Gary Benfield's artistic style is unique. A pencil in one hand and a paint brush in the other, he approaches the canvas and uses both at the same time, just letting "what happens, happen." What's happened so far is quick success and what appears to be the beginning of a very impressive career. Benfield is ambidextrous by training, not by nature. A competitive cyclist since his youth, he has broken his arms multiple times. Over the years he learned to compensate. Today this literal two-fisted ability is one of the things which makes his style so unique. Benfield was born in 1965 in England. His first career was not as fine artist, however, but rather as a commercial illustrator. However, such work ultimately left him cold and he decided to turn his attention and his time to figurative studies. It was, apparently, a smart choice. Today, Benfield is represented in both London and the United States. His work is described as "loose," "confident," "self-assured" and "romantic." Though he claims his greatest influence is that of Egon Schiele, he clearly explores the sunnier side of human relationships. Benfield's art tends to concentrate on the female figure and captures the ephemera of remembered moments. Further, he's remarkably prolific. He has been quoted as saying he can create 10 originals in a month, and often will achieve two in a day. His work is available in the form of originals and limited-edition serilithographs. |