Milbie Benge
Acclaimed
for her captivating country landscapes, Milbie Benge's work has been
called "romantic realism" as her ability to softly convey the
beauty of nature evokes a true sense of place. Having studied under such
notable artists as A.D. Greer and Dalhart Winberg, Benge's work reveals
her interest and ease in the natural world. From the mirrored
surface of a river at sunrise, to leafy country lanes and fields
sparkling with wildflowers, Benge's paintings capture a single serene
moment in time, evoking the peaceful pace of the outdoors.
Her
wide and accurate knowledge of the rural countryside, especially in
Texas, Colorado, Arizona and her native California , gives her an
unusual sweep of view. A time honored technique of outdoor painting,
this “plein-air” style has been favored by many classic landscape
painters. Painting outdoors has its obvious charms, but one must be
adept at painting quickly in order to capture nature’s fleeting
lighting effects. Most noted for her signature "halos of
light," Benge's talent for depicting the effects of sunlight and
moonlight speak of a subtle sense of mystery. Her atmospheres are often
laden with mist, giving a sense of the refreshing quality of early
spring-that seasonal touch that is always present in her landscapes.
The daughter of a Baptist minister, Benge became fascinated with drawing
at a young age. Her father and several high school art teachers eagerly
encouraged her artistic development. Born in a migratory camp hospital
near Sacramento , California , Benge became very familiar with rural
scenes as she traveled from town to town in California and Texas because
of her father's missionary work. As a young adult, her passion for the
rural landscape continued to grow. She traveled extensively throughout
the U.S. , Europe and the Far East, studying and painting country
landscapes-from English cottages and rose gardens to weathered Kentucky
barns and ancient fence posts.
Her work has gained a wide following of collectors in the U.S. and
Europe, including Baylor University in Waco , TX ; Burt Reynolds; Tom
Landry; Byron Nelson and the estate of the late Barbara Stanwyck.
Resident of Austin, TX since 1968, Benge has taught numerous painting
workshops in Texas and has generously supported charitable causes by
donating her work to fundraising auctions, including Habitat for
Humanity, The Austin Symphony League, The March of Dimes, Ballet Austin
and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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painting, just "click" on
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