Ben Ferrer is a Philippine-born, Los Angeles-based, American artist who specializes in portraiture.
Ben is truly a one-of-a-kind artist in various ways. Most artists have been honing their craft for years and years, but Ben is unique in that he only recently discovered his talent for drawing and portraiture. He had drawing fundamentals in both grade school and high school, but felt stifled by the confines of gridding, etc. He says that the gridding and formality of certain types of art feel too “structured and mathematical” for him and didn’t truly capture the candor of what he’s perceiving. Hence, Ben’s affinity for the more intuitive, sensitive style that he creates. As a testament, Ben never erases when drawing his subjects and he does very quick, 15-minute portraits in charcoal.
Ben has been working as a registered nurse as his main profession for the last 14 years and currently works at Keck Medical Center of USC, where he discovered and started his artistic journey. Ben began drawing coworkers and patients as a means of engaging and uplifting them, as well as their families. Ben credits himself as always having been a creative person, but didn’t discover his artistic direction or calling until late August of 2011, while he was on the job at the hospital.
Although on the surface nursing and artistry seem unrelated, Ben feels that nursing contributes very much to his artistic development and journey. Nursing has made him sensitive and responsive to emotions and expressions – which he feels is key to recognizing his patients’ needs. Ben adds that, “Many years of bedside nursing has provided me with emotional maturity and a wealth of knowledge in understanding individuals at their most difficult, trying times. Behind every face there is a great story to be told. There is an essence, a soul, a fighting spirit. Thus, I put forward my best effort in capturing these characteristics and making them apparent in the portrait.”
A friend and inspiration to Ben, as well as a fellow L. A.-based artist, Robert Vargas, saw Ben’s art one day and encouraged Ben to pursue his artist expression.
At the onset of Ben’s artistic journey, he rendered his subjects by merely sketching them in pencil. However, after finding a brief tutorial on painting, Ben began experimenting with paints and oils and discovered that his avocation might be something much more—a gift even.
Ben has been working as a registered nurse as his main profession for the last 14 years and currently works at Keck Medical Center of USC, where he discovered and started his artistic journey. Ben began drawing coworkers and patients as a means of engaging and uplifting them, as well as their families. Ben credits himself as always having been a creative person, but didn’t discover his artistic direction or calling until late August of 2011, while he was on the job at the hospital.
Although on the surface nursing and artistry seem unrelated, Ben feels that nursing contributes very much to his artistic development and journey. Nursing has made him sensitive and responsive to emotions and expressions – which he feels is key to recognizing his patients’ needs. Ben adds that, “Many years of bedside nursing has provided me with emotional maturity and a wealth of knowledge in understanding individuals at their most difficult, trying times. Behind every face there is a great story to be told. There is an essence, a soul, a fighting spirit. Thus, I put forward my best effort in capturing these characteristics and making them apparent in the portrait.”
A friend and inspiration to Ben, as well as a fellow L. A.-based artist, Robert Vargas, saw Ben’s art one day and encouraged Ben to pursue his artist expression.
At the onset of Ben’s artistic journey, he rendered his subjects by merely sketching them in pencil. However, after finding a brief tutorial on painting, Ben began experimenting with paints and oils and discovered that his avocation might be something much more—a gift even.
Ben sees his talent as a mere reflection or an honest capturing of what he sees in reality. His main goal as an artist is not to be flawless or perfect. Instead, Ben’s approach is to maintain the integrity of the subject(s) and to tell his/her story; which he does beautifully in the piece, “Miggy’s Roosters”,
which features his nephew. Ben explains that Miggy is a child who has overcome challenges of family, custody, separation, identity and belonging. The triumph is that even despite these difficulties, Miggy possesses the capacity to nurture and he accepts the responsibility of caring for these roosters.
Ben’s piece, “Miggy’s Roosters”, was featured at the Gloria Delson Gallery of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles.
which features his nephew. Ben explains that Miggy is a child who has overcome challenges of family, custody, separation, identity and belonging. The triumph is that even despite these difficulties, Miggy possesses the capacity to nurture and he accepts the responsibility of caring for these roosters.
Ben’s piece, “Miggy’s Roosters”, was featured at the Gloria Delson Gallery of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles.
