We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ben Gottlieb. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ben below.
Ben, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I’m not sure about the most meaningful. I started Oddi Skateboards in 2017 and made some videos with some friends. I really wanted to make a platform for my friends to showcase their skateboarding and artistic creativity without having to answer to anyone else. Its grown over the years and we’ve added a few more people along the way. When I was younger I never thought anything like that would be possible. We’re working on a skate video right now, I’m hoping to have it done by the end of the year. We’ve been working on it for a few years and i’ve put so much into it so I’m really excited to put it out. Everything from filming, driving, finding spots for everyone to skate, editing, and trying to skate myself. I’m really proud of the work we have put into this video. But outside of skateboarding, all the art shows I’ve been apart of were really meaningful to me. It has always a very humbling experience. I’m grateful to be apart of any of it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California. I own and operate Oddi Skateboards, work as an artist, primarily as a painter, and I also do tattoos in my spare-time.
I was given a skateboard for Christmas in 2003 and I loved skateboarding almost instantaneously. Art came way later on. I would draw in this sketchbook through most of my classes. Just to get through class and waste time. I had this teacher for a school event poster making class, Mrs. Brookes, who took me aside and asked to see my sketchbook. I nervously handed her the book thinking I would get in trouble for what was drawn inside or for drawing in the first place. Awaiting her response, I was surprised to hear , “Have you ever considered painting? These are great.” I said “No.” blankly and she instantly got me a small canvas board, paints, and told me to take the whole period to paint something I would have drawn in my sketchbook. Once I got to community college I was really confused on where to go and if art was even worth pursuing, but luckily I had a few professors that really pushed me and inspired me to make something out of this passion. Both of my parents and my sister are all artists as well. So I guess you could say it runs in the family.
The current artworks I’m making are made from epoxy resin, acrylic paint, usually incasing physical objects. I wanted to try to mold paintings and sculptures into one. I wanted to make a physical shadow from a 2-dimensional painting. I’m still trying to figure it out. It gets very tedious with all the layers and where things need to be. But I’m happy to find my way and create.
My artwork is available on my website or in person. I occasionally get the chance to show my work at art shows and also curate my own art shows here and there with some artists that mean a lot to me. I also do tattoos in my spare-time! Oddi Skateboards only sells skateboard decks and apparel right now. Our full-length video will be available on DVD once it comes out at the end of the year.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding thing is getting to create. I’m so lucky to be able to make art in general. A lot of people just write it off and say they could never make art or they’re terrible. You can do anything you want, you just have to stand up and do it for yourself if you want it bad enough.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I watched the movie “The Point” animated by Gary Lund, when I was a child . The animation, the music, and the story all captivated me and has inspired me ever since. I hold older cartoons very close to my heart. I think cartoons directly impacted things I try to portray in my artwork. In a more traditional fashion, the book “The Artist’s Way” or “Steal Like an Artist” are great books that have really helped me as an artist, contextualizing everything thats so hard to grasp about this world of creating. “The Doors of Perception” by Aldous Huxley made me very existential and I started reflecting on my philosophical and psychological being. But if you want to have some fun, read Jim Morrison’s poetry books. They really make you think.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bengottliebart.com
- Instagram: @couchpooper
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvmkB7q0IAcJiadsvJ_9dEA
- Other: www.oddiskateboards.com