaken your creative spirit though the Expressive Arts: voice projection, dramatic expression and physical flow with all be explored in this workshop.

EDEN O. SHORO, ART PSYCHOTHERAPIST, +44 (0) 7415536164, edenarttherapist.com

Location:

Retreat Yoga Studio, 367 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AT


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All workshops are £5, limited spaces available

See the Sacred Nude exhibition on the way to your workshop 🙂

Greetings From a Dead Man: An Exhibition by The Tunnel Art Collective

Greetings From a Dead Man

An Exhibition by the Tunnel

Dates:

3 November 2017 – 5 November 2017

Private View 3 November 2017 (6-9pm)

Address

Safe House Gallery 1 &2

139 Copeland Rd, SE15 3SN London, United Kingdom

Admission Free

RSVP HERE

For their 13th exhibition to date, The Tunnel plays upon the theme of fake news: convenience and manipulation in content delivery for the masses. The work explores the ability of language and images to alter perceptions of current events, history, time and ultimately identity.

We have entered an era where alternative facts and fake news are synonymous with journalism. Interestingly, albeit problematic, this is not a new phenomenon, it has merely been brought to light for most, as of late.

Orchestrated for consumption, information is carefully pieced together, visual decisions made, content dissected for convenient inclusion; all packaged in palatable bite-sized moments for the public. As Jacques Ranciere puts it, “knowledge is a commodity and we are all inadvertent consumers”.

“But where did knowledge exist? Only in His own consciousness, which in any case must soon be annihilated. And if all others accepted the lie which the party imposed-if all records told the same-then the lie passed into history and became truth.”
George Orwell

“The spectacle is not a collection of images; it is a social relation among people mediated by images.”

Guy Debord

The Tunnel is a collective of artists based mainly in London. The group came together in 2014 to explore common themes regarding the meaning and purpose in art and living in an ever polarised society. Through various art forms and mediums, they express a desire to unite philosophy, technology and literature with art.

Exhibiting Artists

Jessica Ballantyne

Mathew Tudor

Lauren Mele

Mervyn Diese

Tony Berkman

Paul Deltic

Chris Godber

Mark Rathmell

Monika Tobel

Noel Grassy Macken

Becca Smith

Jamie Stantonian

Alicia Roy

Matthew Randle

Tracie Angiolini

Brad Humble

Cassandra Mahoney

Sara Lucas

Chris Rangel

Steve Lawes

Alexander Short

Melinda Matyas

2014 Art Calender


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2014 Art Calender

I have a thing for office supplies. Sad but true. I have a range of pens, pads, sticky notes and the like although I don’t use them as much as I thought I would when I got them:) It’s nice to be surrounded by pretty things in your work space don’t you think? I had some art desk calenders made a few months ago to showcase some of my favorite pieces (old and new) as well as those fans have told me they like.

In this limited edition, high quality, glossy desk calender you will find 14 colour photographs of recent and past work. They range from sensual and erotic to surreal and strange. A nice twist to the usual calenders you see!:) A great new year gift for yourself or a friend who likes something different:) Grab one here

2014 art calender, jessica ballantyne

visit my Etsy shop to see more photos!