As a child, expressing myself artistically wasn’t so much an option as it was a necessity, an innate need of sorts. What gives me great pleasure as a visual artist is when I have the luxury to forget the fundamentals, make my own rules, or change the process in which I approach my subject matter. Exploring tactile and optical characteristics of visual perception and how it affects the senses is what makes the process that much more fun. Personally, I don’t judge my art as much on technical merit as I do to the degree in which it appeals to the senses or provokes an emotional response in the viewer. The amount of detail or degree of realism isn’t as important if my work compels the viewer to feel or sense something within themselves. Whether it be curiosity, joy, sadness, or a sense of peace . . . A good work of art has a way of tapping into people’s subjective consciousness. This is what I strive for as an artist - Ben HALL
about the artist
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Known for his wide range of styles and media, Ben Hall’s body of work ranges from pure abstraction to impressionistic realism. His contemporary images have a more subjective feel while his traditional images reflect the clarity and beauty from his surroundings. Ben is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated from the Antonelli Institute of Commercial Art. He has since relocated to coastal Belfast, Maine where he freelances out of his studio in Belfast’s Downtown Arts District. Presently, his work is featured in a number of midcoast galleries including Lupine Cottage (East Belfast), Parent Gallery (Belfast), Northport Landing (Northport), The Small Wonder Gallery (Camden), and the Pemaquid Coop (New Harbor).