Persona January, 21st 2011 by Dario Poli

"A Thing of Beauty Is A Joy Forever..." By Joyce Balk

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever……….” my high school art teacher said to me first day at school.
(It was 1962, The Netherlands)

He said it jokingly with a reference to my name but these words described very well my way of regarding life in general. Always I was searching for more elegance, aesthetics and beauty.

At that time I was making and selling jewelry already, but drawing and painting were also hobbies. During school I developed these skills but then I got involved in the fashion industry as a model.
I didn’t start painting again (commercially) until 1989. Since then I’ve been working as a painter full time, specializing in monumental Trompe l’oeil. I worked in commission in many countries all over the world. Some of these jobs brought me to Marbella. The latest one in Marbella was an architectural design / decoration job. A great experience I would like to repeat.
Besides working in commission every now and again I took time of to do ‘my own thing’. Instead of hearing construction noises around you and climbing scaffoldings finding your own space, listening to silence, spirit or beautiful music is definitely healing to your mind and soul.
Marbella has many good things to offer but there is room for more I think………
Let’s inspire,
Kindest regards,
Joyce Balk
www.joycebalk.com

Joyce Balk

Dario Poli

Composer, artist, and a published author and illustrator. He is initiator of the campaign to present a better image Internationally, of Marbella and the Costa del Sol. Composer of the music "Marbella Marbella" used as the anthem of the campaign and also many other recorded compositions including Nostradamus, and Corazon, for The Children for Peace Onlus charity in Rome as well as the co-author of the powerful musical drama Lady X and The Power of Destiny. He is also the editor and a founder member of this website.