ABOUT
Ben Mann simply identifies as a Visual Artist, allowing for the widest spectrum of creativity and employability throughout his thirty years of creating illustrative art. Hire him for a paint tutorial, and you may not be aware of his whimsical dog portraits. See his logo on a local cafe, and you may not know of his travel renderings in pen and ink. Visit his studio to commission a house portrait, and it may not register that he has impacted education majors at the university level. As diverse as these pursuits are, he insists they feed one another. "A contract for spirited banners in a business district may in fact see influence from my morning teaching kindergarteners the joy of color," he smiles.
The Bellingham native has lived and traveled in places as diverse as San Francisco, Antarctica , Bali and beyond, but has happily called the Pacific Northwest home since 2000.
Like many an artist, he soaks up the greens of the forest, the blues of the bay, the reds of a sunset. Oddly enough, it's the gray days that fortify him most. "Longing for sunshine is actually a great catalyst for me to dig deeper, to make paintings that sing with enthusiasm, that thrill me in the creative process, and that seem to hit a nerve with those who enjoy my art."
Located in Historic Fairhaven, he welcomes studio/gallery visitors by appointment, or during his seasonal happenings of "Hot Cider and Cool Art" between October and Christmas. Events are listed on his website, as well as his Resume spotlighting his achievements in commercial art, awards and accolades, as well as publications that have sought him out for editorial art. He also makes his designs available for wider distribution through the licensing industry, and welcomes such inquiries. When called upon, he readily makes his paintings available for annual nonprofit auctions that strive to better our community in unique ways.
"It's quite a feeling, getting to do good as I do well."