Transcript (Unedited)
Tom Heath
We are back here at the Tucson Gallery inside of the proper shops in downtown Tucson for another edition of Meet the Artist. This one is kind of a special occasion because not only is it an artist, but it’s another retailer here within the shop. So it’s not someone that actually has the art in our gallery. He’s too good for our gallery, so he’s got his own place. But you will be able to find some of his reproductions and gifts on our website which will tell you all about the end. But Meet The Artist is a chance for us to explore, explore Tucson’s fabulous art scene, get to meet these wonderful people that make amazing works. And then our goal in the gallery is to export this to the world. And one of the ways we do that is through this podcast, Meet the Artists. And today we are joined by the Tyler Bentley.
Tyler Bentley
Hello. Hello. How are you guys? Thank you for tuning in and I just want to thank you all for supporting local artists and making this dream a reality.
Tom Heath
How long have you been making art and when did you first sort of get that bug that you knew you were going to be an artist?
Tyler Bentley
So I’ve been making art basically my whole life. I never took it too serious until around 2017 when I went to California and got sober for the first time in my life and started painting. Something ticked and started just creating. And ever since I did that, it turned something on inside me that was such a fire that lived, made my life worth living.
Tom Heath
Well, you say something ticked and I think you’re kind of burying the lead. This was like a spiritual awakening for you, wasn’t it? Like you were out, this force came over you. In some ways, yes.
Tyler Bentley
So I was up in Santa Cruz, California, and it was in the redwoods and I was to say, extremely lost, didn’t know what direction to go. And something brought me out into the beautiful woods. There was this beautiful redwood tree that unfortunately got struck by lightning. But redwood trees, through the process of fire, they regrow and it calls the grandmother tree. And there was around ten trees growing in a circular around the remnants of this old tree. And I went there and I got on my hands and knees and I asked for relief. I asked if something is there to help me. And a sensation came over me that was extremely heavy when it came down, but once it hit the ground, it lifted up and I couldn’t stop crying. I felt like everything was taken away from me in the most positive way of all. My burdens and all my worries were just completely lifted. And yeah, through that process of the almost rebirth and the metaphor of the tree getting hit by lightning and burning and through this process of you
Tyler Bentley
can say death is his rebirth. And after that rebirth, I realize that creation is life. And we are creators creating in this life.
Tom Heath
Now you’re creating. And tell us this art, does it all come from this feeling?
Tyler Bentley
There’s a level of intuitive design in mind where it’s just an absence of thought, but more directed thought. It silences their critique, and I just let creation flow. Other paintings, they come through meditations. And their most recent painting was it was just burning through my mind’s eye. Driving through town, I was looking at the road, but there was an image of, I would say, the Holy Spirit, the spirit holding flames. And basically, I couldn’t help but to paint it.
Tom Heath
So you see this you have this vision, and then what’s the process? Do you immediately go home or do you have to think about this for a while?
Tyler Bentley
It depends on the painting. Others are immediate painted. Some it’s a process of kind of surrender. I just I start with a certain layer and keep building and keep building. And then eventually, through the process of three or four days of patience and just not liking it, not liking it. Then it becomes what it was going to be. So there’s a level of painting it as soon as I see it, but there’s also a level of free form and just letting kind of the journey guide me to the destination. Okay, so, yeah, it’s a mixture.
Tom Heath
And then the art itself, is it oil based or what’s your medium and kind of your style?
Tyler Bentley
It’s acrylic. I do experiment in other mediums oil, a little bit of watercolor pastels, but mainly acrylic.
Tom Heath
It looks like a lot of emotions come out. So it’s more kind of abstract, is that?
Tyler Bentley
Yes, there’s a level of abstract and specialism in all of them. And basically my thing is I use color and motion to provoke emotion. Knowing that colors can directly affect the human psyche. And that also when you infuse motion into it, it makes the brain kind of dance with the paintings.
Tom Heath
I think that needs to be your slogan. Tyler Bentley color and motion evoke the emotion. Is that what it was?
Tyler Bentley
Yes. Color in motion provoke the emotion.
Tom Heath
There you go. That’s a good saying there for you.
Tyler Bentley
Wow, that is good. Thank you.
Tom Heath
Color in motion evoke the emotion. The works that I’ve seen, it definitely is. As I’m looking at that, I think whoever is viewing it is probably going to have their own experience.
Tyler Bentley
Is that intentional at 100%? Is it’s? It’s designed to I don’t try to put too much of my own idea of what it needs to be, mainly because it encourages, I think, progressive thinking and the fact that we all see something different in the same painting. And to respect that you might see something I don’t, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not there. I’d like to challenge people to accept thoughts outside of their own. That may be challenging.
Tom Heath
And outside of your art, are there people in town who you follow or whose work that you like?
Tyler Bentley
Mine is more international. There’s a lot of international artists that I’ve found that inspire me. Alex Gray a level of visionary art is super inspiring, but also instagram is a great tool just to give you exactly what you’re looking for. So the artists I follow, it just gives me more of their art.
Tom Heath
So you follow Alex Gray?
Tyler Bentley
Yeah. Alex Gray. John Sparks. Chris Dyer. I like Chris Dyer’s work because he has a level of cartoon and very high color, but it gets the message across. And also, I like he mixes a level of realism with a level of cartoonish.
Tom Heath
Okay.
Tyler Bentley
And, yeah, it really inspires me. And, yeah, I love color.
Tom Heath
Well, you took kind of a big leap because we work with a lot of artists that have a space in our gallery, and you decided you want a large presence, so you actually have an entire shop here with improper shops. What’s the name of it?
Tyler Bentley
Heart of Earth collective. The idea, basically, that you can’t spell the word heart or Earth without art, and that is the basis of all life. And yeah, the big leap, I couldn’t describe it other than natural timing and pushed me exactly where I needed to go. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do. I’ve wanted to make my passion a reality and something that I make money off of. And I realized that if I don’t take a step forward, a leap of faith myself, then who’s going to do it for me? It still is extremely rocky, but nonetheless, I’m riding the wave and trusting the process.
Tom Heath
Yeah, I don’t think if it’s not rocky, it’s not exciting enough. Right. It’s too easy. Heart of Earth collective. Is it just your art, or do you have other things in there as well? From what I can tell, yes.
Tyler Bentley
So I focus on precious stones and other beautiful jewelry. I want it to almost seem like a treasure chest that you find, and you open it up, and there’s things that make you wonder who it belonged to, where it came from. I really want to empower people to feel as confident as they want. And I think I see a lot in society as they wear more nicer things. And I think that’s a beautiful thing because I think it encourages growth and just being better and all around. So, yeah, there’s four local jewelry smiths that I work with, silver smith, gold wire wrapping. I do do my own jewelry, but I haven’t had the time because I’ve been balancing a lot right now.
Tom Heath
It’s amazing when you’re an artist and running a business, both sides of your brain working full time.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah, I’ve heard it a lot that you’re going to do the marketing, you’re going to do everything by yourself. And I didn’t believe it, but now I realize it is a reality. But yeah, I want to build this into a large collective of artists that push their art into the world because I believe our passion should be rewarded. And I think there’s a lot of people that don’t have the reach. So part of this is providing the reach for talented individuals that have a passion they want to push into this world.
Tom Heath
Yeah. When my partners, Tony, Ray, Darren, and myself, we open up the gallery, it was the exact same thought, this is a passion of ours. And we get excitement, not just when someone comes in and appreciates the art, but we get excitement when an artist realizes that they bring more value to the world than they realize.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah. And that’s been the biggest blessing of this whole situation. A reminder of as much as we all need to make it surviving. And then a living off of stuff is even if I don’t sell something, I’m getting an impact and seeing the impact that my art has on the people and realizing that the things I tell myself that I put into my art, infuse into my art is actually being received. So it’s a beautiful and kind of uncomfortable scenario to be on the receiving, like watching people look at your art and then telling it’s yours because it’s really broad what you can get reaction wise, but it’s been happily received and beautifully received. And I’ve loved this process. Yeah.
Tom Heath
I talked to a musician a few years ago, and he had said I put stuff out there. And then I asked if he accepts feedback, and he said, Honestly, their impression of my work is none of my business. I put out what I love. It resonates with some, not with others. And that’s fine because that’s how you grow and you progress.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah. That brings up I traveled to Washington last year on my bus, and I was painting in the forest, and I just kind of had some paintings out, and this lady comes up and she’s just looking at him and she says, I don’t get it. Like, what don’t you get? She’s like, you’re in this place and this is what you’re you paint. And it was the first time I was challenged with constructive criticism, and I was just like, I respect that you don’t understand it, and there is nothing to get. It’s abstract, but yeah, it was a gentle reminder that each one of us have a different view and not to get hurt by what they view.
Tom Heath
Yeah. I think for me, whenever I write or I do anything, it’s about what do I want to say? I’m not as concerned about what do people want to hear? And I see that in your painting. It’s out there. This is what’s coming through me. I tell you, it’s like you control it sometimes. It’s just this is my vision. I’ve got to paint it. It’s not like I set out to do this. It’s just what happened.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah, 100%. And it’s become just who I am. I live breathing in art, and I believe we all are art dancing in this beautiful world that we live in. And I just challenge people to express themselves.
Tom Heath
Well, you mentioned a challenge that you have, which is marketing. So tell me, is your social media up yet? I know we’ve been harping you on this telephone. Where can people find you proper shops? 300 East Congress. This is on the corner of Fifth in Congress across from Hotel Congress, and it’s open now Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at eleven, sundays at eleven and closing at eight or nine, depending on the day. They can come in and see your art there. But tell us about Instagram, Facebook, those outlets.
Tyler Bentley
So the instagram page would be hard of Earth collective. And then my personal art page is Newhue underscore Art. I’ve definitely been working on getting my art readily accessible online and more open to the public. I feel like it’s right around the corner to becoming a reality. It’s been a lot of work, but nonetheless a beautiful journey. And I think it’s right around the corner that I have prints, ready accessories, mugs, puzzles, and I would say within a week and a half, I think it will be ready to go push them out.
Tom Heath
So I’ll get a lot of the reproductions, the gifts, things like that. We can do that through our website, the Tucsongallery.com, so that people can find that. But the original work, if they want that, they’ve got to come see you at proper shops.
Tyler Bentley
Yes, sir.
Tom Heath
And they can get more information through our social media or through your social media. And let’s help Tyler Market spread the word about him. He’s coming from this from a very spiritual place and it’s almost as if he’s a reluctant artist. He’s creating art that comes through him. He might not think that that was his first choice in life.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah, but definitely the right choice. The right choice. I’ve gotten a lot of fulfillment and love for myself through this process and a lot of learning about myself through this process.
Tom Heath
So someone that’s been interested in doing or doing it more full time, maybe facing some challenges or facing some adversity in their life that’s pulling them away, what are some thoughts for those individuals?
Tyler Bentley
Don’t give up. Challenging things arise, especially when you’re on the right path. I feel like it goes back to what you said, if it’s not rocky, it’s not fun. I remember setting up in parking lots and setting up on the side of the road, fighting the wind paintings, blowing left and right, and realizing that this is part of a journey that getting handed something immediately is not rewarding, it’s not fulfilling. So this realization that the struggles are part of the end result, it gets you to where you’re going to go. And the struggles are the memories that are like you can go back and laugh at. So I think the most important thing would be to remember that it’s part of the journey. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey. And to continue on the journey. If you feel it’s something that lights you up and ignites your soul, do it.
Tom Heath
Tyler Bentley not only an artist, you’re like a wordsmith. The struggles are your memories that you can go back and laugh at. You got all these thoughts. It’s heart of Earth collective.
Tyler Bentley
Heart of Earth collective.
Tom Heath
Find it on social media. Come down to the proper shops, say hello. You work your shop most of the times, right? You’re there most of the time?
Tyler Bentley
Yes, sir. I am here basically all the time. Unless I have something else going on, which then one of my jewelers, Lisa Mele, is here. She’s a beautiful goldsmith. She does amazing work. Beautiful woman that’s been in this business for a few years. It’s teaching me a few things.
Tom Heath
You want to come actually meet the Artist from Meet the Artist had done a proper shop. Part of Art collective. You can check out our website, the Tucsongallery.com. By the time this airs, you should be up and running with some reproductions and gifts available. But I think as much as I love the ability to reproduce a lot of your art, I think you do get to see the original. I think the original brings an emotion that a reproduction you can capture, but it’s easier to capture that if you’ve seen the original work.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah, there’s a level of energy that are in the originals that cannot be reproduced. And there was a level of me not wanting to reproduce works, but I think they need to be seen. So let them be seen. And quick reminder that we vote with our dollar. And what are you voting for?
Tom Heath
Yeah. Support local. I’ve been using this phrase. It’s art made by local so you can buy vocal.
Tyler Bentley
Yeah.
Tom Heath
Look at that. I’m a word smith.
Tyler Bentley
Look at there is rubbing off on you.
Tom Heath
Tyler Bentley, thank you for your time.
Tyler Bentley
Thank you.
Tom Heath
We’ll get this up and share it with the world and look forward to meeting all of your fans as they come in to say hello at Heart of Earth Collective in the proper shops.
Tyler Bentley
Yes, sir. Downtown Arizona tucson thank you for listening.
Tom Heath
To Meet the Artist. This is a weekly production by the Tucson Gallery located inside of the proper shops at 300 East Conga Street in Tucson, Arizona. The mission of the Tucson Gallery is to support local artists by providing a space to show their art, a forum to engage with their audience, a virtual presence to connect with global patrons, an outlet to earn a fair price and an opportunity to hone their business skills. Head over to the Tucsongallery.com for more information about our live events. Listen to other Meet The Artist podcasts and check out the wide selection of art, gifts and other items created by Tucson’s modern thought provoking and forward thinking artists.