London, UK artist Ben Slow “paints what he sees – in the urban environment, in the media and in the people of the city that he loves.” Working from his London studio, Slow finds an exciting dynamic in the contradictory relationship between the glamorous pop images and the raw, unrefined urban context in which such icons are celebrated. “The point of my work is to reduce the silhouette to its most elegant and minimal, while simultaneously embellishing its energy, depth and texture. The process is as symbolic as it is aesthetic.”
“I have never stopped expanding my methods and technique, often using found materials as my canvas and defining with whatever materials I come across. Anything can be used for some sort of mark making if you have the imagination, and the effects of such improvisation are what makes my work so distinctive. Texture is a vital part of my work and the expressive portraits are richly detailed through a deceptively intricate process of layering and colouring. This is particularly noticeable in the large scale works such as those at the Royal Albert Hall or in the various street pieces. The larger the piece, the more room there is for his expressive techniques to run free.”
To see more, visit SlowBen.com or check out Ben’s photostream on Flickr.
