RECOMENDATIONS
Large Panel - Public Art Commission for NHS Broad Green, Liverpool
From Nicky Duirs - Arts Officer, Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust
Recommendation posted on LINKEDIN.
"I commissioned Ruth to undertake a complex design/public art commission in The Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust. She was professional and with high artistic design skills and awareness and produced some beautiful work to enhance our newly refurbished Audio and Breast Screening unit. I would highly recommend this artist."
Service Category: public art commission
Year first hired: 2012
Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity
From Nicky Duirs - Arts Officer, Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust
Recommendation posted on LINKEDIN.
"I commissioned Ruth to undertake a complex design/public art commission in The Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust. She was professional and with high artistic design skills and awareness and produced some beautiful work to enhance our newly refurbished Audio and Breast Screening unit. I would highly recommend this artist."
Service Category: public art commission
Year first hired: 2012
Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity
2016 Private Commission for Nautical Name Brooch
Dear Ruth
Hope you are well and keeping busy.
Juliet adored the brooch and took great pleasure in telling everyone she met what it was and that it had been specially made just for her.
Thank You for making it a perfect gift.
I was so impressed with the way you instantly understood what I was looking for and converted my tatty drawing to a living piece of unique art and we are both in awe of your skill in making something so beautiful and of which Juliet is so proud.
Many thanks again and of course I know where to come next time!!
Mr Peter Mason
Jewellery Handbook "Enamelling" - Published by A & C Black, London.
AMAZON Review's State :
"The Handbook for Enamelling should be a welcome Christmas present for any person interested in the art of enamel." Association for Contemporary Jewellery (December 2006)
"Enamelling is an extremely practical and user-friendly book, packed with useful information, advice and easy to follow step-by-step instructions." Thompson Enamel Inc (8th December 2006)
"Ruth Ball writes as beautifully as she enamels. Each chapter is short, concise, and filled with insightful information not always included in books of this genre. I found it to be more informative in relation to peripheral materials than most." Enamelling Guild South Newsletter (January 2007)
View more reader comments here.
AMAZON Review's State :
"The Handbook for Enamelling should be a welcome Christmas present for any person interested in the art of enamel." Association for Contemporary Jewellery (December 2006)
"Enamelling is an extremely practical and user-friendly book, packed with useful information, advice and easy to follow step-by-step instructions." Thompson Enamel Inc (8th December 2006)
"Ruth Ball writes as beautifully as she enamels. Each chapter is short, concise, and filled with insightful information not always included in books of this genre. I found it to be more informative in relation to peripheral materials than most." Enamelling Guild South Newsletter (January 2007)
View more reader comments here.
Workshop Reviews
Jim Burnley : course participant - April 2014
" Dear Ruth
I want to say how much I enjoyed your contemporary enamelling course it was definitely one of - if not the best Jewellery courses that I have attended over the last couple of years. My expectations going into the course were mixed given that I had tried and failed to get torch fired enamelling to work for me in the past. By the end of the three day and under your guidance, I had managed not only to produce some good examples of simple enamelling, but had managed to create a Cloisonné piece and also a simple example of Plique-a-Jour. I will certainly be incorporating these new found skills into my jewellery pieces going forward. The basic introduction to engraving that you provided will also find its way into my work going forward - although a lot more practice required with my new gravers.
Excellent course and excellent studio/working environment.
Now to purchase that Kiln……. "
Kathryn Partington : course participant - June 2013
http://kathrynpartington.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/indulging-in-new-techniques/
" In my last few posts I mentioned that I am going through a process of transition within my practice. I am investigating new techniques to refresh, produce new work and develop new directions. This creative process has started by indulging and attending a series of enameling classes taught and delivered by the very knowledgeable, experienced and lovely Ruth Ball this weekend at The Jewellery-Silversmithing Design Academy. Located in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, just a stones through away from my workshop it has been the ideal setting to take part in training that is accessible, highly valuable, practical and in-depth. The workshop is well-organized and well equipped. The natural light is captured beautifully and the design layout of the studio has been well-considered by its founder Rajesh Gogna. It is well worth a visit and investment to take part in a Masterclasses here. I can highly recommend! I feel inspired and motivated to develop techniques learned further and work with the material/process through experimentation, exploration of surface treatment/finishing and textural qualities.
The workshops I took part in were; Mark-making, Contemporary Cloisonné, Surface treatment and Finishing
A fundamental element of my work revolves around the surface quality whether it is adorned, decorated, embellished, textured, plain, matt/shiny including the consideration of a materials characteristics. It is these principles that I see as fuel to explore outcomes of endless possibilities. Combined with my experience of other mediums and disciplines such as textiles, print, metalwork and ceramic, there are crossovers, similarities and differences that can be embraced, utilized or departed from. It is time for me to research, review, refocus, experiment and develop!! I can’t wait to see what happens by introducing enameling techniques to my portfolio…. watch this space!!
The images here of the work I produced during these workshops, even though these pieces are currently ‘tests’ I play with the composition and placement of textures, color and surface to observe how they interact, compliment and transpose with each other. I like what is starting to happen especially in the tonal/simplistic pieces. ( see Kathryn's website - link above )
Now I’ve just got to get myself an enameling kiln to develop and investigate further!
Jim Burnley : course participant - April 2014
" Dear Ruth
I want to say how much I enjoyed your contemporary enamelling course it was definitely one of - if not the best Jewellery courses that I have attended over the last couple of years. My expectations going into the course were mixed given that I had tried and failed to get torch fired enamelling to work for me in the past. By the end of the three day and under your guidance, I had managed not only to produce some good examples of simple enamelling, but had managed to create a Cloisonné piece and also a simple example of Plique-a-Jour. I will certainly be incorporating these new found skills into my jewellery pieces going forward. The basic introduction to engraving that you provided will also find its way into my work going forward - although a lot more practice required with my new gravers.
Excellent course and excellent studio/working environment.
Now to purchase that Kiln……. "
Kathryn Partington : course participant - June 2013
http://kathrynpartington.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/indulging-in-new-techniques/
" In my last few posts I mentioned that I am going through a process of transition within my practice. I am investigating new techniques to refresh, produce new work and develop new directions. This creative process has started by indulging and attending a series of enameling classes taught and delivered by the very knowledgeable, experienced and lovely Ruth Ball this weekend at The Jewellery-Silversmithing Design Academy. Located in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, just a stones through away from my workshop it has been the ideal setting to take part in training that is accessible, highly valuable, practical and in-depth. The workshop is well-organized and well equipped. The natural light is captured beautifully and the design layout of the studio has been well-considered by its founder Rajesh Gogna. It is well worth a visit and investment to take part in a Masterclasses here. I can highly recommend! I feel inspired and motivated to develop techniques learned further and work with the material/process through experimentation, exploration of surface treatment/finishing and textural qualities.
The workshops I took part in were; Mark-making, Contemporary Cloisonné, Surface treatment and Finishing
A fundamental element of my work revolves around the surface quality whether it is adorned, decorated, embellished, textured, plain, matt/shiny including the consideration of a materials characteristics. It is these principles that I see as fuel to explore outcomes of endless possibilities. Combined with my experience of other mediums and disciplines such as textiles, print, metalwork and ceramic, there are crossovers, similarities and differences that can be embraced, utilized or departed from. It is time for me to research, review, refocus, experiment and develop!! I can’t wait to see what happens by introducing enameling techniques to my portfolio…. watch this space!!
The images here of the work I produced during these workshops, even though these pieces are currently ‘tests’ I play with the composition and placement of textures, color and surface to observe how they interact, compliment and transpose with each other. I like what is starting to happen especially in the tonal/simplistic pieces. ( see Kathryn's website - link above )
Now I’ve just got to get myself an enameling kiln to develop and investigate further!
Exhibition Reviews
Goldsmiths fair 2014 - by Leading New York Interior Designer RICHARD RABEL
For two weeks each year, London’s eyes fall upon the creations of the very best contemporary British silversmiths at the Goldsmiths’ Fair – a selling exhibition – and I happened to be in the City to take a peek in this last iteration. The event is fab for highlighting new talent. The works presented mix the traditional with modern, and I always come away amazed at the talent of today’s silver and jewelry designers. Here is just a smattering of my favorites.
Using colorful enamels to enhance the visual appeal of silver is an age-old trick. Faberge and Cartier were masters of doing this in the last century, but the 21st just may belong to the work of Ruth Ball (above). This stunning centerpiece combines subtle shades of enamel to contrast with the textured finish of the silver. Anyone who knows me knows that I love the beach and seashells, and I can’t help but to see their inspiration in this piece.
See the piece and Read More >> http://richardrabel.com/the-modern-sybarite/contemporary-british-silversmiths/
Goldsmiths fair 2014 - by Leading New York Interior Designer RICHARD RABEL
For two weeks each year, London’s eyes fall upon the creations of the very best contemporary British silversmiths at the Goldsmiths’ Fair – a selling exhibition – and I happened to be in the City to take a peek in this last iteration. The event is fab for highlighting new talent. The works presented mix the traditional with modern, and I always come away amazed at the talent of today’s silver and jewelry designers. Here is just a smattering of my favorites.
Using colorful enamels to enhance the visual appeal of silver is an age-old trick. Faberge and Cartier were masters of doing this in the last century, but the 21st just may belong to the work of Ruth Ball (above). This stunning centerpiece combines subtle shades of enamel to contrast with the textured finish of the silver. Anyone who knows me knows that I love the beach and seashells, and I can’t help but to see their inspiration in this piece.
See the piece and Read More >> http://richardrabel.com/the-modern-sybarite/contemporary-british-silversmiths/