He hopes to exhibit these, and a series to follow that will feature props, as a "body of work" for his first solo show in the United States. Many jugglers became familiar with his work several years ago when his graphic designs and fanciful illustrations graced the pages of two issues of "In The Air" magazine. This publishing venture failed for lack of a sufficient market, but it didn't discourage Bell from the subject matter.

 

Juggling is his physical and mental obsession, and he's quite content to follow it wherever it might lead. He says he paints juggling scenes because they come to his mind when he tosses his props. What he sees in his mind is recreated in a photo studio. He develops a concept by setting up Serena as a live model, and takes a picture of that scene. Then he redraws the image, accents colors and manipulates the figure positions. as realistic and surrealistic images.

 

He explained that he isn't trying to say anything special with his work. Again, he's just following his heart. "I use bright, rich, warm colors because they are comforting and healing. My paintings are not intellectual or message-oriented, just reassuring images that make you feel at home."

 

Just as juggling gives him ideas for painting, he claims that the process of putting brush to canvas gives him new ideas for his juggling routines.

 

His half-hour show is positive, happy-go-lucky and clean. He use children as assistants in most of the routines, sitting on his shoulders and holding spinning plates while he does four balls and spins a plate on a mouthstick, or holding them between his legs on a rola-bola while he does five balls. He also does cigar boxes, rope tricks, unicycle, diabolo, clubs, balls, rings, top hat and stilts. The outrageousness of his fluorescent running shoes and Mickey Mouse shirt gets reinforced with sight gags like a water-squirting camera. He doesn't believe profanity or insult make good enter­tainment, but chooses to take control and have fun.

 

Being an artist has its advantages in self-promotion. His promotional brochures are beautifully-designed and witty, and all produced by himself for himself. One whimsical section of copy reads, "Because Ballini is a child/clown; the children identify with his joyful performing character. Usually Ballini has to peel the children off his body at the end of his spectacular show. Also, the odd child hides in his prop bag, hoping to be taken home unnoticed and then adopted."

 

Born in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1948, Bell emigrated to Canada at age eight with parents who were seeking a better life. He found his talent in art and followed a career path typical of someone who received a fine art certificate with first class honors from the Art College of Ontario in 1968. He was a successful commercial artist in Toronto who practiced fine art on the side ­ mounting 10 solo exhibits between 1975 and 1984. He also loved athletics, including competitive swimming, springboard diving, gymnastics, Tai Kwan Do, down­hill skiing and bicycling and camping. On the side he exhibited musical talent with the guitar, piano and flute.