Jerry Balcom

Islander Jerry Balcom wanted to be an artist when he was 18, so he started making art in college. When he finished his education, Balcom had become an urban planner and convinced himself he wasn’t an artist.

After he retired, Balcom baked fancy desserts and wedding cakes, and then moved on to building hot rods and working on cars. When he finally got going as a visual artist, it was through a workshop called The Artist’s Way taught by Islander Darsie Beck.

Since then, he has worked hard and become a prolific artist in both watercolors and pastels as well as a member of Barnworks.

As he spoke about his work, it became apparent that it is a delightful study in contradictions.

Although his commissioned piece for the art auction is a large pastel of a single white flower, Balcom confessed that he would rather be known for his watercolor landscapes. Often Vashon-centered, landscapes are his first love, he said, because he’s always been an outdoors person who loves camping, hiking and boating.

“I like representational work,” he added. “I don’t do abstract.” But then he said, “The abstract is the underpainting.” He’s interested in composition, the shapes, color and light.

He sometimes uses photographs he’s taken as sources for his paintings, and he often changes colors, or adds or omits images. He’s considering “toying with the idea of mental image landscapes,” or purely fictional landscapes.

The contradiction in Balcom’s art seems to be a sign of a restless mind at work fascinated by multiple possibilities. For now, he’s proud and surprised to have been chosen as a commissioned artist. It is early in his painting career; but he’s waited a long time from those college days, and he’s grateful that he’s on his artful way.