Young artist to watch in 2022
Benjamin S. Anderson, Carmel Valley Sunset, oil, 40 x 30.
State in Which You Reside: California.
Art Education: I have a BFA in painting and printmaking from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MFA in painting from Bowling Green State University.
Style: A mixture of traditional and abstract representationalism.
Creative Spark: Inspiration happens when improvising on canvas as the light shifts. This is similar to my experience as a jazz drummer, where interplay and spontaneity thrive.
Second-Choice Career: Instructor. I currently lead workshops and am a part-time art faculty member at a community college.
Other Passions: Music. I hear music when I see color, and vice versa. I grew up playing drums and transitioned to guitar in college.
Best Art Advice Received: Enjoy the process of painting.
Biggest Fear: The chance of rain when I’m painting deep in the wilderness.
Pet Peeve: Getting lost outdoors.
Quirkiest Trait: I talk to myself about the painting process when painting en plein air.
Mantra or Motto: Paint as if the work is to be seen by a good friend.
Favorite Studio Music: Elvis Costello, Pat Metheny, and Gov’t Mule help my focus and creative flow.
Favorite Work by Another Artist: John Constable’s SUNSET STUDY OF HAMPSTEAD, LOOKING TOWARDS HARROW reminds me of the evenings in Carmel, CA, where I paint.
Future Goals: Continue to refine my painting process.
Representation: Carmel Art Association Gallery, Carmel, CA; www.anderson-fineart.com.
To read the full list of 21 Under 31 artists for 2022, click here.
This story appeared in the August/September 2022 issue of Southwest Art magazine.