Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city's creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year's Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 31. Ben Willis.
"I guess you could say I don't get out much," Ben Willis says.
The 31-year-old Tempe artist and 2014 Contemporary Forum grant winner divvies up most of his time between teaching and creating. "I teach painting and drawing during the school year, but until classes start back up I am working part time at Blick Art Materials in Tempe and locking myself in the studio during off hours," he says.
See also: Carley Conder of Tempe's CONDER/dance: 100 Creatives
Originally from Cincinnati, Willis studied art at Ohio's Miami University and moved to Arizona in 2010 to pursue his master's in fine art, which he completed in 2013.
And instead of leaving the classroom behind, Willis has kept one foot firmly planted there. This fall, he will teach at ASU, Phoenix College, the Shemer Art Center, and Tempe's Edna Vihel Center for the Arts. That'll be when he isn't locked in said studio.
"I am working on a new series of portraits based on long lasting relationships that will feature swimming, Willie Nelson, canyons, abstraction, road trips, the man bun, dogs, patterns, rivers, hiking, my Princess Bunnies, safety crews, the Bengals, yoga, and low carb diets."
When he emerges, it'll be quite the sight.
I came to Phoenix with T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops and I'm pretty sure I brought some underpants.
I make art because it makes me happy.
I'm most productive when I have coffee, music, and doors that lock.
My inspiration wall is full of... my what?
I've learned most from the passage of time. It's similar to looking back on other aspects of your life. Why did I bleach the tips of my hair? Why did I continue to watch Lost after the storyline had dissolved? Revisiting my artwork, however uncomfortable, shows me what I should have done and what I won't do again.
Good work should always... How about this instead -- good work can be anything. There is no single quality that defines it. Viewing art is a personal experience and there are a lot of opinions in the world.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more affordable art. Painters end up with rooms full of unsold pieces that once hung proudly in galleries with ridiculously inflated prices. We create this economy where paintings go unsold and potential customers end up with boring framed posters on their walls. I'm guilty of this myself, but there are times I aspire to be more like my friend Eddie. He once took everything in his studio and set it outside with $20 price tags. Minutes later a pizza delivery guy drove away with a 5-by-6-foot masterpiece strapped to the roof of his beat up Accord. All people deserve to own beautiful, original artwork. At this point artists with fragile egos and attachment issues are the barrier.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova 99. Niki Blaker 98. Jeff Slim 97. Beth May 96. Doug Bell 95. Daniel Langhans 94. Nanibaa Beck 93. Nicole Royse 92. Ib Andersen 91. Casandra Hernandez 90. Chris Reed 89. Shelby Maticic 88. Olivia Timmons 87. Courtney Price 86. Travis Mills 85. Catrina Kahler 84. Angel Castro 83. Cole Reed 82. Lisa Albinger 81. Larry Madrigal 80. Julieta Felix 79. Lauren Strohacker 78. Levi Christiansen 77. Thomas Porter 76. Carrie Leigh Hobson 75. Cody Carpenter 74. Jon Jenkins 73. Aurelie Flores 72. Michelle Ponce 71. Devin Fleenor 70. Noelle Martinez 69. Bucky Miller 68. Liliana Gomez 67. Jake Friedman 66. Clarita Lulić 65. Randy Murray 64. Mo Neuharth 63. Jeremy Hamman 62. La Muñeca 61. Kevin Goldman 60. Emily Costello 59. Kerstin Dale 58. Vara Ayanna 57. Nathaniel Lewis 56. Ruben Gonzales 55. Lisa Poje 54. Bobby Zokaites 53. Frances Smith Cohen 52. Julie Rada 51. David Miller 50. Xanthia Walker 49. Kyllan Maney 48. Cary Truelick 47. Constance McBride 46. James D. Porter 45. Allyson Boggess 44. Abigail Lynch 43. Ashley Cooper 42. Jaclyn Roessel 41. Brandon Boetto 40. Melissa Dunmore 39. Gavin Sisson 38. Rossitza Todorova 37. Monica Robles 36. Josh Kirby 35. Jesse Perry 34. Yai Cecream 33. Nathan Blackwell 32. Carley Conder
