About the Artist
Ben Bires was born in Western Pennsylvania and spent his early days exploring the outdoors. Growing up on seven acres with a pond in his backyard, Ben’s childhood hobbies involved catching frogs and looking for salamanders in the nearby creek. From a young age, Ben was constantly drawing the world around him, and eventually, nature became his biggest influence. After high school, Ben went on to attend Slippery Rock University.
In 2011, while a sophomore in college, Ben participated in a collaborative camping trip with the Art and Geology Departments, which turned out to be a life-changing experience. A small group of students along with their professors drove across the country to South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. Three years later, he graduated with a BFA from Slippery Rock.
Traveling out West four times since visiting the Badlands convinced Ben that he wanted to move there before his roots became too deep in his hometown. Halfway in his twenties, Ben made the move in the summer of 2016 and now lives in Colorado Springs with his fiancé, Liv and their black lab, Fin.
For the past two years, Ben has been teaching Acrylic Landscape classes at Cottonwood Center for the Arts creating a relaxed environment for those who want a chance to get comfortable with painting landscapes. It’s been a great learning experience working with students and applying his own instructions to these paintings.
In 2011, while a sophomore in college, Ben participated in a collaborative camping trip with the Art and Geology Departments, which turned out to be a life-changing experience. A small group of students along with their professors drove across the country to South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. Three years later, he graduated with a BFA from Slippery Rock.
Traveling out West four times since visiting the Badlands convinced Ben that he wanted to move there before his roots became too deep in his hometown. Halfway in his twenties, Ben made the move in the summer of 2016 and now lives in Colorado Springs with his fiancé, Liv and their black lab, Fin.
For the past two years, Ben has been teaching Acrylic Landscape classes at Cottonwood Center for the Arts creating a relaxed environment for those who want a chance to get comfortable with painting landscapes. It’s been a great learning experience working with students and applying his own instructions to these paintings.
