JOURNEY - The multi-media canvas titled “Journey” is from a 3-D series that has been a permanent part of Ben’s Hall’s private collection since 1995. 16 x 20 mixed media on canvas

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Known for his wide range of styles and media, Ben Hall’s body of work range from pure abstraction to impressionistic realism. His contemporary images tend to be more subjective while his traditional images reflect more clarity and beauty from his surroundings. Ben is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio where he graduated from the Antonelli Institute of Commercial Art. He has since located to coastal Belfast, Maine where his work is currently featured in various galleries including 960 Studio (Belfast), Northport Landing (Northport), Small Wonder Gallery (Camden), Pemaquid Craft Coop (New Harbor) and the Parent Gallery (Belfast).

ARTIST STATEMENT: As a child, expressing myself artistically wasn’t so much an option as it was a necessity, an innate need of sorts. What gives me great pleasure as a visual artist is when I have the luxury to forget the fundamentals, make up my own rules, or change the process in which I approach my subject matter. Exploring tactile and optical characteristics of visual perception and how it effects the senses is what makes the process that much more fun. Personally, I don’t judge my art so much on technical merit as much as I do to the degree in which it appeals to the senses or provokes an emotional response in the viewer. The amount of detail or degree of realism isn’t as important if my work compels the viewer to feel or sense something within themselves. Whether it be curiosity, joy, sadness, or a sense of peace . . . A good work of art has a way of tapping into people’s subjective consciousness. This is what I strive for as an artist. Visit Ben's website at 960studio.weebly.com