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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
Long Shadows on Lake Zurich
2D
$750.00
Field of Gold 5 x 7
Paintings: Oil
$180.00
Girl in Lavendar dress 7 x 5
Paintings: Oil
$180.00
Teamwork 20 x 24
2D
$2300.00
Centaro, wild mustang of Sand...
Paintings: Oil
$2000.00
Gray Stallion
Paintings: Oil
$875.00
Arabian Mare
Paintings: Oil
$875.00
Appoloosa Head Study
Paintings: Oil
$925.00
Wild and Free
Paintings: Oil
$900.00
Winter Morning
Paintings: Oil
$1200.00
Fall trees
Paintings: Oil
$425.00
Fall leaves 14 x 11
Paintings: Oil
$425.00
Crowfoot Glacier, Canada 20 x 16
Paintings: Oil
$975.00
Rocky Mountain National Park 20...
Paintings: Oil
$975.00
Sunet in winter over Lake...
2D
$925.00
Sunset over Lake Zurich, IL
2D
$925.00
Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico
2D
$1500.00
Mt. Roberston, British Columbia
Paintings: Oil
$975.00
“Cunningham Gulch in Silverton CO
Paintings: Oil
$2900.00
Flamingo
2D
$380.00