Sadie Hawkins

In Li’l Abner, Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of one of Dogpatch’s earliest settlers, Hekzebiah Hawkins. When she reached the age of 35, still a spinster, her father decreed a “Sadie Hawkins' Day” more specifically a foot race with Sadie in hot pursuit of the town’s eligible bachelors---and matrimony was the consequence. If a woman caught a bachelor and dragged him, kicking and screaming, across the finish line before sundown---by law he had to marry her.

Photograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Dance

Along with music, the art of dance has been around since the beginning of time. A form of nonverbal communication, definitions of what constitutes dance are dependent on social, cultural, aesthetic, artistic and moral constraints. Every dance, no matter what style, has something in common...flexibility and body movement, but also physics.

Photograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Privy

Flanked by alfalfa fields and neighboring farms my Grandpa took great pride in visiting his privy. As a young child I could not imagine what was so cool in that tiny shed as to lure my Grandpa out of the farm house in a blizzard or rain storm. Odd that it’s called a privy, kinda like a privilege of sorts for old-timers.

Oil on board copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Unload Here

Ready to conquer the mountain in my new GoPro Helmet Cam, I caught one of the many ironies of life on film. Suddenly it all made sense, yes I think I will unload everything here thank you. Before flying willy-nilly with the wind in my goggles I left all my fears, worries, anxieties, preconceptions, and judgements with the Liftie on the right.

Photograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Three-dimensional Space

The understanding of three-dimensional space in humans is thought to be learned during infancy using unconscious inference, and is closely related to hand-eye coordination. The visual ability to perceive the world in three dimensions is called depth perception. 3-dimensional shapes on a 2-dimensional surface embedded in 4-dimensional space-time.

Charcoal on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Images Breathe Life

Quite a few years back I attended a class on how to journal. It was more about letting go and releasing your creativity, whatever that may be. Allowing art to happen is a majority of the challenge, we all have the ability, we just have to let it flow.

Mixed media copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

New Seed

Potential for life contained within a tiny casing, internally strong. The perfect combination of elements connecting to create the spark, wind, rain, earth mixing in an alchemic potion, brewing the cycle once again.

Oil on board copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Universal Energy

The Fibonacci sequence is named after Leonardo of Pisa, who was known as Fibonacci. By definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 0 and 1, and each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. Appearing naturally in biological settings such as branching in trees, arrangement of leaves on a stem, the flowering of an artichoke, an uncurling fern, a seashell, and the arrangement of a pine cone.

Mixed media copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Vertical Drop

Aspen Highlands base elevation 8,040 ft; Peak 11,675 ft; Vertical drop 3,635 ft. The ski resort with the most continuous vertical drop is Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada with 5,620 vertical feet. Choose your line and rip it up, not for the faint of heart.

Photograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Trail

Paddle out. Dig, dig hard. Focus, don’t hesitate or you’ll go over the falls. Whoops, slammed---tumble, tumble out of control. Look for the light, relax, don’t fight it...now swim, swim, swim for the surface----almost there.....GASP!!! Breathe, deep panting frantic, breaths. Go with the current and run when you hit land, before you are pulled under again.

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett

Canyon

Lithography was invented by Alois Senefelder in Bohemia in 1796. Back in the day a smooth piece of limestone was used, hence the name “lithos” (λιθος) from the ancient Greek word for stone. After the oil-based image was applied to the surface, a solution of gum arabic in water was applied, the gum sticking only to the non-oily surface. During printing, water adheres to the gum arabic surfaces and avoids the oily parts, while the oily ink used for printing does the opposite. Effectively creating a ‘wash’ is the ever-looming challenge.

Lithograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Thought Remover

Feeling overwhelmed; want to relax but just can’t stop thinking; thoughts got you down? With too many thoughts invading the minds of billions sleep is a novel concept at best. Get your handy dandy Thought Remover today for the mere price of a lobotomy, never be bothered with pesky ‘thoughts’ again!

Ink on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Tracks

Late one evening in Cancun we were strolling on the beach and I saw what looked like a man covered in a tarp. All of a sudden it moved --- I screamed and jumped --- then realized it was a sea turtle! When we came back in the morning all that remained was the smooth, fluid movements of the turtle’s flippers in the sand.

Photograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Dream Storm

In the eye of the storm everything is eerily still. All of a sudden over the hill comes a shattering noise accompanied by a gigantic red cyclone of rubble. I sit up in my bed startled by these images and proceed to write it down in my dream journal. This painting is what the dream feels like, chaotic order of sorts.

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Portrait of Three

The college experience for some could be summarized by this portrait of three bongs. Living in a packed house of partying students it was not out of the ordinary to find the backyard filled with hackie sacks, ganja smoke and Nitrous Oxide balloons on a typical afternoon. Ahhh, college days gone by...

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Expectation

There are no expectations when we are present. In the case of uncertainty, expectation is what is considered the most likely to happen. An expectation, which is a belief that is centered on the future, may or may not be realistic. A less advantageous result gives rise to the emotion of disappointment. If something happens that is not at all expected it is a surprise. Ahhh, prickly expectations that turn into surprises.

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Hanalei's Waipa Valley

Although Kauai’s treasures are plentiful, it is a rarity that anyone venture up Waipa Valley. Normally closed to the public, a friend of mine happened to be working for the FDA taking water samples and invited me on a hike for my birthday. Nimble feet are a must when mossy rock skipping --- but if you slip and get dunked (like I did) try not to stress about the Leptospirosis.

Photograph copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Reflection

Studying in Italy was a legit excuse to travel hop through Europe on the weekends. We had been partying like stars when it dawned on me my journal for Drawing class was due. With fervent hands I sketched the sights of Firenze with my rad ink pen I had scored on Via Dei Fossi the previous day.

Ink on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Sampson

In college one of my roommates had an awesome pet iguana. Portraiture has never been more cool than with a photogenic lizard. Posing and strutting, Sampson was an ideal model, his scales shimmering in the sun.

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Portrait of Bob

Ahhh, classic Marley, “Liberate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.” Wrapped in a swirl of ganja smoke playing soccer is how I think of Bob, locks floating on the wind. Although Toots Hibbert coined the word ‘reggae’ with The Maytals 1968 song ‘Do The Reggay” it was Bob Marley that made reggae famous worldwide.

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Landscape of the Young

Learning to express myself in drawings came at an early age. I remember my friend teaching me how to draw the calico cat you see sitting on the wall. All I needed was a fuchsia Rolls Royce with white rim tires, a castle’s tower, the hillside and a sunset, life was sweet.

Colored marker on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Sun Moon Sun

A triptych is a work of art which is divided into three sections. While the root of the word is the ancient Greek “triptychos”, the word arose into the medieval period from the name for an Ancient Roman writing tablet which had two hinged panels flanking a central one. At the time I was focusing on nature and organic objects, hence the celestial reference.

Oil on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Wings

My fiancé and I made our own invitations for our wedding, a larger enterprise than I would have imagined. Using orange and pink gauche we folded the paper in half to create a mirror image, Rorschach inkblot-stylie. We also utilized a comb to create the fine lines.

Gauche on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Chiaroscuro

In art chiaroscuro is an Italian term which literally means ‘light-dark’. Drawings with a dark medium such as charcoal accompanied by white highlighting exemplify this technique. The description refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and modeling of the subjects depicted.

Charcoal on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Sketching

Journal ideas & emotions, sketch on top of your writing, highlight certain words, hide others. Think graffiti but with your own refined personal tag. Either aesthetically pleasing or repulsive, mixed media successfully creates something new & original from something old & commonplace.

Mixed media on paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Energized Water Jewelry

All living beings are made up of large amounts of water, humans consist of over 70% water. Since 1997 the Centre for Implosion Research (CIR) www.implosionresearch.com has been involved in subtle energy & water research, following largely the ideas of Viktor Schauberger. Independent research has shown that water can store information & picks up negative as well as positive energetic imprints by way of vibrational transfer. Sensitive structures are impressionable by vibrational influences, in this way water acts as a receiver and transmitter of information.

Vortexed water rings image copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Sky Zip Bag

Creating a utilitarian object with one of my designs proved fun & rewarding. Digitally transposing the image onto durable canvas lengthens the life of the design by incorporating it with a useful, everyday item that can be used again & again.

Digitally reproduced painting on canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Rare Bird

Preview new book of poetry RARE BIRD

All cracked, torn at times
Choosing one over the other
Ignoring sister and brother
Keep it to yourself
Excuse to race
Water finds the pace
Stretch, forget
Start again
Sounds can’t describe
Hoping to lend
Trees can bend
Try not to try
Be here when you die
Second guess
Play the pawn
Dodging fear
Telling lies
Trials of truth

Copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

I am not sorry, no doubt

I found my friend in arts & crafts with her head laid down upon the table. When I asked what was up she told me her Dr insisted she eat more, she was totally depressed, she didn’t want to eat more & kept apologizing. I told her to go eat a hamburger or whatever would piss her ‘self’ off the most. We worked with water & paper together & repeated saying “I am not sorry, no doubt.” This helped lift her spirits if only for a moment.

Water on colored paper copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012

Foundation Reggae Vault with DJtreviB *SHARE*

Please check out the CRUCIAL VIBES of Foundation Reggae with DJtreviB on Aspen Public Radio 91.5fm from back in the day! One love, keep your head & your heart together.

Big up to all massive!

Rebel & Kaya

If you’ve ever wondered where the name Kaya Rebel came from here are the name-sakes. The rolling runner Rebel (left) and dream companion Kaya (right), soul sistas cloaked in black. Although their time has now passed, the memory of their love lives in my heart.

Model Italy

My first painting class in Italy delivered my first experience with nude models. Nude means you never had clothes, compared to naked which holds the connotation you have been stripped of your clothes...hmmm. I was simply trying to cope with complete strangers showing me all their goods, that’s all.

Oil on stretched canvas copyright (c) Trevi Bennett 2012