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Our Exhibitions Manager & Curator Dylan interviewed current exhibiting artist Ben Crawford, read on for more info and insight into his latest work and artistic practice. 

What does a typical day look like in your studio?

It really depends on what I’m working on and what stage of the process I’m at. If I’m right at the start of making a new body of work, there’s usually a room full of canvases that will need their surfaces prepared. I’ll also be sorting through reference material, compositions, sketches and photographs- selecting potential imagery to use as springboards for the paintings.

When I’ve got a bit of a flow happening my day will see me working on
one or two paintings at a time, rotating through a few during the week
slowly building up layers and trying to bring about a resolution. At other times I may be making frames, or tackling smaller works on paper. I have a small library of art books in my studio for referencing, which sometimes fits into my studio routine. Because my studio is in my garden, home life is part of studio life very often. But I enjoy that and I’m glad for the flexibility. The truth is, I don’t have a ‘typical’ day in the studio! But I like it that way. As long as I’m making something I’m happy and it all works towards the end result.

Tell me one fun fact about you?

I used to be able to ride a uni-cycle.

Can you give us some insight into your use of material, techniques and processes?

I love painting on linen. It has a very fine weave, so the surface is quite smooth compared to cotton canvas. I like to apply a ground colour to the canvas before I do anything else. This is about creating an interesting surface full of random, abstract elements that can possibly inform some decision making later on in the painting’s life. Drawing with willow charcoal and oil stick allows for some looseness in the composition and these elements blend well with the layers of oil paint that follow. The process is very much a to and fro between the concept I’ve drawn up for the painting and the dictates of the random events that the paint presents. It’s like a conversation between me and the picture and
sometimes the dialogue goes in unexpected directions. This is something I really enjoy about painting, because it’s always a new adventure every time I begin a new project.

What is something not many people know about you?

I studied sculpture for a time while I was in art college. I also made large installations.

How many hours does it take you to produce a typical piece?

It’s hard to say because I spend a lot of time looking at the piece and thinking about it. It’s a little bit like cooking: some dishes are quick and easy, others take ages to prepare and are cooked slowly over a long time.

Over a week, how much time do you have to create your artworks and how do you schedule time to be productive?

Again this varies. My wife works two days a week, so on those days I’m on school drop off and pick up duties- a six hour window that goes by surprisingly fast! When I’m in the studio I try to work consistently and in a focused way. This takes planning. To accomplish this I make notes, take photos, create collages and do lots of observations throughout the day, so when I am in the studio I can get straight into painting. On a good week I will get into the studio four to five days, but I’m always able to dip in and out at odd times too because I’m so close to my work space.

What inspires your creativity?

The landscape I live in always surprises me and leaves me in state of wonder and awe. There’s a mystery to it and it’s in a continual state of flux. I’m interested in the stories about how the landscape has been interacted with over the years. In some of my paintings I think the landscape has been central to the narrative I’m trying to tell. Of course I look at other artists work all the time too. At this stage in my life I don’t find myself wanting to ape someone else’s style, but I try to look at their technique and learn something from that. Literature has a big influence on my practice too. I particularly enjoy
magical realism as it’s full of interesting imagery and perspectives on how we see the world. Poetry really inspires me too because it can be so painterly and expressive.

What advice would you give an emerging artist trying to find their feet in the industry?

I think artists should always primarily make art for themselves. If you’re second guessing yourself to try and fit in with a trend, or what you think a gallery will like, your work will be quite empty and you won’t get a lot of satisfaction from it. It’s important to build up a consistent body of work. I think figuring out what you want to paint about is a huge challenge for many, but it’s so important to have that quite clear. Not that you can never stop experimenting or you have to paint the same thing for the rest of your life!

A great piece of advice I was given by an artist when I was just starting out, was to invest in good quality paints and canvases. It seems like a good way to save money by buying all your art supplies in the two dollar shop, but it’s a false economy in the long run. High quality supplies are much nicer to work with, they last much longer and using them shows that you are invested in your practice. It’s much nicer to make art in a community. Finding people that will support you and who you can bounce ideas off is invaluable. Working with a gallery that understands your practice and wants to cheerlead it to the world is something I’m truly grateful for.

Thank you Ben! 

Ben's solo exhibition 'A Stranger In a Strange Land'continues until September 13.