Inspiring Conversations with Benjamin Walling of Platte River Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Walling.

Hi Benjamin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began my art journey curious about the avant-garde — international graffiti artists and the psychedelic underbellies of the art world. As I matured, I developed a deep appreciation for the lineage of traditional techniques, composition, and the greatest achievements in painting.

I tie a lot of that shift to back to a visit to the Sistine Chapel when I was just a kid, and later to the Prado in Madrid in my early 20s. My trip to Spain was a sort of call to adventure and a way to ground my understanding of what’s possible with art. I fell headfirst into oil painting and have not looked back.

Seeking mentorship, I eventually found myself on the doorstep of contemporary master and Denver local Daniel Sprick. With his guidance, I began to sharpen my refine my skill set and see the world in a new light. This apprenticeship, in a way tethered me to that ancient lineage and tradition I had been seeking.

Life has provided me with the opportunity to spin time and the present moment into my paintings — capturing both the mundane, the precious, and even our darkest moments as opportunities to express myself through my work.

Currently I am keen to blur the lines between figurative, landscape, portraiture, and still life, allowing the human experience to guide my vision without boundaries.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I believe that life challenges everyone, and no one gets through unscathed. My story has been complicated by early struggles with non-diagnosed ADHD, which really defined my early development. This, in turn, led to an impulse to self-medicate, coloring my trajectory with addiction until I sought out professional help through therapy and psychiatric care.

That support allowed me to redefine myself — to go beyond managing symptoms into working with them, and ultimately harnessing my individual temperaments to create a stronger version of myself both as an artist and as a human being. While I wouldn’t recommend these struggles, I feel they have allowed me to become a better friend, painter, and professional.

As you know, we’re big fans of Platte River Studios. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I work alongside a few of my peers who also share this beautiful mentorship under Daniel Sprick, and we now share a studio space together. Practicing the craft and selling my work is one side of my profession, but I am also an educator, lecturer, and entrepreneur. We share our space professionally, hosting workshops, weekly lessons, lectures, and crafting fine art materials.

As we work together creatively, continue to create new work, and nurture our evolving collector base, we also educate in tandem. Local artist Tanner Steed and I recently started hosting a monthly lecture series, which we research and present together. I have also developed a product called Happy Medium, an oil painting medium that emerged from years of tinkering in the studio.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a kid, I had a tendency to jump into passions full steam ahead, a trait I carried into adulthood. Growing up, I played hockey competitively as a goalie, which then transitioned into a deep love of skateboarding. I still love hockey and skateboarding to this day, but of course, I was a creative kid. I recall turning in school assignments riddled with drawings and struggling to keep up with my peers academically. I was able, however, to hone in on my love for drawing and painting and recognized around the age of 16 that this was my calling in life.

Now, at the age of 30, hindsight has allowed me to appreciate that there are no accidents. We are defined by the present moment and by our ability to harness the opportunities around us to construct our narrative and create.

Pricing:

• Original Oil Paintings: Collectors can view available works on my website or contact me directly to discuss acquisition
• Commissions: Each commissioned piece is a one-of-a-kind creation, tailored to the collector’s vision. Pricing is determined based on the size and complexity of the work; interested collectors are invited to reach out to discuss a personalized quote.
• Happy Medium (oil painting medium): $25 per bottle — developed through years of experimentation to enhance texture, and flow.
• Saturday Sessions & Group Lessons: $30 per hour, providing hands-on experience in drawing and oil painting techniques.
• Lecture Tickets: $60, offering an in-depth look into my practice, process, and artistic philosophy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.benjamindwalling.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminwallingpaints/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenjaminWallingPaints