Ben Brown Carmichael, California Award of Excellence $2,000 Age 23

"Before I got into the arts I didn't care about anything or anyone. Because I was treated and felt different, I was angry, scared, and lost. My art has given me a voice."

Ben Brown uses his art to express himself openly and honestly, especially when verbal communication is difficult. He studies and practices techniques of the masters, including realism, surrealism, impressionism, and expressionism, and prefers work that holds an impression of how he sees the world. Brown has a learning disability and notes that his experiences with insensitive people tends to make his work seem dark and disturbing. "Art allows me to express my feelings, such as paranoia of people, and to deal with depression, anxiety, fears, and insecurities. I get lost in my work and it helps me to be honest with myself." Within the piece Inner Child, Brown incorporates expressions of his childhood, attempting to relay the loss of innocence and trust of others.

Influential Art Teachers/Professors:
Phyllis Schafer & David Foster, Lake Tahoe Community College, California