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"Family keeps me grounded...art makes me soar! Enjoy the ride."
My name is Barb Benstein. I am a 28 year resident of Lake Zurich, Illinois. My love of art started at an early age and you could always find me sketching animals, especially horses. My Mom says I was born with a crayon in my hand! Mostly self-taught, I specialize in pastel and oil paintings of people and pets, as well as homes and landscapes. After working as a graphic artist for 10 years,...
... I began painting full-time in 1994. Painting with pastels has always been my favorite medium. I love the vibrancy of the colors and the richness of the texture. I also love working in oil as well. While my style is the same, oil paintings add another dimension to my work.
There is a story behind every commissioned piece I do. Many times I find myself “caught up in the moment” when working on a piece. I think about why my client wants this painting done and put those emotions into the artwork.
When I complete a piece and show it to my client for the first time, the emotional reaction I get tells me I’ve done my job well. That is what I love about painting the most.
I also teach art class to 9-11 years olds, teens and adults at Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich. It is very fulfilling to see their artistic talents grow.
People’s Choice Award - Ela Fine Arts Show, Deer Park, ‘02
People’s Choice Award - Ela Festival of Arts, Lake Zurich, ‘01
Purchase Awards; Ela Festival of Arts 1998 & 1999
Best of Show Award; Lake County Art League Festival, ‘01
Award of Artistic Merit 2nd Place; Lake County Art League Festival ‘02
Award of Excellence; Bartlett Fine Arts Fest 2010
Best of Show; Des Plaines Invitational Art Show 2013
First Place, Richmond Art Festival 2014
First Place, Algonquin Riverfront Art Festival 2014 & 2015
1st Place in Pastel - South Haven Art Festival 2015 & 2016
FirstPlace for Best 2D art at Deer Park Art Festival
Best of Animal Category at the 17th Annual Mile High Pastel Competition in Arizona
Teamwork 20 x 24
2D
$2300.00
Gray Stallion Profile
Paintings: Oil
$950.00
Centaro, wild mustang of Sand...
Paintings: Oil
$2000.00
Gray Stallion
Paintings: Oil
$875.00
Sorrel Quarter Horse
Paintings: Oil
$875.00
Arabian Mare
Paintings: Oil
$875.00
Here comes trouble!
Paintings: Oil
$625.00
Wild and Free
Paintings: Oil
$900.00
British Columbia
Paintings: Oil
$975.00
Fall trees
Paintings: Oil
$425.00
Mistaya Canyon, Canada
Paintings: Oil
$975.00
Crowfoot Glacier, Canada 20 x 16
Paintings: Oil
$975.00
After the Storm
2D
$2300.00
Sunet in winter over Lake...
2D
$925.00
Sunset in summer over Lake...
2D
$900.00
Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico
2D
$1500.00
River Crossing
2D
$1100.00
“Gnarly tree”
Paintings: Oil
$500.00
Sunset in the fog 22 x 28
Paintings: Oil
$1200.00
Flamingo
2D
$380.00