Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Arnold
Hi Benjamin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a British artist living and working in Ocean Beach, San Diego with my partner, the floral designer Trevi Fountain (@fountain.mountain on Instagram). For nearly twenty years, I have painted people; exploring my fascination with the unique characteristics of the human face, the power of image-making, and the material properties and rich history of oil paint.
Having studied at both one of London’s most celebrated schools for contemporary art, and being a recipient of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) grant (granted on behalf of the Royal Warrant Holders Association) spending three years studying traditional painting and drawing at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, I have a somewhat unique sensibility for making contemporary paintings of modern people with tendrils reaching back into the past. My portraits grace the walls of family homes and institutions around the world, and range from postcard-sized playful gouaches, to life-sized highly life-like commemorative pieces.
I have moved around for much of my life, being raised in Seoul, South Korea, and Singapore, as well as the North-East of England; a pattern of movement and exploration that has shaped much of my life. After leaving Italy, life brought me to New York in 2016, where I eventually met my partner Trevi – a born and raised Southern Californian whose family have had a home in San Diego for many generations. I now balance portrait commissions with my own personal work.
Painting portraits is one part of my professional life, the other is teaching; my Mother’s profession. I have worked extensively with students of ages 6 to 80. In my role as Community Artist-in-Residence at the historic Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, I co-founded and ran the Barrett Kids program for local school children aged 6 – 11 years old to receive a formal arts education and explore creative possibilities they might not otherwise get the opportunity to experience.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The Pandemic was an especially tough time, both personally and professionally. In March 2020 I had three of the most significant portrait commissions of my career lined-up, and I worked in a one-of-a-kind residency in the historic Barrett Art Center, NY that granted me a truly breathtaking studio. A month later, all three commissions were put on ice, never to be resuscitated, and Covid resulted in the building being closed. Eventually the organization was shuttered as non-profits scrambled for funding, and the building was sold-off. No studio and no commissions resulted in my being stuck at home with much of the world, organizing both classes and small portrait commission over ‘Zoom’ at my kitchen table. More significantly than any of this however, two people I called friends lost their lives as a consequence of the virus. Many millions of people’s lives and livelihoods were destroyed at that time. My circumstances were mercifully more benign, but it was a period that changed my life.
More broadly, moving to The States after living as an art student in Italy for several years was tough; not knowing anyone, living in a semi-rural area of upstate New York, and attempting to stake a claim as a portrait painter in a business that is so reliant upon your contacts book – and your contacts’ contacts! It took time and considerable effort – as well as some good fortune – to establish a reputation there. Moving again, this time to Southern California from NY, has resulted in some of the same obstacles. I have found the people here to be incredibly welcoming however, and all I can do is make the best work I possibly can, and be proactive about getting my name out there!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My day-to-day is divided between fulfilling portrait commissions and working on my own personal work in my home studio – indeed I will be flying out to New York City very soon to meet a client about a proposed project; a large painting of the Rector at St Thomas Church, a large Episcopal church in Manhattan. The life-sized posthumous commemorative painting I made for them of the late organist and choirmaster John Scott in 2017 is one of the professional projects whose memories I treasure the most. Having people who knew someone intimately profess their admiration for having captured something of a person’s personality and energy in your work, and thus contributing in some small way to keeping their memory alive, is as profound, humbling, and moving an experience as I know.
Undoubtedly my specialty is putting a contemporary top-spin on one of the oldest professions in the world, painting people. Finding a balance between the life-like naturalism of the traditional portraiture I studied in Italy (inspired by the titans of the medium, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and John Singer Sargent) with a playful approach to color and mark-making born out of a love of abstract art and design.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Planes – that’s what I like least about the city! Wherever I am, there’s one overhead, haha. Absolutely nothing can spoil an afternoon at the beach, or walking the dog along Sunset Cliffs, but the planes frequently jetting overhead do sometimes interrupt my concentration! Otherwise I have barely a bad thing to say about the city. I should say, my experience HAS been mostly focused around Point Loma, and especially Ocean Beach. Wonderful beaches, great food, friendly people, a relaxed atmosphere… I could go on, but that wouldn’t be very OB of me!
A walk along Sunset Cliffs is breathtaking, morning or evening – It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever known – but my partner Trevi would agree that my greatest pleasure is undoubtedly walking to the Cuban bakery Azucar on Newport for coffee and a Cuban pastry. Few things in life are better! Food and drink in general is one of San Diego greatest strengths, be it the astonishingly beautiful and immensely cool bar Seneca overlooking the Embarcadero, or the cocktail scene on all sides of the astonishing Balboa Park.
Pricing:
- On the Contact page of my website, I have created an easy-to-understand document called ‘Commissioning a Portrait – Demystifying the Process’ which attempts to answer the most commonly asked questions about a process that can seem quite daunting and needlessly vague, explaining options, costs, materials, timeline etc as straightforwardly as possible for those interested.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.benjaminarnold.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminarnoldart/
Image Credits:
Benjamin Arnold
