I’m often asked how we come about opportunities in the art world, especially around painting murals. This is a question that we continue to seek answers to as there are a thousand different paths to a wall. But in order to illuminate one path, I’ll tell you the story about how we came to paint our biggest wall yet this past November in Yuma, Arizona.
It all began in a tent, as many of our opportunities do. At an art festival in Salina, Kansas, I briefly met Lindsay Benacka and gave her a card. At the time, I didn’t know this unassuming and intelligent young lady was managing a huge gallery space in Wichita.
One of our first festivals in Salina, KS after quitting our jobs and hitting the art festival circuit circa 2015.
Months later, Ms. Benacka reached out to take a chance on a rookie artist and offered me my first solo exhibition. This was a huge moment and had me stressing, but in a good way. I can still picture Ashley and Lindsay and me sitting at the round gray table in the middle of this IMMENSE space that I would need to fill with my paintings. I had zero paintings ready at this point but I thought I could (probably) deliver. After a little side-huddle and a few deep breaths, Ashley and I decided to go for it and signed the contract.
In the coming months we made a baby (Orin!) and I made 35 new paintings in The Jobs of Yesteryear series to show. It was the most productive I had ever been. I didn’t even know that I was capable of creating art at that clip. What a rush! Needless to say, it was a formative experience and an incredible opportunity. Now that we’ve known Lindsay for a few years, we’ve come to realize that gently stretching your abilities with art opportunities is what she does best.
Getting ready for the Wichita gallery show in May 2016 with 3 year old Ivan. We announced to our family that we were having another baby (Orin) at this show.
Can’t believe we were able to fill the whole space in Wichita.
Lindsay eventually moved jobs and started managing the Yuma Art Center in Yuma, Arizona. I did another solo exhibition there in 2016 featuring a series titled Tall Tales and again delivered on a promise to fill an immense gallery.
Yuma gallery show in March 2017 with almost 4 year old Ivan. Orin was there too.
This whole time, both Lindsay and Ashley & I had been getting interested in the power of public art and more specifically, murals. Lindsay began putting up murals around Yuma while we began painting murals around the world and it was only a matter of time before our paths crossed once again.
Earlier this past year, she reached out to us asking if we’d like to pitch an idea for a massive 186 ft. wall on the outside of a public pool. It was a huge opportunity and a manageable stretch of my abilities, so we created a little mockup for her to show the powers that be. After unanimous approval, the stage was set for The Deep Sea Diver mural to come to life.
The wall in Yuma.
The actual painting process went quite smoothly, involving a lot of hydration, many delicious tacos, and learning some colorful new lingo from the lingering high-schoolers. The mural took four long days from start to finish and even though it was our biggest mural to date, it was also our quickest. I guess that’s just how the paint flies sometimes.
Sketching in the design.
The help.
Progress…
Check out that Yuma desert sunset.
Starting to add the linework. Photo: The Montgomery Production Co.
Finished!
Our biggest mural yet!
This mural all happened because of this relationship that has been cultivated between us and Ms. Benacka. It has become a fruitful connection, a friendship, and a path that continues to surprise us with its new directions and momentous opportunities.
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Art can foster interconnection where other methods fail. Time and time again, we have met people (many of you included!) and become acquainted through the matrix of artwork. It’s a strange phenomena and one that I often think about, but art somehow strikes this delicate balance between that which is meaningful and affects you deeply, and that which is innocent and approachable; a joy to experience. The end result (in its best form) is something that grabs you and holds you and changes you in some small but significant way, instantly connecting you to anyone who feels it too.
We appreciate being connected to you.