Artist profile
Ben
Randall
Ben Randall is a contemporary Australian abstract artist, who is deeply inspired by the intricate beauty of nature and the complexities of humanity. Randall endeavours to encapsulate these core themes, using shapes, marks and colours to evoke emotions and provoke contemplation. Randall provides a canvas for individual reflection and exploration.
Each painting Randall creates is imbued with personal meaning and emotional depth, yet he is wary of imposing an interpretation onto the viewer. Instead, Randall aims to provide a canvas for individual reflection and exploration. He believes that true artistry lies in the ability to elicit diverse interpretations and resonate uniquely with each observer.
In essence, his paintings serve as conduits for self-discovery and introspection, inviting viewers to imbue their own experiences and perspectives into the abstract tapestry of colours and forms.
Ultimately, Randall strives to evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity, allowing each new viewer to uncover their own meaning within the layers of my art.
Career Highlights
- 2024 - Art Edit Magazine (Issue #39)
- 2024 - Living In Another World Exhibition, Tyger Gallery
- 2023 - Finalist Emerging Artist Exhibition, Revival Art Studio
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I primarily work with oil on canvas, and the main reason is the richness of the colours and the textures oil paint creates. There is a little magic that happens with oil painting that I was never able to achieve with acrylics.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
There is a great quote from Philip Guston, "I stand in front of a blank canvas and have no clue as to how I created before".
This is literally me!
I am an intuitive painter, I start with mark making (charcoal usually), and then I work with colours. The colours are my "feeling" or the "life" of the painting. I start to build up the layers, and through this process, the bones of a composition starts to emerge.
At this point, there is a lot of procrastination and contemplation as the direction I look to push a painting towards. I mix and play with colours, and areas of the painting that I am not happy with, I scrape back or use a rag to downplay or remove.
Through this process, of addition and subtraction, I work the painting until I feel the composition has its own life and meaning. This process could take months. One painting was a battle, and it took over 12 months before I was happy with it. Then, on the other hand, I recently finished a painting in a month.
Only when I am happy with the composition, do I give my work a title and deem it ready to be displayed.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
I feel very fortunate (and lucky) that to have a dedicated studio space at my home. It's my sanctuary. The view from my studio is out onto my garden, which is filled with flowers and plants of all shapes and colours (as source of inspiration).
In my studio I have a trolley cart fill with oil paints, a table with a glass top which I use to mix my oils on, two old book shelves for my art books and knick-knacks, and several artist easels - as I am often working on multiple arts works at the same time.
There are also a lot of unfinished works floating around and a corner for completed works which are available for sale.
