About andrew bentson

Personal Information

Name: Andrew Bentson

Age: 42

Location: Upland/Claremont, CA

Social Media Handles:    IG: @andrew.bentson

Artistic Background

How did you get started in art? I began my journey in art in 2020 after developing a deep interest in

art history. Learning about the lives and work of great painters inspired me to explore my own creativity.

At the time, I was also seeking a new artistic outlet, having previously spent a couple of years

experimenting with chainsaw wood sculpture. This transition allowed me to further develop my artistic

skills and explore different forms of expression.

What is your educational background in art or related fields?

I earned a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, which provided me with a

strong foundation in practical creativity and design thinking. While I have no formal training in fine art, my

background in landscape architecture has given me a unique perspective on composition, spatial

relationships, and the integration of artistic elements into functional design. My artistic journey has been

largely self-directed, driven by a deep passion for art history and hands-on exploration.

Describe your artistic journey and any significant milestones.

My artistic journey has been centered around exploring the possibilities of paint, continuously pushing

myself beyond my comfort zones, and developing a personal approach to art through automatic and

improvised methods. Over time, I’ve embraced spontaneity in my creative process, allowing intuition and

experimentation to guide my work, leading to a more authentic and evolving artistic style.

I dedicated my first three years to learning and honing my skills, and around that time, I made the

decision to focus on landscape painting. As a landscape architect, the natural and built environment has

always been an integral part of my life. Painting landscapes allows me to express my perspective on the

world in a way that feels most authentic and deeply connected to my experiences.

Artistic Style and Medium

How would you describe your artistic style? Describing my artistic style is challenging, as it exists at

the intersection of objective and non-objective, landscape and abstraction, reality and imagination. My

work navigates these boundaries fluidly, drawing from both the tangible world and an intuitive, interpretive

approach. At its core, however, I am a landscape painter, using the genre as a framework to explore

mood, movement, and expression.

What mediums do you primarily work with ? Oil Paint on Canvas

What themes or messages do you explore in your work? My work seeks to explore the intricate

relationship humans have with the landscapes they inhabit—how these spaces shape our lives and, in

turn, how we leave our imprint upon them. Through my practice, I am committed to evolving the subject matter of landscape painting, delving deeper

into its emotional, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Each piece becomes a dialogue between

memory and place, past and present, inviting viewers to reflect on their own connections to the

landscapes that surround them.

Inspiration and Influences

Who or what inspires your art? Drawing influence from the California regional painters of the 20th

century, I aim to honor their legacy while reimagining it through a contemporary lens. Their ability to

capture the spirit of a place resonates with my own vision, and I strive to bring that same vitality to my

work, infusing traditional landscape painting with a modern sensibility.

Are there any artists or movements that influence your work? Of course, they all influence me! If I

had to pick my favorite art movements, I would have to say Expressionism from the 19th-20th C and

Abstract Expressionism from the mid 20th C.