We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vidabeth Bensen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vidabeth Bensen below.

Vidabeth Bensen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The first time I pulled a squeegee across a screen I was hooked.

I was always interested in making multiples. My college classes in printmakingdud not include Silk Screen Printing as it was considered a commercial process.

I started making screen prints in college for my acting friends who asked me to make posters for their plays. Silk Screen Printing seemed to be the simplest and least expressive printmaking technique I could teach myself.

As an art teacher, I wanted to share this skill with others and I have always included Screen Printing in my middle and high school curriculum. While raising four children I taught workshops rather than teaching full time. After moving back to the states I taught in local art centers as well as doing workshops all over the country. My motto was “Have Screen Will Travel.” I take great pleasure in doing residencies in the schools and in teaching art educators. In this techno-centric age I want those who may not be technically inclined to be able to produce multiples of their art work. I learn something new with each class I teach and take great joy in hearing from former students who are using this enjoyable skill and who love it as much as I do.

I hope to continue creating and exhibiting my prints wherever and whenever I can. After over 60 years of printmaking I am still excited by creating a new print.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

The first time I pulled a squeegee across a screen I was “hooked.” Making multiples of my art work seemed magical to me and I still find it so after over 60 years of Screen Printing, During my years of teaching high school and middle school art, Screen Printing was always part of my curriculum. My students loved being able to duplicate images of their work. I still find teaching exhilarating. I’ve worked with children of all ages as well as adults and I learn something new every time I teach a workshop or class. Living and working overseas for 27 years gave me the opportunity to travel and sketch scenes everywhere we went. In addition to teaching art in an American school near Tokyo, Japan I worked as an illustrator for the U.S. Army in Giessen, Germany. Over 300 posters that I printed during those years are in the Museum of the American Military Family in Tijeras, New Mexico. At the USIS American Center in Rabat, Morocco I curated exhibits and did art work for the Embassy. In addition to these jobs I continued to teach workshops wherever we lived. A Masters Degree in Gifted Education enabled me to teach educators from all over the country at an annual international conference at the University of Connecticut for over 30 years. My motto “Have Screen Will Travel” has taken me all over the country and back to Europe, Asia and the Middle East to work with students and teachers, After retiring in Chatham County, North .Carolina in 1991 I realized my lifelong dream of having my own studio. I continue to teach workshops and have been active in the Chatham Artists Guild, continuing to open my studio on the Chatham Studio Tour since it’s inception in 1993. Hundreds of drawings and paintings still provide subject matter for new prints, My natural surroundings as well as abstract compositions exploring color and movement comprise my portfolio. I teach and exhibit my work wherever and whenever I can.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to continue making original hand pulled Screen Prints as long as I can.and to help others learn to enjoy Screen Printing as much as I do. My workshops, as well as my book “A Simple Guide to Screen Printing” describes the simplistic methods I have devised over the years. The directions are easy follow and it is possible to get set up to print at minimal expense. Artists and anyone wanting to expand their creativity can learn this Ienjoyable, life long skill. B

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Wherever I have lived, Screen Printers are few and far between. When we moved to Morocco I was offered an exhibit at the American Center in .Rabat. This was my first solo exhibit and led to my first job, aside from teaching High School,Art. The simplistic methods I use which do not require expensive equipment make it easy to set up workshops anywhere. Recently, I heard from a retired naval officer who took one of my classes in Morocco. She continues to make prints and lives part time in Morocco and in Pennsylvania. It is a great pleasure to know that I have changed people’s lives, even some who have never considered themselves artistic. My colleague, a retired English teacher, took my workshops at UCONN several times. She considers Screen Printing life changing and co-authored my book.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.houseoflifeprints.com
• Instagram: Vidabeth Bensen
• Facebook: Vidabeth Bensen
• Other: Fine Art America Chatham artists guild.org

Image Credits
N/.A. Took all these myself.