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About David Balade

David Balade is one of the few French artists who is specialized in Celtic Art. His work studio is located in Pléven, Brittany, the region of France where the Celtic culture still keeps its peculiarity thanks to its tongue and its folklore.

Biography

Starting as a professional artist:
After his studies in a French Business School, David Balade began his carreer working in marketing in Mexico and Ecuador. Back to France, in 1999, as a self-taught artist, he had several exhibitions of his paintings in Paris and Brittany and he settled as a professional painter.

A new author in France:
His work on Celtic Art and patterns was remarked by Ouest France, the publishing house who ordered him the book " Motifs Celtiques ", launched in April, 2003. Based on this book, Ouest-France extended this collection of drawing to various books on Celtic Art. In 2004, David Balade developed a collection of “Celtic Inspiration” postcards for the Bretagne Bleue publisher.


Cyclone
The creation of a company:
With a collection of more than a thousand drawings and patterns taken from his artistic researches, David Balade creates the “Ker Is” company in March, 2003. As a beginning, the designs are dedicated to the creation of embroidered textile items (bags , plaids, cushions). Then, the range of products grows every year (painted glass, silk and printed leathers for example). David Balade registers also Ker Is” as a commercial brand for all his products, in March, 2004.

Cliodhna-site
Exhibitions through Europe:
Since 2004, David Balade takes part regularly to arts and crafts exhibitions in France, and also in Ireland, Spain, Belgium, and in the United States. His most recent artistic work can be seen in Pléven, in his work studio. David Balade has also regular exhibitions in the Abbey of Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer in Côtes d’Armor, Brittany, every year from July to August, and in Paris.

Morrigane-site

Inspiration’s sources
Brittany’s landscape and culture:
The physical environment of Brittany is certainly one of the first sources of David's inspiration. Located in north-west of France, Brittany is a peninsula with preserved landscapes, shores and forests and with a strong living folklore which inspired several artists such as Gauguin, Sérusier or Picasso. Brittany is also a land of legends: for example, the forest of Brocéliande or Vivian’s lake are the well known places of attraction in the region. In such a magical context, David felt interested in Celtic literature very early and read many old books such as the Graal’s quest, the Welsh Mabinogi or the Irish Lebor Gabala …

3 dragons
The book of Kells:
The very discovery of the book of Kells led the artist on the way of Celtic art. In fact, the book is a Bible, exhibited in Dublin’s Trinity College, Ireland, convinced the artist that Celtic art deserved more than what is teached through many Arts lessons. After studying and reproducing the most representative forms, David presents personal creations, and follows his own celtic inspiration and interpretation

Macha-site
Play the game:
While searching a way in Celtic Art, the artist asked himself the following question: after years of exchanges, conquests, migrations, technical and social evolutions, etc... how can we still create an authentic Celtic art without being restricted or oppressed by what is called Celtic tradition? To this question, David Balade answers with a game: the game is to imagine what a medieval Irishman, or an antique Gaul man, would think of our times! With his cultural background, the Celtic traveller could be interested in the sacred, geometrical and curvilinear arts such as the Islamic, the Byzantine, or Tibetan art. His natural tendency to exuberant expressions could make the Art Nouveau or the Psychedelic créations very attractive to him… He could also be interested in the contemporary scientific images which now show the spiral forms of growth (photos of the constellations, the cyclones, the bacteria, etc...). Many information can be found today, the game is to read it with the Celtic Eyes...

Frêne-de-Diarmuid-et-Igrain

Artistical technique
The works presented here are painted on a thick cardboard with a mixed technique which involves watercolors, gouaches and ink (because of the watercolor, it is advised not to expose these works to direct sunlight, and even to avoid very sunny rooms). The drawing is realized thanks to geometric tools and pencil, then enriched with freehand drawn forms. For every drawing several preparatory sketches are often necessary. Then the final pencil drawing is covered with gilded ink (made of copper powder). After this , the colouring is realized with various types of pigments.

Deux-cygnes