For over 35 years, artist Nathan Bennett has been working with patina, an art form that uses chemicals to transform bronze into something entirely new. His love for the medium stems from its endless possibilities. "With just a handful of metals, you can create an infinite array of textures, colors, and emotions," Bennett often explains. This dynamic process of discovery and creation is what keeps him deeply engaged in his craft.
What Bennett loves most about patina is its versatility. With just five or six different metals, he is able to explore a never-ending variety of looks. The interaction of chemicals with the bronze creates a fluid, ever-changing process where the final result is often as surprising to the artist as it is to the viewer. Bennett thrives on this unpredictability, constantly pushing the boundaries of what patina can achieve.
When it comes to subject matter, Bennett focuses on conveying a deeper message or sentiment. Whether he is depicting a tree or another recurring motif, it is the underlying emotion that drives his work. "The subject becomes a vessel for expressing what I’m feeling at that moment," Bennett shares, emphasizing that the image itself is secondary to the emotion it conveys.
Bennett’s upcoming show at Blue Rain Gallery marks a shift in his artistic approach. Inspired by low light conditions, the works are darker and moodier than some of his previous pieces. Central to these pieces is the contrast of light and dark, with light symbolizing hope or even God. "The light is the centerpiece," Bennett says, "but the darkness surrounding it creates depth and intensity." This exploration of light in the midst of darkness serves as a metaphor for hope, and Bennett has imbued these pieces with a profound sense of emotion.
One of the most striking qualities of Bennett’s art is its ethereal, dreamlike nature. He is drawn to those in-between moments—just before the sun sets or after a rainstorm, when the world is shrouded in mist and shadow. "A bright, sunny day is great," Bennett reflects, "but I’m more attracted to the moody, cloudy, misty moments." This dreamlike aesthetic, a blend of reality and imagination, reflects Bennett’s inner world and brings a sense of mystery and emotion to his work.
While patina is traditionally used as a surface treatment for sculptures, Bennett has taken the medium in a completely new direction. In sculpture, patina is often applied to enhance specific details, like the colors of a wolf or the textures of a cowboy's outfit. But in Bennett’s paintings, patina is not an accessory—it is the subject. Without a physical figure or form to apply it to, the patina itself becomes the focal point. "The intricacies are subtle," Bennett explains, "and sometimes even a master patina artist would have a hard time deciphering the exact techniques I’ve used." Each painting evolves naturally, as Bennett allows the colors and textures to guide the process, resulting in work that is intimate, intricate, and deeply personal.
In his latest collection, Bennett is embracing a new dimension in both his technique and his themes. He describes this phase of his career as one without limitations, where he is free to explore without fear. Each piece in this series engages the viewer from multiple perspectives, both physically and symbolically. For example, in one painting of a butterfly, the scene is not bathed in sunlight, but surrounded by green foliage or perhaps water, creating an ambiguity that invites deeper interpretation.
The difference between Bennett’s earlier works and this new series is the level of depth and meaning. These images are not entirely new; they are images he has carried with him for years, finally brought to life with a level of complexity that comes with age and experience. "These pieces are no longer about what will sell or what people expect," Bennett says. "They come from a place of truth—what I want to paint, what I need to express."
In this new body of work, Bennett is revisiting familiar imagery with fresh eyes, creating pieces that are richer, more nuanced, and more deeply personal than ever before. This series represents the culmination of decades of experience, as Bennett continues to push the boundaries of patina and explore the depths of emotion and meaning in his art.
