Q&A with Local Artist Ben Daniels
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of local entrepreneurs and small business owners! Today on the blog, we share a Q&A with local mixed media artist, Ben Daniels!
Q: What is your background in work and/or education?
A: My background in work mostly consists of customer-service work. I was in the coffee industry for 7-8 years, my last 4 being at Café Steam here in Rochester. Intermixed, I spent around 3 years tattooing and piercing at Seth Snell Tattoo Studio. After I had to stop tattooing/piercing, I found a breath of life in painting again. I now balance my artistic endeavors with my reception job at Mayo Clinic.
Beyond my tattoo apprenticeship, I am a self-taught artist. My sophomore through senior years in high school opened my world to abstraction, art history, and design. I have since continued to develop my style, especially in painting.
Experimenting with new paint or materials continues to invigorate my creativity, fueling my artistic drive. Revisiting classical techniques with newer ones, alongside creating some novel methods of my own have become rewards of their own. Lectures, biographies, and art books have been useful tools in my development; understanding the history and the people who helped forge it gives a humble base to work from.
Incorporating a new physicality into my work has been another recent venture. I have been exploring assemblage and sculptural elements the past year. Bringing this new dimension gives a different perception towards the work and offers another aspect of space that I can work with. I am excited to see where these ideas take my art.
Q: What initially sparked your interest in art and painting and at what point did you decide to start selling your work? When did you begin selling your work and what have been some milestones or important events relating to your art between then and now?
A: I have been interested in art and creativity for as long as I can remember. In painting, found my interest piqued during my freshmen year in high school. A Kandinsky print hung on one of the art room pillars – my first introduction to a purely abstract work. From then on, I began exploring early 20th century abstraction, later delving into Abstract Expressionism.
I had my first painting commission when I was 16 or 17. This was a set of acrylic paintings on canvas that I did for a friend. Since then, I have sold around 20 pieces and have had 2 exhibitions. As my ideas about art continue to evolve, I now paint with intent to satisfy my creative vision, rather than to make profit; to create a painting with mind for them to be experienced.
Q: What inspires your paintings and what is your creative process like?
A: Articulating my creative process is an ever-challenging task. Putting into words the totality of the process that takes place (both in one’s mind and on canvas) is difficult. I’ll attempt my best!
My influence’s primary range is from 1910-1960 art. Abstract Expressionism continues to fuel my ideas about painting; an art based on individuative style, experimentation, and personal expression.
The creative process will change depending on each piece I work on, or if there is a series in mind with the project(s). Painting is a dialogue – a physical and mental dance between the artist and the picture plain. Each added brushstroke and color articulate the next step needed. Music (compositions and longer classical pieces) plays a large role in much of my work, particularly in my Lyrical Series. I work in 20 to 40-minute painting intervals, anywhere from 1-3 times a day. Each session will begin and end with a meditation of the work. This examination helps the work develop, seeing what edits and layers are required to help the painting get to the next step; allowing it to visually speak to its fullest potential.
I work with traditional and non-traditional materials: brushes, palette knives, paint, and canvas – spoons, sticks, sponges, fire. The variety of tools I use help create a texture or impasto more than I ever could. Using different viscosity and fluid mediums atop these dried textural paints has become a cornerstone of my work. The formed layers attract light and shadow. If the painting hangs in a natural lit area, the full life of the work comes through, changing with the day.
Q: What are some of your thoughts about the intersection of art and entrepreneurship? What challenges are involved in bridging the gap between creating works of art and selling them?
A: This answer really depends on the person, the medium(s) they work with, and their ideals of art. I stray away from doing prints and mass production of my work, focusing on original, textural work. Working on original paintings can be an obstacle for sales. These works typically take months or more to complete, and my prices need to reflect both material and time spent.
I would consider myself a rather poor entrepreneur – who could make attempts to be a better one. A difficult hurdle to overcome between art and entrepreneurship is exposure (be it locally or through social media). Getting one’s work out in public, being willing to have these personal pieces displayed for all to see can be daunting. I would equate this angst to sharing a deep secret.
As Rochester grows, so does the art/gallery scene! The Rochester Art Center, Public Library, Threshold Arts, Fagan Studios and others, are connecting local artists to a wider audience. These groups, alongside the amazing people who run them, give me hope for continued growth in the art programs around the city.
Q: What are some activities and hobbies you enjoy in your spare time? Do you have any favorite local businesses you like to frequent?
A: Outside of work/art I enjoy a few different activities. My daily walks or occasional swim have become very important to me. Incorporating mindfulness during these activities helps process my thoughts. I enjoy reading on a semi-regular basis, alongside mediation. Practicing piano and playing some online games with friends are among my other enjoyments.
My favorite local spot to go is Café Steam. I am a regular there and love starting my mornings at Steam if the time allows. I like to read, write, or journal on my days off – starting the morning with a cup of coffee, following up with a day of painting!
You can find more of Ben’s work on Instagram at ben_daniels_design.
