My latest electronic sounds, mainly progressive and minimal house
music (original works). You can find more at this link. I'm currently
working on a new video animation with more music, coming soon!!
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| Just Dreaming - Seville, Spain - 2012 |
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| Steve Jobs - Digital Circlism |
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| Lady Gaga - Digital Circlism |
Ben Heine: My computer, softwares and the Internet are the connections among all my activities as a creative person. Adobe® Photoshop® software is essential too. I love the fact that Photoshop enables artists to control every aspect of their expression in the context of a friendly interface. It’s the software that extends my abilities, allowing me to boost the content and the form of any picture, all with great performance that keeps me in the creative flow.
You have studied art, painting, sculpture,
journalism and you are self-taught in digital photography and drawing. Which one was
your first passion and why?
Drawing was my initial obsession and my first love, because it’s easy to carry a pencil and a piece of paper. I used to draw all the time, everywhere. I needed to draw to express my emotions. Painting was the transition between drawing and photography. I studied Journalism for fun, but unfortunately working in an office just didn’t suit me.
Was there a defining moment when you knew that it was
time to become an artist professionally or was it a gradual transition?
It was a gradual evolution. I realized very early in my life that I would spend a huge amount of time and energy working on visual projects. I never sought to become an artist specifically or to conform to what it might mean to be an artist, it’s just the closest descriptor for what I am.
What are your favorite features in Adobe Photoshop CS6? Why?
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| Black Cat - Photography |
What are sources of inspiration for you and your work?
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| Brussels By Night - Photography |
What role does Photoshop play in your artistic process?
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| Oops - Photography |
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| The Vintage Box - Photography |
How did you get the idea to mix drawing and photography in your Pencil Vs Camera series?
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| Pencil Vs Camera - 58 - Mixed Media |
How did you create the Pencil Vs Camera - 55 image?
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| Pencil Vs Camera - 55 - Mixed Media |
Describe a favorite image of yours and what grabs you about it.
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| Pencil Vs Camera - 30 - Mixed Media |
How have you evolved as an artist?
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| In a Rainbow City - Photography |
You have several original series that showcase new
viewpoints with Pencil Vs Camera, Flesh and Acrylic, and Digital
Circlism. What’s next for you?
That’s the big question. Pencil Vs Camera is almost over. I’ll need to do something else very soon. I’m thinking about launching a new series: possibly some portraits made of small pieces of colored crumpled paper. I’d also like to bring in some music to my graphic universe. I don’t know how exactly, this is my new challenge.
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(*) Adobe Photoshop is a leading graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems. Photoshop.com is the online complement to Adobe's family of Photoshop software. Read the above interview on Photoshop.com.
I was invited to talk about my work at Creative Pro Show on the 17th of November 2012 to explain the creative process
for each of my series: "Pencil Vs Camera", "Digital Circlism" and "Flesh and Acrylic". Among different things, I talked about ways to market and
promote art. Click here to see the full report on Facebook with more pictures and information. Many thanks to Martin Benes
for his invitation and to Emiliano Rampazzi for the translations during the conference.
A celestial scenery captured during my travel from Brussels to Rome.
I travelled there to talk about my work at "Creative Pro Show".
I travelled there to talk about my work at "Creative Pro Show".
I recently travelled to Rome, Italy, to talk about my work at Creative Pro Show. I only stayed a few days and didn't have so much time to visit. Here below is a selection of pictures I took during my free time...
The huge arches of the Coliseum
The Coliseum seen from the inside
A long exposure night shot of the Vatican City
The Tiber river that crosses Rome
The beautiful Pantheon in the centre of Rome
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| Accessible Art Fair, Brussels, September 2012 |
At a very young age you have experimented various avenues of visual art forms. What is the pleasures of working with different genres of art and having an intuition of starting something that has never been attempted before?
When I started my "Pencil Vs Camera" series in which I mix photography and drawing, I didn't know of course it would generate so much interest. I really started this randomly and I didn't know exactly what impact it would have. I had in mind to do only one image with this concept, but the interest was so big from the beginning that I quickly realized it was important to keep working on it. So I spent 2 years of my life developing this idea and building a portfolio of artworks with many variations.
Through photography you portray both human emotions and nature’s beauty.
What is your approach in capturing the many hues of life and planet
earth?
I like to portray people and animals, capturing their emotion and giving them a new dimension. I like to show in a simple way the beautiful landscapes earth offers. I often do outdoor shootings and work with natural lights, it's beautiful enough.
I like to portray people and animals, capturing their emotion and giving them a new dimension. I like to show in a simple way the beautiful landscapes earth offers. I often do outdoor shootings and work with natural lights, it's beautiful enough.
Describe your feelings when you are completely one with your work, your artistic creations.
Most of my recent artworks are a complete reflection of what I am. There are different levels of interpretation for each of my pictures. There is the visible message I try to convey and there is what the image means for me and the context in which I made it. This is less obvious for the viewer and only people who know me well can clearly see the connection.
You have successfully managed to blend your passions for both photography and drawing. You incorporate a piece of imagery through your sketches of something that is only happening in your imagination. Did you ever feel it was not so much of pencil “vs” camera but how pencil tied-the-knot with camera that was depicted through the project?
Yes, you're right, at the beginning, I thought it was the opposition between the two disciplines that was the original part of the concept, but I realize more and more that maybe it's more the harmony between the different mediums that makes it interesting and special. Drawing and photography work well together because photography shows the reality as it is and drawing show it as I would like it to be. The strong point of the concept is that there is no limit, everything can be represented on the piece of paper.
As an artist, how difficult is playing the balancing act of satisfying
the client’s interests for commercial projects along with his own urge
of creative contentment? Do you have any suggestion for the beginners
in this field who may be struggling to balance the two?
When doing a project for a client, it’s indeed often difficult for both parties to be totally happy with the final work, so it’s important to establish the terms of collaboration from the beginning and to anticipate any potential conflict. Usually, I bring my personal interests, creative process, passion and sources of inspiration even when I'm working for a client, but it may be useful for creators to put their personal emotions away when they work on professional collaborations so that they meets the client's wishes.
When doing a project for a client, it’s indeed often difficult for both parties to be totally happy with the final work, so it’s important to establish the terms of collaboration from the beginning and to anticipate any potential conflict. Usually, I bring my personal interests, creative process, passion and sources of inspiration even when I'm working for a client, but it may be useful for creators to put their personal emotions away when they work on professional collaborations so that they meets the client's wishes.
You are also a multi-linguist. Can you share a couple of phrases that are very close to your heart from all the languages you have learned so far besides the language of art?
Lovely. Here are a few sentences I like to say when I speak one of these languages: French: oh là là, il est temps de faire dodo! English: I love you because you're special! Dutch: Twee vliegen in één klap, het is altijd beter! Spanish: Más vale solo que mal acompañado! Polish: Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje! Russian: Мне бы хотелось побывать в вашей стране!
How to ensure that exposure to different cultures, experiences and even knowledge of artistic movements at different era do not become a limiting factor but work as an impetus for being adventurous and seeking out new territories in the infinite world of art?
I think art is a never ending cycle, but it's still a cycle, it means that for each era of time and in each human culture, there are some general aspects reappearing. It is important to know that. So as a creator, I try to be a reflection of the society I'm living in, let's say in a specific time and space. And I always try to be innovative, that's the most difficult part.
If Ben is requested to illustrate “Looking at Myself” featuring himself what would his artistic journey thus far reveal?
I don't really know who I am and where I'm going. I only know what I'm doing and in which context I'm evolving. So if I were to depict myself, I'd show me asking questions.
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| Creative Pro Show, Rome, Italy, November 2012 |
How are you using video with your art? Do you see it as an artistic tool on its own or more of a means for promoting art to larger audience?
I see it more as a communication tool and this is how I use it. It is definitely a creative medium that can be used for artistic purporses as well, but it's not my main goal right now.
You have been copyrighting your work and even trademarking some pieces
for a while now. Can you speak a bit to why that is important and how
you see your work being distributed and protected?
Any kind of intellectual or creative material produced by a human being and shared publicly is by definition copyrighted. It's important for artists to protect their artworks because once it's shared publicly, it's impossible to control what's happening. Some people steal other person's work and use them commercially for their own benefits. This is what I try to avoid. I usually don't mind when bloggers or news websites feature my images as long as they mention a credit line.
There have been some distinct periods in your art career: your poetry,
your political art, and now your current work. Do you feel that
shifting focus is important and how do you know when you’re ready to
transition to your next phase?
It's the first time I get this question, and I think it's an important topic. I know a bit in advance when a big shift is coming. I’m living such a transition right now. It's really my personal sources of inspiration that are evolving. I'm changing and my production is changing too simply because what I do is a complete reflection of how I'm thinking and what I'm living. I'm just listening to the little voice inside me telling me to do something different. The transitions are not easy moments, because they require a new organization, a different approach to work flow, new tools to learn, finding a new audience, etc.
What concepts do you find recurring mostly in your art? Do you find that certain ones resonate more with you?
Nature and people are my main sources of inspiration. I often talk about love, friendship and I often make animals portraits. These are the things I like to evoke in my graphic work.
We are seeing more and more photographers who have day jobs as the
industry changes but you’ve gone
the other way from many different jobs to fulltime artist. Can you
give us a brief rundown of those jobs and how they’ve helped shaped your
perspective over the years?
I've been developing creative projects all the time since a young age, but I also had a normal life before my full time commitment to art. For instance, as soon as I finished my studies of Journalism, I worked in a communication agency for a few months, then I worked as a teacher and then I worked in a supermarket. I was an employee in all these early jobs. Then I decided to give up everything and focus exclusively on my projects as a freelance person. It was a bit difficult at the beginning and now it's fine.
How do you feel about starting a new movement?
I don't think I'm starting a new movement, we're a big community of creative people influencing each others. I know Pencil Vs Camera introduced something new in the current art and design industry. I just brought my small contribution. History of Art will only remember a few names. It has always been like this.
As a very successful artist, you must see people trying to emulate your
work. How do you feel about that? What do you believe is the
difference between copying, evoking, and being inspired by?
It's always gratifying to be an inspiration for other people. What else can I say? If some people use my Pencil Vs Camera concept and bring a new dimension to it and manage to do something even better, it's their right. Copying is different. Copying is almost stealing.
What personal techniques, that you might be able share with our
audience, do you have for staying at your most creative and what's next
for you?
Living new experiences is the best way to fight against lack of inspiration because life is always full of surprises and stimulations. I'll have some new exhibitions soon, I'll do some new Pencil Vs Camera works and I'm also working on some music projects.
(*) PocketStock is a royalty free stock content agency set up and owned by industry expert Russell Glenister. See the above interview on PocketStock.
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