ArtisanDesignsDTB's Profile

Bio

My name is Darryl Ballou and I grew up in a small town in Western Massachusetts. I always knew that art was my passion. I recall in kindergarten as other kids claimed they wished to be doctors, lawyers, and such, I said proudly "I want to be an artist" Luckily, I had a lot of teachers that supported me, which nurtured my passion.

As a child I loved the book by Leo Lionni "Alexander and the Wind up Mouse" and after many years I actually met Leo Lionni face to face at a Cooper Union retrospective. I shook his hand and told him what his art meant to me, thrilled to have learned that he, too, was an alumni from the same college I would graduate from, The Cooper Union on the lower east side in New York City. I told him that all of these years he was the reason that I wanted to be an artist.

After graduating with a BFA I worked for a cabinet shop making high end furniture and other related items, those years have passed and now I am starting my own business. Nature has always been a strong influence in my work, "Let Nature be your Teacher" is a motto that I follow. I live a simple life with a garden, my fiancée, my dog and five chickens.

If you are interested in seeing my work, you can visit these galleries in the WMASS area.

Greenfield Welcome Center, 18 Miner Street, Greenfield MA

Salmon Falls Artisan Gallery, 176 Ashfield Street, Shelburne Falls
MA

Vermont Artisan Designs, 106 Main Street, Brattleboro VT

Male, Born on March 26

Favorite Materials

Wood, Cherry, Mahogany