Graphic designer gets public forum to celebrate his day job

As a marketing specialist for the Pacific Coast Farmer’s Market Association, Chris Ball first heard through a sponsorship request about Concord Art Association’s pilot project with the City of Concord to paint downtown utility boxes.

“The Farmer’s Market was among several local organizations who were asked to sponsor a box. Since our summer Music & Market series had already been chosen by the City as a theme, we thought it would be a great idea to help with the fundraising,” Ball explained. “While discussing the opportunity with my colleagues, I got really excited about the project and I couldn’t help but think about throwing my hat in the ring to design a box myself,” he said.

Ball has always enjoyed painting. He entered art contests as a child and he attended The Art Institute of California after high school. His style is mostly abstract, with a focus on pop culture and somewhat dark surrealism. “I had this romanticized idea that I would grow up to become a working artist and paint all day,” he recalls. “But once I started taking classes for typography and Photoshop, I fell in love with digital art. I shifted my studies from fine art to graphic design when I realized there would be more job opportunities.”

After designing a concept for the same utility box his office was sponsoring, Ball entered his work to the call for artists. “I liked the shape of this particular box and the fact that it would be wrapped with printed vinyl instead of painted, which meant I could work in a digital format. After sketching my design in pencil, I scanned it into the computer to add color and refine the layers.”

Ball adds, “Even though the Music & Market theme wasn’t in line with my personal artistic style, it was really fun to create imagery that celebrates my job at PCFMA. I may not live in Concord, but I’m here every day for work. I love our downtown’s vibrancy and sense of community. I’m proud that my work contributes to that.”

The judging process for selecting the finalists for this project was conducted blind, so nobody on the jury knew who the artists were. As luck would have it, Ball’s submission was the winning design for the utility box sponsored by PCFMA. “I was thrilled to get the news! Plus my mother is very happy to see my art take on a brighter tone,” he chuckled. “I really enjoy creating graphics for the Farmer’s Market and this public art project feels like a culmination of all my work there.”

Watch for artists working on the utility boxes around Todos Santos Plaza this month.

Lisa Fulmer is a marketing consultant, published author and a community arts advocate.