Allison Ford

Slick marble, black robes, and hushed courtrooms form the landscape of Allison Ford’s workdays alongside a Greenville-based federal judge. The only artwork the attorney is likely to spy during her 9-to-5 grind involves vintage oil paintings of solemn-faced justices long gone. But at night, once home, she lets the colors come out and run crazy across the canvas.

Allison creates abstract wonders on canvas and paper, including acrylic paintings and mixed-media collages. “I usually just pick a color, and it starts pouring out,” she explains. “It comes from my mind and my soul. I usually like to have an area of white space to give your eye a place to rest, and not be overwhelming.”

Ever the attorney, her closing argument promotes the arts. “Anybody can find themselves creatively,” Allison states. “It makes you a better, whole person. There are so many opportunities now to take classes and explore. Painting helps me be the best me I can be.” 38-year-old confides. “The part I like about being a lawyer is the writing and being a problem solver, and that’s what art is. I put this paint here, I put this blob there. It’s like a puzzle that uses the same part of my mind. It’s very analytical thinking, but with color.”