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StateOfTheOzarks.net© is an affiliate of Lucky13Studios at JoshuaHeston.com©
Copy and/or use of any portion of this site for commercial reasons without written consent is expressly prohibited. © Joshua Heston 2007 |
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Natural Heritage |  |
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Craftsmanship
• Painting |
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| Painting Index • Joe Benjamin, Pen & Ink • The Art of M.E. Oliver (from the Ralph Foster Archive) • Thomas Hart Benton, Artist (from the Ralph Foster Archive) ______ Craftsmanship Index • Barns of the Ozarks • Basketweaving • Blacksmithing • Dollmaking • Glassblowing • Mills of the Ozarks • Musical Instruments • Painting • Quilts and Sewing • Woodcarving ______ Culture Index • Agriculture • Book Learning • Cooking • Craftsmanship • Faith in the Hills • History • Music • People of the Hills • Storytelling • Tourism |
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Pen and ink artist, Joe Benjamin, is not only extraordinarily talented, but also one of the nicest of folks you'll ever hope to meet.
He and his wife, Janice, moved to Branson from the Quincy, Illinois, area in 1993, when Joe was invited by Silver Dollar City to become a full-time craftsmanship demonstrator.
"They liked the black-and-white art that I did, the old-time scenes," he remembers.
Those old-time scenes have set Joe apart. Many folks make a point of collecting his meticulous renditions of mills, old barns, and beloved Silver Dollar City landmarks like the Wilderness Blacksmith Shop.
"Several others have done artwork of the Wilderness Church because it is a landmark," Joe explains, "But I don't think anybody has done work like this to the extent I have. I've drawn probably 15 or 20 buildings on park.
"The homestead and the church were actual log cabins that were moved into this area. They were taken apart log-by-log and rebuilt; to me, that's a great goal for Silver Dollar City to take the time for that."
Pen and ink drawing, the slow process of creating an image from tiny dots and dashes of ink, is not a dying art, notes Joe, but rarely do artists of this medium work in such scale.
"Most of the work I do is in 16x20 inch size and each picture can take anywhere from 50 to 100 hours to complete. The way artists are now, they're looking to find something fast. I do this because I enjoy it; and I'm never a hurry-up artist!"
Joe is not the only one to enjoy the art.
This correspondence course graduate of Norman Rockwell's Famous Artists' School is the recipient of no less than 17 Silver Dollar City craftsmanship awards, including Best New Heirloom Product and the Living Treasure Award.
"I've been a real stickler for detail," Joe notes.
(continued above right)
| It is with much appreciation that StateoftheOzarks is able to display Joe's artwork. His work may be seen on the following abstracts: — Barns of the Ozarks — Blacksmithing — Mills of the Ozarks — Woodcarving — Railroads of the Ozarks |
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"Getting the perspective right and combining ideas to give more interest to the viewer; all these things work to bring your eye into the picture.
Although he and his wife Janice have moved back to their home state of Illinois — to be closer to the grandkids, they explain — it's clear Joe's heart remains in the Ozarks.
"Coming down here tends to change people's personalities. If you were in a big city like Dallas or New York and had to pull into traffic from a side street? You'd sit there all day long.
"But for some reason, this area just kind of changes your attitude. I guess it's that old adage, 'If you smile at somebody, they'll smile back.'"
Many will be glad to know the Benjamins plan to return regularly.
Best New Product Award & Best New Heirloom Award (both voted on by the visiting public):
1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007
Living Treasure Award
2003
Silver Dollar City's Craftsman Hall of Fame
2006
December 31, 2007