Stanley Ballard

Stan Ballard

• General Notes
  • 
    Had polio as a child.  Survived this, but had a permanently weakened right arm as a result.  Had to relearn to draw with his left hand.
    During WWII he could not serve due to the after-effects of the polio and due to bad flat feet.  He enjoyed saying his one real contribution to the war effort was to design a condom packet for the American soldiers which did not show through the pocket of their dress shirts.
    
    Commercial artist, and successful portrait painter (in oils).
    Had a heart attack (from stress and overwork) in his 50's. 
    Recovered well from this and changed his lifestyle.
    Resumed a sensible working life as a graphic artist and painter.  Spent more time with family & friends and in nature.
    Dropped dead suddenly and unexpectedly from an arrhythmia while visiting an artist friend aged 71.
    
    Always enjoyed life and loved people.  He often let people know his star-sign was Pisces and that he was like the cartoon character Charlie Brown - "wishy washy".  Also likened himself to the suave charming fellow Pisces actor David Niven.
    
    For many years played jazz saxophone and clarinet in groups in the 1950's, and was an early colleague of jazz great Don Burrows.  He loved the singer Cleo Laine.
    Stan also loved classical music - especially the operas of Mozart and Richard Wagner to which he introduced son Ralph at a young age.
    
    Also had a great interest in things alternative and esoteric.
    The work of Nicola Tesla fascinated him, as did occult subjects such as the Tarot, UFO's and government conspiracies.
    
    Had a whacky sense of humour - loved The Goons, Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, etc.
    

Wife's Pictures

Kath Ballard 2002