Today we’d like to introduce you to Cory Bennett.
Hi Cory, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
To me, art is the universal Language. A visual language that can captivate a viewer and resonate a story with deep roots and meanings. My name is C.Bennett and I am a visual artist highlighting positivity and kindness. Every day I am thankful for the ability to be part of a family and a community. I know that I can make my community stronger by sharing my positivity and smile. If I can inspire someone else to smile, be kind, or take a moment to help someone in need, I have succeeded.
With the use of vibrant colors and rich textures, my art illustrates a message of hope! From afar you see beauty and harmony but as you get closer to the art you see the small details and individual acts that create a connected living community. I use my art to voice the rich culture of a community. Highlighting the past present and future I strive to create uplifting art and inspiration yet embody a diverse community working harmoniously together.
I found my unique style @ my first studio in Long Beach @ the old seaport marina. I rented a room there for many years where I began my layering process. Building layer by layer I began every painting with the notion that I could do no wrong as long as I was present in the moment and placing good intentions into my work I had already succeeded!
After many completed paintings I was able to find representation that brought my work to art fairs around the world. Such as red dot Miami, art Basel Shanghai, art Marbella Spain and most recently Bainbridge island museum of art!
Today I am searching for more opportunities to create large-scale public art and murals. My recent mural can be found across the street from the LBC library @ the AMLI park Broadway.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
On the path of my artistic career, I have had many opportunities as well as struggles. A struggle that every artist will face is finding a routine that motivates creativity and productivity. As a rad dad, it has been extremely tough to structure my creative time. After struggling to find time to create, I have found ways to incorporate my children into the process. We start our day by doodling in our sketchbooks. Letters, numbers, simple math, and spelling. My kids are 4 and 7 so it’s the basics. We then take our sketchbooks to the studio where we collage paper onto the canvas with wallpaper glue. We use this process like a journal entry. It becomes a time capsule composed of the things we are influenced by daily. After creating these rich backgrounds, I take over a begin to paint portraits of my heroes and motivational influences!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the artist known as C.Bennett I create mixed-media motivational art. I paint portraits of icons that have used their voice for positivity. I believe that through art I have the opportunity to connect and uplift a diverse amount of people far and wide. I am most proud of bringing people together to focus on the light that exists in the world. In a lot of the public art that I do, I strive to listen and incorporate the community into the process! I had the opportunity to do a mural on San Juan Island last summer. The design had the words “A living island” in the center. I reached out to the local elementary school to list a group of kids to help. I didn’t tell them what to paint or how to do it. We just created a mess of texture with hand prints & doodles. But at that moment, we poured our good intentions into the wall and it can be felt by viewers. It’s these moments that remind me why I’m an artist.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Life is short, Art is long My art practice keeps me happy and balanced. It can breathe light when it’s dark. Most of all my art may inspire someone else to have that next great idea taking creativity to a whole new dimension. Knowing this help motivate me when I’m tired, unhappy and feeling lost.
Contact Info:
- Website: Artbycbennett.com
- Instagram: Artbycbennett
Image Credits
Joe Kunesh Photography, Logan Westom Photography
