In most paintings, the natural wood surface of a panel surrenders its unique personality to a covering of gesso or canvas. But what if the natural wood grain were to be given a starring role? Admirers would be compelled to look beyond whatever visual image is presented to the rich underlying texture of the surface.
Capitalizing on this premise, I present scenes that are ambiguous in nature with the purpose of encouraging the viewer to spend a little extra time in contemplation. What is the narrative? What feelings are generated? Of course the images are only illusions, seemingly created by a mosaic of hundreds of pieces of different woods. But the process too is an illusion. These paintings are created with stain on a single panel. The painted values, shapes and natural wood textures thus revealed may have, in an abstract sense, created the mood that was first sensed in the narrative.
The way these paintings are looked at becomes their content. Whether one appreciates the beautiful images, the mystery of how they are made, the time spent on the level of detail, or the mood instilled by the overall abstraction, these paintings are what they are because the wood panel is anonymous no longer.
Stan Benson | Biography
EDUCATION
2009 MA Art, California State University, Northridge, CA
2007 BA Art, California State University, Northridge, CA
2004 AA Art, Moorpark College, Moorpark, CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011
Works in Woods, Moorpark College Art Gallery, Moorpark, CA
2010
Works in Woods, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
2009
The Tourists Are the Attraction, Ventura College Art Gallery, Ventura, CA
Works in Woods, West Gallery, California State University Northridge, Northridge CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011
2nd City Council 10th Anniversary Show, 2nd City Council, Long Beach, CA - Second Place
Gem, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Not A C.A.R., Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
DEEP,Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
Out There, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
ROTE, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Annual Benefit Auction, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Hometown Exhibition, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, CA
TARFEST, Launch LA in the Miracle Mile District, Los Angeles, CA
2010
Gem, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Exalted One, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
May Art Fest, Arts Council of Conejo Valley, Thousand Oaks, CA - Hon. Mention mixed/misc
Annual Benefit Auction, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
TARFEST, Launch LA in the Miracle Mile District, Los Angeles, CA
2009
Venus, Goddess of Love, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Gem, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
More With Less, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Annual Benefit Auction, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
The Lingering Feast, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Juried Art Students Show, California State University, Northridge, CA – Best in Show
May? Oui! Arts Council of Conejo Valley, Thousand Oaks, CA – Second Place mixed/misc.
Reflections Exhibition, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, CA
2008
Strength & Vulnerability, 2nd City Council, Long Beach, CA
Earth, 2nd City Council, Long Beach, CA
Juried Art Students Show, California State University, Northridge, CA– Hon. Mention; Purchase
2007
Juried Art Students Show, California State University, Northridge, CA – Honorable Mention
Beaux and Eros, Peninsula Museum of Art, Belmont CA
Painting Guild Juried Art Show, California State University, Northridge, CA
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