Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Ben.
Austin, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
When I was a kid, my dad bought the family a small point and shoot camera to take pictures with… aaaaand I stole it for myself. I quickly gained an infatuation with photography. When I created my Instagram account, I would post three times a day of all the pictures I took that day. The funny part is that I would take pictures of the most random objects. You’d be surprised how many angles the average lawn-chair has to look aesthetically pleasing. Then I discovered Vine. Vine was a social media platform where you can make short 6 second clips. I discovered through a series of moving pictures; I could create a story. Fast forward to today, I feel as if my sole purpose is to create and inspire.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a visual artist who explores different mediums. I am currently focusing on film and photography, but in the past I have painted, wrote poetry, and just recently, I designed a garment for a model on a runway. This year has been the busiest yet most rewarding semester I had in college. I submitted my first film to a film festival and out of 101 films, 16 were showcased which included my film. I also had a chance to work with the Florida Film Festival and helped filmmakers market their films. And I was in charge of the media team for a fashion show that sold 257 tickets, which I designed a garment for as well.
I just want to create. I get tired of labels and people telling me I should stick to one thing when being well rounded and doing as you please is a lot more fun. I also want people to realize that their happiness is much more important than making others happy. Yes, making money is important; however, you cannot take that money with you when you die.
I want to capture the essence of humanity.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I define success through content and self-appreciation. As an artist, you’re your worst critic. If you are happy with your work, then I feel as if that is a W in my book. I also find success if whatever you create causes an impact somehow.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Recently I have been really quiet with my art, and not posting much about it. I have a photography page, @benslensphoto, that I have not posted in a while and I am currently working on creating a website for everything. At the moment, I mostly post on my main Instagram account, @austin2ben.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9542145928
- Email: austin2ben@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austin2ben/
Image Credit:
Austin Ben
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