Hops Scrimshaw Guest Artist Glenn Ball

I am happy to introduce to you the extremely fine Scrimshaw work of a very good friend of mine, his name is Glenn Ball. Although many years have passed since our introduction I can still remember the time and place. It was at a small Mountain Man Rendezvous in eastern Iowa, high atop the bluffs along the Mississippi River, wow, what a beautiful site. Here was a young man with coal black hair and a sparkle in his eye standing before me in my display tent. He was smartly dressed in his buckskin pants and a white 1840s Riverboat style shirt, he also had a couple of young children in tow. He was admiring the original Scrimshaw designs I had on display. Actually at that time I hadn't been a Scrimshander for very many years and still considered myself a beginner. After awhile and several words of praise about my work, which I modestly accepted, he explained that he had been trying his hand at the Art of Scrimshaw and asked very politely if he could show me some of his work.

Dolphins Scrimshaw

Being anxious to to offer encouragement to any new Scrimshander as another young gentleman had done for me when I first started, I quickly obliged. Glenn then laid out before me several pieces of highly detailed Scrimshaw work, I was as much amazed at the quality and detail of his work as he was with mine. He stood there before me with a somewhat shy grin on his face waiting for me to critique his work. I stood there looking in awe at the work of a young man which I thought was every bit as good as mine, thinking to myself, "what could possibly say to a young man that was already so proficient at the Art of Scrimshaw." I don't remember exactly what I told Glenn but I am sure it included all the words of praise and encouragement I could muster at the time.

Bear Reflections Scrimshaw

As Glenn and I talked further about the Art of Scrimshaw in general and the similarity of our styles and techniques, the name of another fellow scrimshander came up in the conversation. It's no wonder our styles and techniques were so similar, the same young gentleman that had offered me encouragement several years earlier had also helped guide Glenn to his present state of expertise. John Ketner was the man Glenn and I both considered our Scrimshaw mentor, so in some ways the quality of all of the Scrimshaw work you see on our web site can be attributed to the unselfish guidance of Mr. Ketner. I still consider John Ketner one of, if not the best Scrimshander in the country.

Eagle Has Landed Scrimshaw

As you browse through our web site you will find Glenn's Scrimshaw designs mixed in with mine in their respective categories. I am proud to be able to offer you the work of such a talented Scrimshaw Artist and honored to have his work displayed next to mine. I am also very happy to offer you an alternative to my work. In the future I hope to be able to introduce the work of even more talented Scrimshanders with varying styles and techniques.

Until then, GOD bless and enjoy.

"HOP"