Ben DeHart

San Diego born artist Ben DeHart started taking private painting lessons from local artists Robert Elliott and Daryl Millard at the age of 14. He studied plein air painting, landscapes of the North and South West in both Acrylics and Oils, as well as charcoal and pastels. He also studied marketing and graphic design at San Diego’s City College. This well rounded background has led to a versatile and varied style using several different mediums. One of his methods is layering multiple panels of varying sizes, textures, materials and subject matter into one cohesive piece of art. Often tying it all together with industrial elements like pipes and valves and finishing it with a custom frame. He calls the finished piece a “Layered Mosaic” and is currently creating some commissioned work using this style. Plein Air painting is also a passion of his, something he pursues while he travels. Doing these outdoor paintings of various points of interest around San Diego, Los Angeles and beyond, is an ongoing adventure. “I believe that it is more important than ever that art reveals to the viewer what it’s purpose is because this is a question that people are grappling with more and more. In a very broad sense, one of the purposes of art is to bridge gaps in understanding that people have trouble crossing in other ways. Easing the tension that we feel and helping bring unity to the world around us.”