Artist Benji Palus
Benji Palus is a U.S born artist who, while he does hold an Associate degree in Commercial Art from Oakbridge Academy of Art, is self - taught in fine arts as well as his medium of choice, oil paints. Palus has followed creative pursuits from childhood and that has only grown and developed into adulthood with his passions for music, writing and the visual arts. Although Palus has continually explored other creative pursuits, his primary fascination is his painting and representational art.
“Wine After Whiskey”
By Benji Palus (Finalist 2nd Edition)
Oil on Canvas
“As the title implies, this work came from a night of sleepless debauchery. My friend and I had arrived in Dublin that morning on an overnight flight on which we hadn't slept. It was our first time in Ireland, and my first time crossing an ocean. We rented a car and explored Dublin a bit, and then drove all the way across the country to the small town of Tralee in County Kerry. We sat at the Grand Hotel Bar and drank so much whiskey so late into the night that they bribed us with a bottle of wine and glasses to take to our room, just so they could close the bar. Back in our room, I captured this moment of lucidity in our stupor as the whiskey coursed through our veins but before the wine could do its work and finally put us out after forty-eight sleepless hours. It was a glorious night.”
Palus is quite lucky to have come from a family who encouraged the exploration of all artistic pursuits, thus making art a very important part of his life for as long as he could remember. When talking about his incredibly artistic childhood, Palus said this, “I have loved drawing and colors from such an early age that my parents had me tested for artistic ability when I was just two years old. Art has always been a huge part of my life, and I've always been encouraged to explore my passion for it.”
“Shannon”
By Benji Palus
Oil on Canvas
“I usually look for the story in a painting subject. Whether an expression to ponder, a setting with which the figure has some interaction, some detail that gives the viewer room for contemplation and mystery. But sometimes the figure is the story. That's what drew me to paint this work. Sometimes it's enough to simply appreciate a human being for who they are without asking why, or where.”
Palus went on to describe the origins of his current inspiration, “Painting or drawing basically anything and everything growing up, I can look back and see the early signs that I would eventually narrow my focus to figurative art, specifically women. I was obsessed with comic books in my teens, fascinated by the artists' ability to tell so much with images. Even then there was an allure to the female heroes over the male. I have always felt a pull toward the feminine in art. There is something so noble, so beautiful, so inspiring to me to be found in women. Feminine strength, courage, wisdom, independence, kindness, vulnerability – tempered but not destroyed by deep suffering; this is true beauty to me. These are aspects of humanity that are worth exploring and preserving, that we can look up to and admire, and be guided to find in ourselves.”
“Trip The Light Enchanted”
By Benji Palus
Oil on Canvas
“This work is one of favorites for many reasons. It's the flagship painting for my Mood Lights series, the first one. It was the first of several works I did with a Christmas theme, a time of year that I love. It's also the first time that I painted my closest friend with her youngest child, Marloe, a miracle of joy who was born into the world after a terrible tragedy, when we needed her light the most, a light that years later has not dimmed one bit.”
Palus went on to elaborate on how he brings his inspiration to life on a canvas, “It's difficult for me to feel inspired by a stranger. I prefer to paint what I know. My models have all been close friends, with whom I have shared laughter and tears, anger and affection, adventures and tragedies; whose stories I know. I've seen their resilience to life's brutality and watched them rise above terrible hardships. Every painting I make is basically a love letter of my admiration for the women in my life that mean so much to me.”
With that being said Palus has shared that his biggest and most profound inspiration is not held in what he admires and respects, but in his grief. Palus' successes and works had been largely staggered in the years following the tragic diagnosis of leukemia in a child whose life he closely shared and whom he loved dearly. Kendall, the son of his closest friend and most prolific muse, was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia in 2007, just two weeks after his second birthday. Over the course of the next four years Palus fought alongside Kendall and his family against this rare and deadly form of the disease. Palus was one of Kendall's primary caregivers, often with him daily at Children's Hospital of New Orleans for weeks on end. Since Kendall's death in 2011 at the age of six, Palus has struggled professionally and personally with long bouts of the grief and depression that follow in the wake of losing a beloved child. Palus has found renewed passion in his art, yet the loss is deeply reflected in his work. Scenes of innocence, calm, and playfulness are depicted in colourful yet dark tones, as if he is desperately seeking to reconcile the wonder of childhood with its inevitable loss.
“Corridor”
By Benji Palus
Oil on Canvas
“I was drawn by the mystery of this piece; the haunting glow, the darkness, the expression on the figure's face, her body language. Painting it took me someplace someplace strange yet darkly familiar, like a dream.”
When it comes to a lack of inspiration, Palus revealed that when in “a funk”, he never wants to paint. However as a professional he recognises the need to find a balance between needing self motivation and allowing himself the “days when the depression just takes over and the day passes on the couch, watching TV and eating too much.” With that being said Palus also did admit that “some of my best work has been done when I've done the exact opposite and forced myself to set up my paints and get to work!”
“The Poisoned Madness”
By Benji Palus
Oil on Canvas
“I've always dreamed of creating a painting that was predominantly chartreuse. I just needed the perfect pose and composition. I found it in my muse's madness.”
When speaking further on the creation of his work, Palus went on to talk about his materials saying, “For the work itself I use oils exclusively right now, keeping a sketchbook with pencils to play with ideas and practice my drawing skills. I don't stick to any one brand of paints, simply the best I can afford at any given time. Being self-taught, I never really learned much about using different mediums with oil paints so for a lot of years I kept things simple, thinning the paint with either turpenoid or mineral spirits.
I've recently starting experimenting with a broader range of traditional mediums like linseed and walnut oil, but I have to say that my favorite new discovery is Neo Megilp, a seemingly magical medium that feels like spreading soft butter with my brush while somehow maintaining the opacity of the paint. For my brushes I am completely devoted to Rosemary & Co. I've tried every brand of brush over the years and found that Rosemary is simply the best, and also unbelievably affordable for the quality.”
“Deliquescence”
By Benji Palus
Oil on Canvas
“In addition to being excited by the challenge of capturing this strangely lit composition on the canvas, I absolutely fell in love with the pose – the way my muse seemed to be melting into the sofa, conveying such fluid grace while perfectly still.”
Lastly, Palus was asked about any advice he had for his fellow artists and he had this to say, “…the most important rule of painting that I personally have learned: there are no rules. Even in as strict a discipline as figurative realism there is no one way to go about any of it. Some artists measure, some eyeball. Some paint in layers, some in sections. Some swear by one medium and others by another. Some work through the blocks while others use the time to rest. Some will argue that color is king and others say that color doesn't matter if the tones are right. There are as many amazing techniques as there are amazing artists in the world. Once a certain level of skill is reached, the how doesn't matter. All that matters is each of us finding the right path to achieve the finished painting that we personally want to create.”
To view more of Benji Palus’ artwork