Erin Redlin Benson, a native of Northwestern North Dakota, and now resident of Belgrade, Montana, has been a creative and adventurous person since she can remember. Her upbringing on their family farm ignited and enabled her love of the outdoors while also giving her the time and space to begin her varied creative outlets. Her parents, Tim and Jenny Redlin, taught her about hard work, being oneself, and to respect the land and those around her. Since 2009 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Art from NDSU, her focus has funneled to mostly oil painting, acrylic, as well as; pastel/charcoal drawing, Fu mage (smoke), and mixed media. She did several shows and commissions in the Fargo area before moving to Montana.
Her Art is varied and eclectic with a strong emphasis on color, faces, and animals, with added abstraction. Many of her paintings are scenes from her everyday life, as well as memories from the farm. Often, she depicts feelings and emotions from these moments with an impressionistic feel. The animals and faces in her art have unexpected color and vibrancy, utilizing dramatic light and fun compositions. Her portraits have been the most requested for commission pieces.
Erin’s art has been on the walls of several locations in Bozeman & Belgrade, including the M Café, Sotheby’s Realty, 406 Brewery, Valhalla, and Art Markets at Biome slow craft, among others. Currently she is working on commission pieces and is open to exhibit opportunities.
Erin works in her at-home studio, with her husband and two young boys in the foothills of the Bridger Mountains, north of Bozeman, Montana.
To learn more about her process, and in studio progress, with pictures, check out the gallery page.
Fumage:
Fumage is the use of smoke and fire to create impressions or marks on canvas or paper. Often this technique is done by using a candle or Kerosene lamp. In the paintings shown, I use wood, typically pine or fir, found in the local mountains. I use small pieces of kindling, and once I set the end on fire, usually with a candle, I hold the canvas face down or at a slight angle, and manipulate the burning wood to create the marks and desired image on canvas. I am able to avoid certain areas with the use of painters tape. I also can erase unwanted marks to a certain degree. I add ink or paint, and use the burnt wood as charcoal to further create the image.
