Featured work by Gary Benfield

Most of Gary Benfield`s artwork features female figures. `I just think the figure in general, but the female figure especially, is a wonderful form,` he said. `It`s a really exciting thing to draw.` Benfield feels the same affinity for drawing horses. `When you`re drawing the leg of a horse, you can see similarities in some of the lovely curves and lines.` He also does some still lifes and has recently started drawing buildings.

The sensual nature of Gary Benfield`s work comes, in part, from his spontaneous, gestural process. He starts by loosely brushing a very thin layer of oil on Belgian linen, a fine-tooth, pre-primed canvas. After putting down a rough shape, he blots areas with tissue or scratches into the texture. As shapes develop, he starts drawing into it, never quite knowing how it`ll turn out. `The pencil actually almost disappears, and other bits go very dark and heavy,` he said. `It`s quite nice. It`s a little bit like watercolor in a way. You never quite know what`s going to happen. Sometimes the nicest things come out of the mistakes.`

Gary Benfield uses models only occasionally. Since he works on the floor, looking at a person for reference proves difficult. Mainly, he takes lots of photographs and makes very small sketches as guides. `They look totally different from when I started,` he said. `Very often it just comes from whatever shapes happen on the canvas.`