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wballenart.bsky.social
WBALLENART
@wballenart.bsky.social
530 followers 540 following 85 posts
Iowa based freelance artist. Love comic art, digital or analog, though I suck at it. A regular theme of my work is people finding themselves, their power or joy. Work in pencil, watercolor and ink. Also, I'm working on my first book. www.wballenart.com
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wballenart.bsky.social
WBALLENART @wballenart.bsky.social · Dec 31
Hi Y'all. If you follow me, I'll follow you, if there are no red flags in your profile. If you DM me with a question about my art, or to discuss art. Cool, I'll reply when I can. If you DM me with, "Hi" "Hey" or such I'll block you. There's baggage there I don't want to deal with. Thanks.
A photograph of a long-haired cat peeking from behind the back of a chair. Only his head is visible and it's sideways. He has green eyes, white nose and gray markings on his head and ears. He is looking at the viewer judgmentally.
wballenart.bsky.social
Haven’t posted in a while. Winter…what can I say, SADD has been kicking my butt. But the sunshine is very welcome, and I have been painting. So new painting time, YAY!! This is “Crane Wife” (©2025 W.B.Allen, 11”x14” charcoal and watercolor on paper). Inspired by the Decemberists song. $263
Charcoal and watercolor painting of a woman with black across her eyes and red hair at the top of her head. She has a blood tear running from an eye. She is dramatically holding out her hand dropping feathers.
March 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
New painting time! This is for the inauguration today. It’s called “Twentieth of January” (©2025 W.B.Allen 11”x14” graphite and watercolor on paper). It was inspired by the Sarah Bareilles song, “Brave.” It’s a companion piece to “Fifth of November” released earlier. #art #protest #hope #fdt
A graphite and watercolor painting of a pregnant woman wearing a white t-shirt with the word, “Hope” printed on the chest in red and a red arrow pointing at her swollen belly. She is holding a protest sign that reads, “Hope is an act of rebellion” The word rebellion is red and all caps. Her other hand is clenched in a fist.
January 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
I've been working on a new piece, special for the inauguration on Monday. It's part of the My Playlist Series and inspired by the Sara Bareilles song, "Brave." I intend it to be a companion piece to "Fifth of November." The working title is "Twentieth of January." #art #protest #notmypresident
Work in progress of a graphite drawing of a pregnant woman standing with fists clenched and a determined look on her face. She is wearing a t-shirt with "Hope" written on the chest and an arrow pointing toward her belly. She is holding a sign that reads, "Hope is an act of rebellion!"
January 15, 2025 at 8:49 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
I've started painting again, so should have some new stuff soon. But here's another older one. This is "Kitsugi" Charcoal and gold leaf. #art #healing #kitsugi
A charcoal drawing of a nude woman sitting cross-legged on a locked wooden chest. She is lowering a mask from her eyes. Her body is crisscrossed with cracks highlighted with gold leaf similar to the Japanese art of kitsugi.
January 11, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by WBALLENART
lrn744.bsky.social
wtf is wrong with these people?! 🤦‍♀️
January 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
wb_allen_art

For the past year I've been writing and editing my first book, Child of Saturnia. I took a break to write the back cover blurb and do a little drawing of the main character's eyes. The blurb is in the comments. #fantasy #firstbook
A drawing of a woman's eyes with a band of charcoal over the eyes and a row of rune's underneath the band, crossing her cheeks and nose. Her eyes are turquois blue.
January 7, 2025 at 12:44 AM
wballenart.bsky.social
Here's a commissioned watercolor completed a few years ago. It's called "When You Leave."
A watercolor painting of a woman walking away from the viewer under an umbrella. The day is gray and misty. She's walking by closed store fronts, towards a street light, the finial of the light points towards a distant, indistinct church steeple.
December 31, 2024 at 12:46 AM
wballenart.bsky.social
Hi Y'all. If you follow me, I'll follow you, if there are no red flags in your profile. If you DM me with a question about my art, or to discuss art. Cool, I'll reply when I can. If you DM me with, "Hi" "Hey" or such I'll block you. There's baggage there I don't want to deal with. Thanks.
A photograph of a long-haired cat peeking from behind the back of a chair. Only his head is visible and it's sideways. He has green eyes, white nose and gray markings on his head and ears. He is looking at the viewer judgmentally.
December 31, 2024 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by WBALLENART
obsfromlife.com
I love this.
Pic of Greta Thunberg from Soul Boom Substack with the following: "We do need hope—of course we do. But the one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere." — Greta Thunberg
December 27, 2024 at 9:07 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
"Judith's Memories," a graphite and charcoal piece. Inspired by the biblical story of Judith. This is a few years after the Caravaggio painting, "Judith Beheading Holofernes" #art #nudeart
Graphite and charcoal drawing of a nude woman kneeling. She is holding and contemplating a human skull.
December 28, 2024 at 9:55 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
In the last six days, I've gained 100 followers. Thank you so much to each and every one of you. It really helps. I hope you enjoy what you see. This is the first of my shades of gray with sparks of color style: "In His Name." Graphite and watercolor. Yeah I have some feels. #art #womensrights
Graphite and watercolor painting of a naked woman crouching from back quarter. Her arms are drawn in as if to defend herself, her is staring at a book that looks like the Bible. Whipped into her back are the words, "In His Name"
December 28, 2024 at 9:44 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
Wow! "On Alert" is really popular. Thank you for all your engagement. It really helps, I promise. Here is another cardinal "Winter Cardinal" The female isn't as bright, but IMHO she has an elegant beauty. #art #cardinal #birdart #fineart
Watercolor painting of a female cardinal in a tangled bush with a light gray background.
December 27, 2024 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by WBALLENART
heartwoodandsteel.bsky.social
Just read the response from Costco to shareholders requesting it back down from DEI. It was glorious. It begins "Our Board has considered this proposal and believes … an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary." and gets better. A happy investor #diversityandinclusion
Screenshot of the statement from Costco Screenshot of the statement from Costco Screenshot of the statement from Costco
December 25, 2024 at 2:31 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
Another older painting. This is "On Alert" one of my birds. #art #cardinal
A watercolor painting of a red male cardinal perched in a tangle of branches. He is fluffed from preening and alertly staring over his shoulder.
December 26, 2024 at 6:30 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
Three days ago I was surprised to find that I had crossed 90 followers. Today I am over 130! THANK YOU all so much! I do truly appreciate your follow. I will start painting again next week. In the meantime, here is "Tiny Dancer" another recent work from the My Playlist series. #art #ballet #dance
A graphite and watercolor painting of a ballerina in releve en pointe pose. She has a long braid, red lips, blushing cheeks. She's wearing a black sports bra, black lace tutu, and pink pointe shoes.
December 26, 2024 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by WBALLENART
literarypearls.bsky.social
December 26, 2024 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by WBALLENART
wordswithsteph.bsky.social
December 23, 2024 at 4:26 PM
wballenart.bsky.social
"Gifts From the Crows." A recent work from the My Playlist series. #art #crows
A graphite and watercolor painting of a woman facing the viewer with her arms outstretched, and a guitar strapped over her back. She has red hair, and is wearing a red crop top, black vinyl corset, blue jeans and thigh high boots. Her arms and chest are covered with crow tattoos. Flying over her head towards the viewer are three crows.
December 23, 2024 at 12:29 AM
wballenart.bsky.social
Just noticed that I crossed over 90 followers! Thank you all so much. Welcome! I appreciate each and every one. I'm still working on the book this month, plus the holiday stuff, so some more old stuff. Hope you don't mind. This is "Kube," a graphite and charcoal commission from a few years ago. #art
Graphite and charcoal drawing of an older man with no shirt, lying on the floor cuddling a black long haired cat. A strong light shines on his back.
December 23, 2024 at 12:24 AM
wballenart.bsky.social
"Brothers" A straight up graphite and charcoal piece. From a 1933 photo of my father and his brother. #art
A graphite and charcoal drawing of two young boys laughing. The older boy, on the right, is wearing a long dark coat and an aviator style hat. The younger boy on the left is wearing a ripped jacket over a sweater, a newsboy cap and oversized trousers.
December 15, 2024 at 3:14 AM
wballenart.bsky.social
"A Ringing in the Stillness" A recent piece in the Shades of Gray with Sparks of Color style. The coloring of the dress is inspired by a poison arrow frog. #Art
A graphite and watercolor painting of a woman with long hair, walking away from the viewer. She is walking barefoot on a wet sidewalk, carrying a folded umbrella and dropping a rose. Her dress is brightly colored in a pattern inspired by a poison arrow frog. It is backless, revealing a large tattoo of the Valkyrie symbol.
December 15, 2024 at 3:04 AM
wballenart.bsky.social
Another older watercolor piece, "Almost" #art
A loose watercolor of a tabby and white cat pouncing at a red feather toy and missing.
December 10, 2024 at 10:05 PM