KCOB Ras Balie Reid is a triple crown 'baller' and '10.4 sprinter' of the '70's. He has established himself as an excellent artist who uses the pencil art medium and has a sterling collection.
Balie began drawing at an early age. Discovered by Rachel Manley while in his first year at Kingston College High, she introduced him to her grandmother, Edna Manley, O.M. Over the next few weeks, at private sessions at her home, Edna Manley, O.M. laid the foundation of this gift with pencil. Depth and contrast was her main focus.
His first major work of art was presented under the guidance of Master Painter Alexander Cooper. This work was the first portrait of his fellow countryman The Hon. Robert Nesta Marley, O.M.
In addition to his early artistic accomplishment, Ras Balie was also Jamaica’s High School Sprint Double Champion, setting a new 100 meters record in 10.4sec. winning the 200 meters despite pulling his muscle 80 meters from the finish line. With his speed he dazzled opposing defenses leading his football team to the prestigious Triple Crown High School Football Championship in 1975. These abilities earned him a track scholarship to the United States.
The passion for detail that has developed in his work was expanded by his scientific work using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) as his research tool in semiconductor physics under his first professor Dr. Russ Pinizzotto at the University of North Texas. Later works in physics were related to Superconductivity using a resonant microwave cavity with Professor James Roberts also at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. U.S.A.
After a three year field research and artistic inspiration in Africa (East, Central and Southern), the final definition of his style was laid out in perspective.
