Pastoral pastels
Steve Bennett began painting and drawing while he was in kindergarten, but he quit the same year.
Eventually he took up photography and, after years of creating art through the view finder of his camera, Bennett started painting again, due to the encouragement of his artist wife, Sue.
Now Bennett — a retired dentist who lives in Jacksonville — has been painting for more than 20 years. He started in watercolors, but 10 years ago he switched to pastels for what he said was the medium's immediacy.
"Although pastel is a dry medium, it gives me results that are lively and fresh," Bennett said.
Bennett is the April featured artist for Ashland's Art and Soul Gallery, where he will show "The Pleasures of Painting with Pastels."
For many years, Bennett was a part owner of Art In Motion, a business that took artists to different countries to paint and draw.
He and his wife now own and operate their own gallery in Jacksonville, The Oregon Street Gallery.
Bennett said he enjoys drawing and painting outdoor subjects the best.
"A major theme in much of my work is water," Bennett said. "An ocean, a lake or a stream is always refreshing to my soul. A gentle flowing steam with small pools is an invitation to enjoy — a place for skipping stones, picnics and reflection. Most important for me, it is a place where time stops for a few moments while the water moves on."
 |
| "Lake Maggiore Convent" by Steve Bennett |
 |
| "Lithia Creek" by Steve Bennett |
