Thoughts on "Through The Envelope" -- Paul Alan Bennett

This is the second show John Simpkins and I have done together at The High Desert Gallery here in Sisters.  I’ve known John for 17 years now- ever since I moved to Sisters- and have always enjoyed his work.  Both of us share a love of drawing and color and the use of storytelling, art history,  humor and spirituality in our work.  Although we are both known for working in certain styles- John for his “Americana” look and me for my “knit” look- we have both shared a love of trying new things, working in new materials and tapping into what’s current in the contemporary arts world. 

Much of my work for our new show “though the Envelope” is experimental.  The majority of my work has been done using Gamblin oil paints.  Robert Gamblin lives in Portland and started making oil paints over 25 years ago.  Robert is an artist who loves to share what he has learned with everyone.  His website is filled with articles about the history of different colors how the color palettes have changed since the time of the Renaissance.  He is also very concerned with health issues and has created his own brand of mineral spirits and mediums as a result. 

Working in oils always reminds me of the first college I attended- St. Mary’s College located on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.  I had only one art teacher, Tom Rowe, who worked in a very traditional, realistic manner.  He showed us all how to glaze with oil colors using a medium called Maroger that thinned-out the colors.  Robert Gamblin has re-created this medium under the name Galkyd.  He has several other mediums as well that help with the flow, glazing effects and drying time of oils.

I spent much of my time at St.  Mary’s College in the Art Department and was fortunate enough to have my own studio space.  By the end of my freshman year, I had filled that space with my paintings, sculptures and a collection of bones, rocks and other objects from nature that I had gathered from the woods and the river around campus.

Working in oils always reminds me of that time in my life.  The feel and smell of the paint brings back many pleasant memories   

The painting “Drifting Through Time over Black Butte” (Image above) is most reminiscent of the style I learned from Tom Rowe.  The emphasis on darks and lights, the glazing of color and the use of scale and repeated forms to create space and perspective were all a part of his “Old Master” approach to painting. 

After my freshman year I transferred to The Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore.  I learned to work with acrylic colors at this time and was also exposed to a wide variety of painting styles: the realists, the abstract expressionists, the minimalists, the conceptualists, etc.  I enjoyed learning about all these styles and came to admire those artists who could easily change their styles to match their ideas.   It was like being facile with several foreign languages- you use the language that best fits the occasion. 

I continue to experiment with styles in this same way.  My work in this show with John exemplifies that fact.  A few of the paintings have my knit look.  “The Wedding Dancers” and “Roots of Paulina” are done in this style.    But the images of flowing water are done in a much looser, painterly fashion.  The theme of the water paintings is the dance of the brushstroke as much as the subject of water.  Working in such a fashion I find to be emotionally exhausting but very satisfying when it all works out.  I can also feel physically exhausted.  This is much different from “The Red Couch” painting, done in small brush strokes and glazes of color.  This method tends to be more methodical and intellectual.  Both approaches have their levels of frustration.  One is not harder or easier to do than the other.  This fact has always impressed me: even though I’ve worked in the field of art for most of my life, it doesn’t seem to get any easier!   Perhaps I like trying many different approaches to painting in the hope of finding an easier way to do it.   Some things do get easier.  I’m more comfortable with color than I’ve ever been before.  There are times when a painting will be go quickly, as if it is painting itself.  But the next painting will be all fits and spurts.

Paul Alan Bennett -- August 2007

Please plan on joining us for a wonderful evening of lively conversation, great art, refreshments and live music by Jacob French!  High Desert Gallery is honored to host an artist in attendance reception for Paul Alan Bennett and John Simpkins on Saturday, August 11, 2007.

To receive updates on new work, art speak thoughts by both artists, show progress and sneak previews please subscribe to our weblog at: High Desert Gallery Weblog.

Check back for more show and artist information.  If you haven’t already done so – Mark your calendar, make your hotel reservations and plan on attending this is a not-to-be missed gallery event.  To receive a mailed invitation please call the gallery and we’ll collect (but not share) your postal mailing address.  Our toll-free phone is 1-866-549-6250 – Option 3 for the Sister Gallery and Option 4 to leave a message.  We hope to see you on Saturday, August 11 for “Through The Envelope” an Artist Reception for Paul Alan Bennett and John Simpkins.

For additional information about the artists and the gallery please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call 541-388-8964. High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art gallery with retail locations in Bend (Opening Fall of 2008), Redmond and Sisters Oregon specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing.  High Desert Gallery's online sales gallery can be found at www.highdesertgallery.biz . 

Original artwork by listed artist(s).  All rights reserved and copyright 2007.  Use of image is restricted and prohibited without prior written permision.  High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon content copyright 2007.  The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

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