Artwork Story
My main bodies of artwork make up my life story. They are split in six current sections or “eras”. I have most works that I have not started, already planned out. I know exactly how I want them to look and how I want them to feel. Since after all, it is my life and memory.
Childhood Era
1990 - 2008
It will be a number of years until I start painting anything in this era. Filled with nostalgia and childhood topics.
The Dark Era
2008 - 2011
A segment of time I have always referred to as the dark part of my life. It was a bleak moment of life, while I was still young in adulthood. Dealing with situations forced on me and my lifetime plans drastically changing several times, with me having to adapt for survival.
This era focuses on the short amount of time of becoming a young parent, becoming engaged, and facing threatening loss of both of those topics. It was not a happy time for me.
No current works in this era that are planned have been painted. Future titles of this era will include:
- Unexpected
- Unfaithful
- Electrifying
The Hart’s Desire
2011 - 2013
This era starts with meeting my second fiancee. Following the relation as it builds, as we both grow together. Her pulling me out of my “Dark Era” and to learn to become the man I am now, living life the best I can make of it.
No current works in this era are completed yet. Future titles of this era will include:
- Show Me What I’m Looking For - First time meeting eyes.
- Shared Words - A couple sits together in front of a Monet.
- Hot Spring - A romantic scene.
- Adopting Izzy - The day my family grew one more.
- Expecting - “We’re going to need more bedrooms, afterall.”
- Carol of the Bells - Holiday excitement of buying something special.
- The Call (December 20th, 2013) - “Ben, get here as soon as you can. Something has happened.”
- Goodbye (December 20th, 2013) - One final embrace.
- Broken (December 21st, 2013) - The first time Izzy laid her head on my lap.
Purgatory Era
2014 - 2018
After the night of my life’s biggest loss, this era begins. This era is mainly uneventful, myself living in a emotional purgatory and suppression.
No current works in this era are completed yet. Future titles of this era will include:
- Straight to Voicemail - Sometimes it’s comforting hearing their voice again.
- Decembers - I hate Decembers.
- Office Christmas Party - Me holding a keg as my friend does a keg stand in jean cut-off short-shorts.
- Lapels and Pens - My bespoke suits and gold nibbed Mont Blanc.
- People Watching - A past-time.
Second Hartbeat Era
2018 - 2020
This era follows the events that took place that made me seek healing from trauma.
More context to this era will be expanded on, when The Hart’s Desire era paintings are completed. Future titles of this era will include:
- You Took Care of Me - Chariot with leather seats await.
- Red Purse - My 29th birthday dinner.
- Last Call (December 21st, 2019) - A final round of drinks with friends.
- The Dam Cracks (December 24th, 2019) - A surrealism explosion of emotions.
- Boujee - A man in a suit confronts a poolboy.
- The Trek Begins - From 262lbs, to down 100…
Escaping Era
2020 - 2023
This era follows me trying to escape the painful memories of my home and seek out peace. Running in to difficulties that would lead me to painting.
More context to this era will be expanded on, when The Hart’s Desire era paintings are completed. Future titles of this era will include:
- Fear or Spite
- Circus Act
- Clown in a Two Piece
- Conviction
Recovery Era
2024 - present
This era follows dealing with the fallout of the previous events, and is when I would begin painting as a necessity. Seeking only a life of being content.
Future titles of this era will include:
- Dove - A man drags on a cigarette, staring at a pigeon under a street light.
- Rehabilitated - A clown sits on the sidewalk, unable to return to the circus.
- Witnessing Escape - An aging man sits at the window, staring off in to the snowy landscape.
- Silver Ballet - An old women dancing ballet.
- Patina Leather Shoes - Sometimes you step in dog shit with your nice pair of dress shoes, and you just have to fling it off.