Ben Petrie - Self Portrait
Ben Petrie - Self Portrait
How did you get into art in general?
I remember a drawing I did when I was younger, your typical kid-like scribble of your home and family. Of that picture I do recall spending more time on the house and left out my family, but I did enjoy the experience, and that hasn’t changed to this day.
What is your art about? What has it been about?
My work is about creating scenes and situations that could be part of, or turn into stories. I want to explore characters and individuals that, together, create a narrative. I think about how I want viewers to enter the scene, how much do I show them, and how much I want them to complete for themselves.
Some of the settings I have worked with have included: gatherings at bars, jazz funerals, churches, and parks.
Who are some inspiring figures in art for you?
My earliest inspiration was my mother, who created line drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings. Quentin Blake, who illustrated for Ronald Dahl’s children’s stories, was another influence. Blake’s depiction of the BFG is my favorite. Egon Schiele’s line work for his figure drawings is very expressive, you can read into his emotional well-being through it, and it helped me to express my individuality.
At a point you start to be your own inspiration and I can look at my work now and say, “In the next piece I want to do this and not that”. I believe that others will inspire you, but at the end of the day you should decide where you want to take things.
What are your favorite mediums to work in?
The illustrations that I have been doing recently have included spray paint and ink as texture. I would like to experiment with mediums I enjoyed using in art classes such as pastels, charcoal, and acrylic.
Ben Petrie - Chess Players, Park Masters
What would be your ideal workspace?
I would prefer an area to myself, but the most important part of this workspace would be where it’s located. I would find a downtown area near shops, markets, bars, and parks an ideal place to work. Anywhere where things are happening and people are going places. I need inspiration and reference, and the rawer it is, the better.
What effect do you want your art to have on the world?
When people see my work I want them to take a little time out from their lives, and feel entertained. I created these pieces as little moments of escapism; I want the viewer to go on that ride bringing their own experiences, interpretation and imagination to each picture.
Do you make money doing art? If so, how did you do it!?
So far my work has earned me money in awards and scholarships, and I did sell one piece to SUNY Oswego at the recent Juror show. In preparation for my graduation and at the end of it this year I will be looking at illustration agencies, freelance work and considering grad school.
Ben Petrie - Blue Ridge Mountains
Do you make mistakes creating art? What mistakes have you made?
The pressure of going through a traditional art piece and the fear of making mistakes slowed me down a lot when I painted and I didn’t like it, which is why I prefer digital. Working on the computer allows me to make mistakes and be more experimental, without causing any permanent damage.
Do you think art can teach people anything?
Before I took on my art education I didn’t realize just how powerfully persuasive art and images can be. It opened my eyes to what it can do in altering behavior and ideas. Now I’m thinking that if you question it or get sucked in by it, you’ve learned something.
Do you listen to music while you work or do you demand total silence?
Spending hours by yourself drawing can be an isolating experience, so I prefer listening to music. Recently I got into folk music via the “Fleet Foxes” and that type of sound fits nicely into my work practice. However, if I’m stuck on something or frustrated, then I’ll need silence to figure stuff out.
Where do you see your art taking you in five years?
If I have enough work to live off of and call myself an illustrator, I’ll be happy. I also look back at the last couple of years and have seen the progress I have made. Five years from now I know I will be more comfortable in what I do and still enjoying it.
Where do you see your art taking you in fifty years?
I know it will take me places, I don’t know where or for how long, and I don’t know what, if any, future success I will have. The only thing I do know is that art has stuck with me since the scribbling days with crayons and I will stick with it to the end.
Ben Petrie - Last Service
Rachels – Third Self Portrait Series
See Ben Petrie’s work at the SUNY Oswego Metro Center in Syracuse
“Everything is Illustrated II Jan 20 – Mar 25″
