Journeying Through Wonderland

Last Post for Here! I've Moved!!

2010-05-16T23:36:00.002-04:00

I will no longer be posting here. I will leave this blog here for a spell because some of the artworks may not make it on my new website and blog.

I'm finally getting around to setting up one website that will house everything I want in a website. I've just pointed the domain www.bebart.com that I've been using since 2004 to my new website http://www.burrittbenson.com . It's probably going to take me several months to get it all setup the way I want it, but you have to start somewhere. The good news is, I'll be posting new artworks to my website on the blog there now continuously while I'm getting everything setup and running.

Please come visit my new location at http://www.burrittbenson.com. Thank you very much!!

- Burritt Benson

Paint it out!!

2010-05-14T15:34:00.003-04:00

Know what the best part about finishing a painting is?? I get to start on a new blank canvas and I've got a finished painting!! Usually I jump mid-painting to start a new one. I have several going right now to prove this unfortunately. Gives me a chance to look at them and make up my mind if I should continue on with 'em sort of thing. Lately, I've been snapping pictures of a lot of 'em, and painting over them mid-stream. Good idea at the time but I've got something else now I wanna try. Do what makes ya happy man, paint it out!!

I know I said in an earlier post I was going to try and lose the line. Think I will hold off on that for now. I'm sure it will happen in a couple of paintings I have in mind, but no rush really. I'm loving where I'm at right now, the waves are perfect for some shredding!! Let's hit it!!

The moment it happened!!

2010-05-13T18:33:00.003-04:00

Right now led zeppelin is blasting and I'm sailing at full mast in my art studio!! I'm smiling ear to ear!! Experienced another revelation late last night while sketching with my sharpies. It's starting to all come together now and I'm trying not to freak out too hard! LOL! The floodgates are opening is all I will say!!! Fire the cannons!!!

Hide the Gesso!!

2010-05-05T01:05:00.003-04:00

Don't get to attached to the first acrylic painting (left) in progress now. I'm debating whether to go crazy on it after my talk with artist Chuck Lawson earlier today. I think I have a pretty good grasp on line, now it's time for me to try and lose it in my paintings. By doing so, I will be forced to get a stronger understanding of color, color values, color interactions and all that jive. Something that is pretty much hit and miss for me most of the time. I'm probably 75% complete with my original color scheme on this one. But now, even that is out the window! Good riddance! I have no clue at the moment what's about to happen to it, but I know once I get in my studio tomorrow painting, I'm going to be one happy dude!

The acrylic painting in the middle is one I've started painting over three times. I'm so glad I did not gesso over it at any point. I'm really lucky there, that's usually my first move in most cases. Egor!! Prepare the gesso!! Lot's of it!! Hurry!! I'm thinking I'm about 85% complete on it right now. Yep, I'm leaving the underpaintings because they are really helping the painting. Especially, when you get up close and look at it. Then, when you back up a long ways and look at it, wow! I just get a strong feeling that it's a keeper. Well, until I hang it up in my house and look at it a lot and start talking to myself about it. But I'll deal with that when I reach that point I reckons.

The third acrylic painting, the one with all the pirates, I'm still studying it. I'm not happy with it at this point. She's fading fast Captain!! Shall I prepare the gesso?!! Not yet my bald friend, there is still hope. As long as there is hope, there is a chance that she can be saved. I'm mixing the gesso now master. Roger that.

I've got a lot more paintings started at this time and even a new blank 36 x 48 canvas I'll be jumping on tomorrow at some point. What I don't have, is time to write about them now. I will try and take some pics of 'em and post 'em here and on fb when I remember to do so. Until next time, stay healthy, be safe and spread some encouragement! Google the 90/10 principle.

Sneak Peak! New Acrylic Painting!

2010-04-28T03:43:00.003-04:00

Behind me is a partial sneak peak of a new 36"x48" acrylic painting I started last night. Me thinks this painting is going to ROCK when I'm done with it!! Back to painting. Later! Later!

Tea Party Revolution

2010-04-24T12:17:00.004-04:00

This is a 72" x 60" acrylic painting I've been working on for the past week. It's the third time I've painted over this particular canvas. Thinking I might stick with this painting, maybe take the print route after I'm finished with it. I get a tea party vibe from it, the eleventh hour. Of course, you can take it in a lot of other directions to. I think every direction can be a worthwhile adventure really. Working on this particular painting has changed me for the better, I can't wait to get cranking on some new paintings and experiment with what I've learned while painting this one. I still have to finish this one, so I better hush it and get back to painting! Take care!

Three New Acrylic Paintings

2010-04-06T01:28:00.000-04:00

16 x 20 Acrylic Painting on Paper, 2010.

47 x 35 Acrylic Painting on Paper, 2010.

36 x 48 Acrylic Painting on Canvas, 2010.

The last acrylic painting shown above was a finished painting of mine I decided to paint over this weekend. I really liked the painting before, but I'm totally in love with it now! No finished painting in my art studio is safe at the moment. I started painting over a finished 72 x 60 painting this afternoon!! While most see a finished painting, I see a blank canvas, or a painting that needs more experimentation on. There are no rules!! Don't worry about mistakes! Keep working the paint! Get mid-evil on it!! Crank up the jams!!

I had a blast at the art reception this past Friday night! I met so many nice people! I really enjoyed talking with everyone I met. Chuck Lawson, the curator, did a very nice job setting up the show. It was a pretty wild experience for me to see four of my artworks hanging up in a gallery and not hanging in my art studio, they looked so much better! Hope everyone gets a chance to go check out the show this month over at the FTCC gallery, and also, meet Chuck.

More new paintings shortly! Take care!

Artist Update 03/27/10

2010-03-27T15:56:00.000-04:00

Graffiti & Related Styles

FTCC Art Gallery, Room 366A
Cumberland Hall on the FTCC Main Campus
April 2-23 2010

Open Reception Friday April 2, 2010
5-7 PM in the FTCC Gallery
Curator: Chuck Lawson
Additional Sponsorship By: Dr. Kristen & Chuck Lawson

NEW "Untitled", 48" x 48" Acrylic Painting on Museum Wrap Canvas

It's going to be an exciting reception I believe. John and Margie Labadie have several artworks showing in this exhibit and will be present at the reception as well. So please come meet John, Margie, Chuck, Myself and others! Afterwards we're all headed to downtown Fayetteville to hangout and socialize. Hope you can make it. Mark ya calendars for April 2, 2010 and come have some fun with us. Hoorah!!

Artist Update 03/17/10

2010-03-17T16:45:00.000-04:00

Still experimenting on the paintings shown above. Really liking the direction I'm headed in. Main thing right now, have fun, go with ya gut, and just keep cranking the paintings out. Hoorah!!

Artist Update 03/13/10

2010-03-13T03:04:00.000-05:00

I'm still painting away. The above photograph are paintings I'm currently working on. I like to group and hang paintings I'm working on up on my studio walls, so I can step back and study 'em. So, that's what I saw when I sat in my chair looking at 'em tonight at one point. Fricken Barnacles!!! About 3:30am now and I have to drive to raleigh in the morning for another one of Joe Digulio's painting workshops I signed up for. I've been looking forward to painting tomorrow with joe and other artists all week!! It's been a tough week for me mentally. I'm reading a couple of art books and I've had a ton of mind blowing enlightenment this week. I'm so close to figuring out some crap I've been struggling with in regards to my art I'm about to go crazy!! KK, got to bolt!! Take care!!

Artist Update 02/23/10

2010-02-23T17:33:00.000-05:00

Couple of new paintings since my last post. I'm finishing up a couple more now and will post them shortly. Other than that, I'm painting! Hope everyone is doing great! Rock on!

Artist Update 02/10/08

2010-02-10T11:09:00.000-05:00

The 36" x 48" acrylic painting below is a commissioned painting I finished yesterday.

Below is a 30" x 24" acrylic painting I finished up last night.

That's it for now. Back to painting!!!

Artist Update 02/08/08

2010-02-08T15:28:00.001-05:00

I'm currently in paint mode and don't have time to write anything here at the moment. I beg thou forgiveness. I will update this post shortly. Now back to painting in me studio. ROCK ON!!!

Artist Update 02/02/10

2010-02-02T13:41:00.000-05:00

Burritt Benson's Artist Statement:
In my artwork I am obsessed with taking imaginative random spontaneity and seasoning it with pinches of chaos. I create art in the moment, building off hand drawn lines and bold brush strokes which then provoke multiple outcomes. My goal: to persistently expand the boundaries of my imagination where, amplified through the myriad interpretations that ensue, chaos begets clarity.

Big loud shout of thanks to John Labadie for helping me conquer my artist statement!! Oh, how I've struggled with this booger! Yawl just don't know. Well, John does. LOL!!

Lot going on, busy busy painting still with no end in sight. Just the way me likes it! Next post I'll have some new paintings to look at. Cranking out the good stuff now, so get ready!

First photograph up top this post is a 36" x 48" india ink painting on canvas knocked out this past weekend. The following two photographs are scans of two sharpie doodles from last week. That's it for this post. Take care until next time! Rock on!!!

Artist Update 01/24/10

2010-01-24T03:24:00.000-05:00

A lot to talk about this post. Far out man! Speak your peace to the masses bro. As promised, be it two posts ago, some new acrylic paintings I finished up this past week. Well the last one (5th pix), started out with black acrylic, but I switched to black india ink because it rocks!! Good sketchy feel to it.

Should of finished the painting below a couple of weeks ago, but what happened was, I jumped on something new. Okay. Okay. I'll just start something new and get the gist of it going well enough to leave it and jump back on this and finish it. I'll only be gone a second. He's right. You might as well start something new, other artists do it all the time. True story by the way on the painting below. Only problem is I keep jumping on to new artworks. In this case the hold up was the Joker text & spade outline. I was debating whether or not to put Full Metal Jacket wrote out in white on the helmet. Love that movie! You had best UnF@ck yourself... Joker won out in the end. Snoopy! H. R. Pufnstuf!! HOT!!!!!

Winnie the Pooh! That buzzing noise means something. Pooh looks a wee sickly in this painting though, so this painting must be about healthcare. Silly Pooh! You can't fix healthcare with a screwdriver!

Nice Walt Disney feel to this one below, huh? Well, until you look below the eyes and see the blue & red haired chewbaccas. That's Washington man!! Politicians in the midst of battle.

Napoleon!!! How do you want your eggs?

Look!! It's Superman!! Where's that mexican music coming from?

This past Thursday my wife and I went to Tarleton Blackwell's Artist Reception at City Art gallery in Columbia, South Carolina. If you are able, I highly recommend you going there and checking out his exhibition on display there entitled "an exhibition of southern narrative painting". COLOR!!! Look at how Tarleton uses color, individual strokes of color, it just blows my little mind really and just gets me all excited. Makes me want to paint!! I want to go paint right now just thinking about it! Don't do it, finish this post!! Come back to us! Come back! That was a close one. Too close. Anyway, go check it out! Tarleton's got several shows going at this moment & coming up, so if you are unable to make it to this exhibition, check his website and facebook page out regularly because he might be showing near you. You've got to see his art in person, the colorful strokes will amaze you, I promise. Tarleton does not have any of his gigantic big paintings at this show in Columbia, but there are several new big artworks along with several artworks done in recent years. Everything has meaning behind it, lots to figure out. Awesome exhibition! Go to http://www.cityartonline.com for more info on this exhibition.

The photograph below is from this past Thursday night at Tarleton's artist reception. That's my big goofy-self on the left and Tarleton on the right. Tarleton let me into his advanced painting class when he was teaching at UNC-Pembroke back in 2006. I have been grateful to him ever since for opening my eyes to color, and for continually helping me become a better artist all around. You will never meet a nicer man on this planet than Tarleton, he's the real deal folks and one of the greatest artists living today.

You know what, leave here right now and go and check out Tarleton's website and his New Artworks page. It's okay if you don't come back, at least I know I did not steer you wrong. See that painting below, it's on exhibition in Columbia. Here's the link to Tarleton's New Artworks page. Awesome stuff! http://www.tarletonblackwell.com/tarletonblackwell.com/New_Works.html

While I was at Tarleton's reception I met another artist named Palei. That's a hand sharpie drawn card he gave me shown below. I added his email address on top after I scanned it into photoshop in case anyone would like to contact him. Palei told me he was a sharpie artist living in Columbia, South Carolina. Palei uses nothing but sharpies to create his art. I told him I too loved to draw with sharpies and we commenced to chat it up a bit. Oh yeah! I'm better! No you ain't, I am! You poser! I asked him if he had a website and the answer was no and I told him he needed to start a blog and begin posting his art on it. Ooops! I was suppose to email him my website so he could check out my blog and see what I was talking about. Note to self: email Palei today! I'm looking forward to checking out more of his art. I'll keep you posted.

Back in 2004, I met Dr. John Antoine Labadie. He was teaching digital arts over at UNC-Pembroke, and still is today. His wonderful wife, Margie, also teaches there. Both John and Margie are phenomenal artists and leaders in the field of digital art. I would not be working on my art now if I had not met John. The man is scary smart and is constantly trying new things art wise. I took his advanced digital art class back in 2007 and he's been helping me with my art ever since. John is also the reason I took Tarleton Blackwell's painting class. John and Margie Labadie rock in my book! So, it was a real treat when both of them accepted my invitation to come paint with me in my studio the other week while they were still on vacation from school. That's John below drawing with a sharpie on top of an india ink & acrylic painting he created earlier that evening. It's still not finished he says, but it's definitely rocking! I love it!

Here's Margie working on her work of art. Awesome! Margie also brought some handmade papers to show me the differences between them and how they were made. Very neat stuff! She even used some of the papers she brought to get several effects in the painting she's working on below. We had the Seriously Sinatra channel cranking out the music while we were all painting.

John and Margie have several shows and exhibitions going all the time. They are always on the go. I think they are headed to India next. They are both wonderful people all around and I love them both. So, leave here now and go checkout their art website. Some great artworks to view! Here's the link, go now, hurry! http://www.steppingstonearts.net

Big shout of thanks to Margie and John Labadie for dropping by to paint with me! Your both welcome in my studio anytime! I'm looking forward to working together with yawl on some art projects in the future!! PS. I appreciate the invite this past Friday night for the art walk over in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I had a great time and enjoyed meeting your friends. Thank you again.

Coming up through school I was always doodling and drawing lots of cartoons, passing them around. Recently, I joined facebook. Well, the other day I was on FB and was reading some of the posts and saw one that sparked the idea below for a Facebook cartoon strip. The post was a horrible post of sorts, about donating money to Haiti and how this person could not see doing that when people here in the USA could use the donations instead basically. Boom! Cartoon idea. Sorry, I had to censor what I wrote on the cartoon sketch below because it was pretty bad. It was what was said, but it's not what I was trying to get across here. I'm like, holy cow Batman! Do these people know I could turn their post into a funny arse cartoon. Seriously, there's enough cartoon ideas from posts to keep any cartoonist busy. I wish I had the time to do it but I don't. Not saying I won't be posting some Fb inspired cartoons from time to time in the future though. I already have about three I want to work up when I get time. I was trying to think of a good name to call the strip. I was on the phone with my buddy Rodney and he suggested FBFU which was hilarious at the time, then we settled on FBOU812. I'm still laughing on the inside. So be aware all you Facebook posers, I'm keeping a sharp lookout for ya! Muhahahahaha! (Eerie music plays in background. Actually, it's Led Zepplin - 'Since I've been loving you'.) Rock on!

I was in office depot this week stocking back up on some sharpies when I found these woodless pencil stick thingies. I was like, ohhhh me got to try those! So I bought 'em.

Just so happens that before I went to office depot I had lunch at Village Station. Whereupon, I had a conversation with John who works there. I was sitting there doodling in my sketchbook when he sat down with me for a second. He was telling me about his friend about to return back home from Iraq. John wanted me to draw his buddy a tattoo. His buddy is a ma deuce gunner for his outfit, a special outfit that, well I better not say, might be top secret. Now John is also an artist. He has drawn several of his own tattoos that he has and they are awesome in my opinion. I was like dude, you can draw that up better than I can. We argue, blah blah blah and he goes back to working. So, when I get back home from office depot I grabbed a piece of watercolor paper and pinned it to the wall and hit it with those woodless color pencil sticks. Should of used bristol paper because it's smoother, but the watercolor paper was thicker and I went on that premise. Anyway, below is what transpired. I'm currently redrawing this below with sharpies and plan on giving it to John's buddy as a thank you for all that you do. Can't wait to experiment some more with those woodless color pencils!

Lastly, I leave you with two of my favorite sketches from this week. I'm not about to scan in all my sketches again like last time, takes way too long. First sharpie sketch, I love the battle ship in the bottom right. Second sharpie sketch, I'm going to be turning the stick figures under the tree into a 48 x 36 painting. Will post on me blog when me get her done.

This week I'm heading over to UNCP to visit Margie and John and check out what's new in their art department. I will also be talking with Jun Shin who is teaching ceramics over there. Jun Shin and his beautiful wife were in our group at the art walk in Fayetteville this past Friday night. I was told that Jun Shin makes ceramics that you can stand in. Can't wait to see this and talk with him some more. Plus, John has the wacom tablets you can draw on the screen with. Yeah, this week is gonna ROCK!!

Artist Update 01/16/10

2010-01-16T22:20:00.000-05:00

Sorry, no paintings this post, I got sidetracked drawing with my sharpies once again. I did manage to start another 3 paintings though, but that's another upcoming post when I finish them. Just thought I'd give ya a glimpse of how the sketches, doodles and drawings pile up on me quick around here. I drew all the artworks below since my last post. I'm a slackard, I know! I'm sure I will incorporate some of what u see below into some new paintings. Hence the importance of sketching daily!! You never know what might happen really, guess that's why I love it and when the mood hits I go with it. Hope you likes! Until next time then!

Artist Update 01/12/10

2010-01-12T15:36:00.000-05:00

The last pix above is one that I drew up for my son, Ellis. We both watched some show on TV the other night about 2012, prophecy, & God. It created a ton of questions for him. When I got in my studio later that night the above transpired. It started out as a simple doodle and then it hit me to draw God as an action figure that would be appealing to my son, or any kid, for that matter. Ellis is a hard core xbox gamer and I knew I had to try hard on this one so not to disappoint. Anyway, I'd add this action figure of God to my superhero collection in a heartbeat. "Oh really mister evil guy!! Well, God turns you into a pillar of salt. Next taker please! Bring it on!"

Posting some new paintings next time. Until then, rock on!

Artist Update 01/04/10

2010-01-05T02:56:00.000-05:00

Artist Update 12/31/09

2009-12-31T21:32:00.000-05:00

Whose ready for 2010?!! I know I am!! Bring it on!! Happy New Year!! Rock on!!

Artist Update 12/18/09

2009-12-18T11:54:00.000-05:00

Just another beautiful day in Wonderland! La la la la la la......

Artist Update 12/14/09

2009-12-14T18:23:00.000-05:00

Big shout of thanks to Arnold and gang at the village station restaurant for the awesome t-shirts they gave me yesterday!! T-shirts flat out rock in my book! Thank you!!

Artist Update 09/30/09

2009-09-30T06:03:00.000-04:00

Artist Update 09/25/09

2009-09-25T13:00:00.000-04:00

Artist Update 08/26/09

2009-08-26T22:41:00.000-04:00

Artist Update 08/24/09

2009-08-24T04:30:00.000-04:00