We're delighted to kick-off another Jasper Galleries at Sound Bites Eatery. This month we're featuring Benji Hicks

Artist Bio

Benji Hicks was born in 1970 in Columbia, South Carolina. With no formal training, he is a self-taught artist and woodblock print maker.

Working professionally as a carpenter and painter, including murals and sign painting, he has always enjoyed drawing, painting and wood carving. 

After discovering the art of Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock printing), he decided to combine his skills to create woodblock prints.

He is just as passionate about the tools, materials and techniques of woodblock printing, as he is about the images he creates. Benji draws inspiration from art, culture and the natural world around him.

Benji also uses his carpentry skills to make frames from reclaimed wood to add that finished touch to his prints.

Artist Statement

For this show, I wanted to show some of the paintings I make when coming up with woodblock print designs. 

These paintings are an essential part of making my woodblock prints. Especially for figuring out all the different color blocks needed to make the print.

Traditionally, Japanese woodblock  prints were made by three artisans and then sold by a publisher. 

First, an artist would create a painting. Then, a carver would carve all the woodblocks needed for every color in the print.

The blocks would then go to a printmaker who would make the prints. The prints would then go to the publisher for sale.

My prints are self drawn, self carved, self printed and self published. I have found that, for me, these four stages tend to line up with the four seasons.

In the winter, when it’s cold and the days are short, I find myself inside my art studio drawing and painting.

In the spring when the weather starts to warm up, I find myself in the woodworking shop, cutting, sanding and carving woodblocks and making frames.

During the hot days of summer I will be back inside my studio making new print editions and framing everything for the upcoming holiday season.

Then during the fall, my focus is on selling. These months are always the best for sales.

Once the holidays are over, it’s back to the drawing board to do it all over again .

This show is a collection of some of my earlier prints along with some new ones and also some of the original paintings made to create my prints. I have even included a series of new paintings that will be the inspiration for my next woodblock prints.