Local South Australian artist Ben Saunders has an exceptional eye when it comes to producing stunning artworks centred around nature. He is known for drawing inspiration from nature and personal interactions and engagements with it. His love for creating artwork started around COVID, when he realised the importance of spending time in the natural environment and how therapeutic and healing it can be.
Ben currently has an exhibition showing at Mezzanine 55 in Kent Town titled Desert to Dunes.
He spoke to Glam Adelaide about the exhibition, his creative process and what he finds exhilarating and addictive about art and creating new works.
“I love the journey I get to go on when I create a painting. The personal discoveries along the way and the satisfaction I get from being able to create something people will connect with and want to have in their space. I love that it allows me to have a constantly inquisitive mindset – always experimenting and asking ‘what if’.”
Desert to Dunes showcases Ben’s incredible artwork alongside another South Australian artist, Fiona Docking-Winders, and the works of both artists is centred around a love for the South Australian landscape and themes.
“This exhibition came about through discussions with the gallery (Mezzanine 55), as both Fiona and myself had been looking at holding an exhibition there, and Susan Jones, the Gallery Director, saw the potential to combine our work as our themes and subject matter aligned so well.”
We asked Ben about his creative process when he starts a new piece.
“My process often begins with spending time in a particular location, observing and absorbing it. Sometimes I will make some notes or sketches and take some images. I then work back in my studio and start with inks and charcoal on paper or directly on a canvas. I try not to dictate too much in terms of composition in the early stages, just preferring to let the medium point me towards the next marks. Slowly, through many layers, the subject emerges and I can then begin to refine the composition and work towards a finished piece.”
We were curious to know if he has a clear idea from the start of what a piece is going to look like, or if the process is more organic.
“Sometimes I will have a strong concept of what I want to achieve but I try to let my initial, gestural marks determine what happens next. I find pieces work best when I approach them with an open mind and allow the media to dictate what comes next. Gradually, through layering and mark-making techniques, a clear direction emerges. I then work to refine and complete the work.”
Desert to Dunes also showcases the work of Fiona Docking-Winders.
“Fiona approaches her work in a very different way to me – she paints incredibly detailed, almost photo-realistic Sturt Desert Peas. She will spend hundreds of hours recreating the intricate details of these fascinating and surprisingly diverse flowers. I’ve learned that there are actually 19 variations of colour, not just the classic red we all know. Her work captures many of these different varieties.”
Desert to Dunes is now showing until 26th April (Wednesdays to Sundays) at Mezzanine 55, 55 Rundle Street, Kent Town.
“I’m really excited for the public to see our work together – both exploring South Australian inspiration but from different perspectives. It’s a lovely gallery space and I really love how our work sits together. I also hope that our work allows people to pause and experience the beauty we both see in the plants and landscapes of South Australia.”
Desert to Dunes
Mezzanine 55
55 Rundle Street, Kent Town
For gallery opening hours visit:
https://fb.me/e/5QlOU308N
