Bright light city
Sitting across the table from Ben Joyce, you’d never know he was an abstract realist painter. His soft-spoken, down-home demeanor belies the bold colors, intriguing lines and handcrafted canvases to which he dedicates much of his time.
But what makes Joyce’s work relevant to Spokane audiences is the city itself.
When looking at one of his paintings, the observer first notices the bold colors – rich oranges, reds and yellows, and intense black lines that are both separate and compatibly integrated.
And then a light bulb of recognition. Is that the river? The railroad tracks? That must be Interstate 90.
When Joyce puts it all on his funky, hand-cut canvases, it becomes an aerial landscape with a story.
“Not only is Spokane a beautiful city, but this is a vantage point that most of us are not used to,” he says. “I wanted to do something different, so in 2003 I decided to paint Spokane from a new perspective.”
Of his artistic process, Joyce says: “As the painting develops, shapes begin to appear that are not only unique to Spokane, but also create a relationship with the defined lines of a city’s layout. The canvas is not only technically accurate, but also represents the defined borders in which the abstraction must take place.”
He speaks of creating images that draw in the observer in stages, “First, with color and distinction; second, by their curiosity and familiarity with the lines; and third, by allowing the viewer’s mind to establish an interactive relationship with the painting by imagining all of the structures, streets and intricacies of the area.”
The 29-year-old Joyce was born in a small town in Southern California. He landed in Spokane eight years ago when his parents insisted he learn more about the world by attending a study-abroad program through Gonzaga University.
Joyce is one of eight children in an Irish Catholic household (with rumors of distant relations to author James Joyce), all of whom have attended the GU program.
While Joyce worked on his degree in fine arts, he honed his craft at Gonzaga’s satellite campus in Florence, Italy. Upon returning to Spokane, he married his college sweetheart, Erin Higgins, daughter of former Spokane City Council President Rob Higgins.
It was Rob Higgins’ love for Spokane that showed Joyce there is more to the Lilac City than meets the eye. Joyce’s love of landscape paintings, his unique vision and his growing affection for Spokane have culminated in his current art form.
While his focus is his art, he also works as a volunteer firefighter for District 8 in southeast Spokane County.
“I really want to be involved in my community, and working for the fire department allows me to do this,” he says.
“Being an artist can be lonely, too. I used to play sports in college, and I miss the camaraderie. Working with the fire department gives this back to me.”
Joyce’s art can be seen on a regular basis gracing the walls of the Downriver Grill and Isabella’s restaurants, as well as the Main Street Yoga Studio.
“There is great beauty and intrigue in the layout of a city, from your everyday drive to work, to the historical creation of the streets, to your personal relationship with the town,” he says. “I hope with my paintings, people will see all of these aspects.”