Sometimes I drink to forget art 1984

So, here is Ben’s, ‘Sometimes I drink to forget art’. It might have been made in 1989, and feels like it has been made with poster paint, or maybe acrylics, and black marker pen on paper. I love the directness and humor of this picture, the raw energy in the mark-making. It is a thought bubble, a doodle, a little sketch… I wonder, was Ben being funny or was he expressing genuine frustration? Maybe both! Sometimes you just need to unwind and let loose from the art world. I appreciate how Ben isn’t afraid to be honest about the ups and downs of being an artist. He is like a friend saying out loud what many of us feel in private. The bright yellow and simple black lines, these make the image jump out. It's as if he's saying, "Hey, it's okay to take a break from art sometimes!" It is all part of the ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity!