Those who live or visit the Upper Peninsula become enthusiastic about the way the sky meets the water, trees, hills and the creatures who live there! Ben seeks to capture glimpses of that in his “U.P. Woodcuts.”
After a life-long experience as a do-it-yourselfer and woodworker, making practical items like furniture and toys, in 2012 Ben took a weekend workshop in woodblock printing at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota, with woodcut artist Nick Wroblewski. There he found a medium that fit his interests and experience. He creates images of reality and imagination, subjects of value.
Printing by hand through the primitive and repetitious process of carving, inking, printing and carving more, always using two or more blocks, every print is original and unique. A retired pastor, Ben and his wife, Marcia, live at Sand River, east of Marquette. He has studied drawing and painting at Northern Michigan University and is a member of the Lake Superior Art Association.
He has also been Artist-in-Residence at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Homestead National Historical Park, and Mackinac Island.
