Custom Artwork by Barb Benstein

Breyer the black Lab

2012-01-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

When this old girl's owner saw the painting, she got very emotional. Breyer is still around, but getting on in years. I tried to capture her expression and personality in this oil painting. It's my hope that when Breyer is gone, she will be comforted when looking at her portrait.

Mother and daughter

2012-01-05T11:56:00.001-08:00

This is the second time I've done a graphite of the Mom. The first time was when she was with her dad as a little girl. Now I've done a piece with her daughter, and another generation is born.

Grand Tetons

2012-01-05T11:53:00.001-08:00

I love the grandeur of the Grand Tetons! I want to step right into this painting and experience the scenery!

Sweetie the cat

2012-01-05T11:46:00.001-08:00

Sweetie is no longer with us, but my client said the nicest thing when she got this painting: "You truly captured Sweetie. I felt like I could pick her up and take her off the painting, it brought me to tears... You make our pets seem like they never left us." I couldn't ask for a nicer way for someone to say they love the art.

Chocolate lab

2012-01-05T11:43:00.001-08:00

Another lab! This one was done in pastel on sanded paper. Again, I strived to paint his expression and personality.

Testing the waters

2011-10-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

I got the photo for this painting from a high school classmate. This is her daughter and grandson. I very much like the story it's telling, as well as the late afternoon lighting.

Bogart

2011-10-26T09:44:00.001-07:00

Meet Bogart. His owner brought him to my house for me to take pictures of so I could do a painting. I've never had such an easy photo session! This dog was completely focused on his owner the entire time. (Who happened to be holding a tennis ball!!) I've never seen such a level of loyalty and love that this dog had for his owner...and visa versa. I strived to portrayed that in Bogart's expression.

Gracie and Lambeau

2011-10-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

Two beautiful labs who are best buddies. I met their owners at an art show in Geneva. They were visiting from Ohio, and on a whim, they decided to go to this art show and they saw me. They're very glad they did.

Rebel

2011-09-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Rebel is almost twelve and was recently diagnosed with cancer. Hopefully he'll pull through. I'm glad I was able to create a painting that shows the love and devotion this old boy has for his people.

Sipho

2011-09-21T08:54:00.001-07:00

This little boy's name is Sipho. He has the most expressive eyes! I changed the lighting when I did this pastel so he was looking towards the light. I call this piece "Into the Light".

White house with red roof

2011-09-21T08:51:00.001-07:00

My very first palette knife painting and it sold right away! I love the light and shadows on this piece.

Holly Beth

2011-08-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

I went to my first Saddlebred show earlier this summer to see my friend show her horse Holly Beth. I was amazed by the spirit of these beautiful animals and wanted to convey the excitement and movement in this oil painting.

Coral

2011-08-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

I just love the big blue eyes of my nieces' daughter Coral. This is the second time I've done a head study of her. She's a beautiful girl.

Cool Springs, AZ

2011-06-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

A client of mine bought this old, abandoned gas station that was pretty much a pile of stones and rebuilt it into a museum just outside of Kingman, Arizona on Route 66. When I was commissioned to create this painting, the building was only half done. The original of this pastel painting on Wallis sandpaper is presently displayed in the Pontiac Museum in Pontiac, Illinois. One of these days, my husband and I'll are planning on driving Route 66 in our Mustang and visit this gas station.

Cooling Off

2011-06-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

My mare, Heather, loved to stand partially in her stall to cool off. She always had the choice of going in or out. She never really went all the way in, like she thought some imaginary door would bang shut behind her if she did! Gotta love it. This pastel on Wallis sandpaper is available for sale for $225 framed and measures 14 x18.

Barb and her Pony

2011-05-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

This is my one and only self-portrait in my favorite car. When I did the painting, I put the car on a tropical beach instead of my driveway. I've had many fun "rag top" rides in this car.

1960 Corvette

2011-05-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Boy, they sure knew how to make cars back in the day. This hard top convertible is one of my favorite cars. I did this pastel painting on sandpaper for a client that also has a Mustang. The fun part is creating the shiny metal and the reflections on the chrome.

1965 Mustang

2011-05-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

I love the Mustang! Especially the early ones. It's also one of my daughter's favorite cars. I painted this pastel of a Mustang grill for her 16th birthday, as I couldn't get her the real deal!

Kittens in a suitcase

2011-05-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

I saw these kittens years ago at an animal shelter event. They looked so adorable in the suitcase. This pastel painting on sandpaper measures 16 x 20 and is available for purchase.

Linus

2011-05-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Linus the cat is my daughter's pet. She rescued him from a barn last year and is doing very well now. He has beautiful markings on his body.

Doggie Paddle

2011-05-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Everytime I look at this pastel painting, I think of hot, summer days and want to jump in a pool myself! I love how the puppy's little ears are floating on the water. This painting always makes me smile.

Eileen

2011-05-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

My late mother-in-law was also an artist. We used to always critique each others work. Eileen worked primarily in oil and she always inspired me. I painted this piece after she passed away as a tribute to her.

Melissa in the Hammock

2011-05-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Melissa, was in our hammock late one afternoon. The sunlight and shadows on her face really make this painting, which was done with pastel on sandpaper.

Sargent Joshue Ritchie

2011-05-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

My son-in-law, Josh. He served in the army for quite a while. Thankfully he is now home, safe. We're very proud of him. This painting was done with pastel on sandpaper

Lorraine

2011-05-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

I love to do paintings from old photographs. My mom was about 3 or 4 when she sat for the photograph. When I found the picture, it was badly faded. Being able to recreate it in pastel brought it to life again. I like the way only one sleeve is poofy, her thick tights and laced up boots and her sedate smile. Whenever I look at it, I feel my mom is here.

At the water pump

2011-05-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

I found the photograph that I used to create this drawing when I was at my parents house years ago. My mom said they were relatives of her family and the picture was taken in the 40's. I love the pose of both subjects. It's almost comical the way the woman is standing. You can definitely tell this is from a long time ago. I also felt that graphite was the better medium to use. This drawing measure 24" x 18".

Bailey

2011-05-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

Love the soulful look in Bailey's eyes. You just want to pick him up and cuddle with him. This oil on canvas measures 14" x 18".

Chicken in her coop

2011-05-09T16:34:00.001-07:00

I saw this chicken at the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society (HARPS) in Barrington Hills, Illinois. She was a rescue too! I loved how the sunlight emphasized her beautiful feathers.
This painting was done in pastel on Wallis sandpaper and measures 11.5 x 11.5".

Cowboy Ron

2011-05-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

"Cowboy Ron" is my father. When he was a bus driver for school kids, this was the name they gave him as he was always wearing a cowboy hat. I love this graphite drawing because my Dad's face tells a story. This drawing was entered into the Richeson75 Portrait competition and is a finalist. I will let everyone know the final outcome in September. Stay tuned! This commission example measures 17" x 15". For more commission examples, please go to my website at http://www.artworkbybarb.com/.

Chloe

2011-05-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite subjects to paint are my grandchildren. Here, Chloe is wearing her aunt's sunglasses. The reflection of our straw umbrella, the palm fronds, summer blue sky and brilliant sunlight remind me of summer days. This commission example is pastel on Wallis sandpaper. For more commission examples, go to my website at http://www.artworkbybarb.com/.

Young girl in white shirt

2011-05-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

The lighting on this painting is what makes it very dramatic!
This oil on canvas measures 4" x 8".

Bay Horse

2011-05-04T08:23:00.000-07:00

Horses...can't get enough of them! I love to paint horses, ride horses and just be with them, and have done just that for most of my life. The oil painting on canvas of this bay horse was from my imagination. It measures 18" x 24".