Ben Deaton
Submission from Atlanta, Artist/Photographer
Ben Deaton is a photographer and artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in LaGrange, Georgia and moved to Little Rock, Arkansas to pursue and complete a Fine Arts Degree. When he is not shooting or paitning, Ben works as a preparator at the Alan Avery Art Company. In his photography, Ben documents the evolution of personal, social, and cultural interactions. He finds inspiration in people’s abilities, personalities, and creations. In the future,
he hopes to be self-sufficient as a full-time artist.
What does your daily routine consist of?
Tuesday through Saturday I work for Alan Avery Art Company, a gallery here in Atlanta. We represent artists like Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein; most of the modern masters as well as emerging artists. I sketch a lot at night, surf the web, Netflix and chill. On my days off I do photoshoots and oil paint. My life revolves around looking at or creating art.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
No clue. I would have never predicted the journey of my past ten years so predicting the future would be improbable. I do hope to make my living as a full-time artist. Never rich, just enough to be self-sufficient.
Where are you from originally? How did you make your way to Atlanta? What is your next move?
I’m originally from LaGrange, Georgia but moved to Little Rock, Arkansas in 2013 to complete my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography. After graduating I did various freelance jobs but wanted to live in a larger city so I began looking for career opportunities in other locations. I found a job (the one I have now) in Atlanta which ultimately brought me back to my home state. I really don’t know how long I’ll be here, but certainly not forever.
We’re gonna talk about the middle name. What’s the story?
Haha, not much of a story. It’s my dad’s name and we have a skewed relationship.
Do you have any personal projects in the works?
I’m always thinking about time as an element of art. I’m currently doing double exposure portraits on medium format film to show the passing of time as a person changes from minute to minute.
What inspires you to paint?
Sometimes I get frustrated when I’m unable to photograph the image in my head. Or I see something that would have made a photograph better. I like that subjects of a painting may not actually exist in the same setting as they’re depicted.
Is there anyone you would die for?
Of course! I would be an asshole if I didn’t take a bullet for Ellen Degeneres. Or my mom.
How did you hear about Disposable?
My girlfriend sent me a camera for my birthday and I immediately fell in love with the concept. The content and perspective of Disposable is unlike any other magazine I’ve seen.
Do you collect?
Art and books. It’s crucial that I surrounded myself with inspiration.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee. And lots of it.
What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?
My parents were very literal so my imagination never strayed too far.
A color?
Orange. I’m drawn to warmer colors.
A city?
Atlanta. I just relocated here and love it.
What are your plans for this weekend?
Attending an exhibition titled Nude by Kristen Giorgi. She’s one half of NG Collective and one of my favorite artists in Atlanta right now
A song?
Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah . It’s beautifully subliminal.
Your idea of happiness?
Unlimited film, good music, and a few close friends.
Your idea of misery?
Working a 9-to-5 in finance.
If not yourself, who would you be?
Picasso
Your heroes?
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Glenn O’Brien, Ryan McGinley
What is your present state of mind?
A bit frazzled. I just woke up to the news about the shooting in Las Vegas.
Bedside table books?
Markus Henttonen: Twisted Tales - Road to Hope , Michael Donovan: God in Drag, and Miles Aldridge: Please Return Polaroid
What do you do if you can’t sleep at night?
Flip through a book, surf Instagram, count sheep.
Right or left handed?
Right.
What is the best dish you can cook?
Anything microwaveable.
What is your middle name?
Terry. But let’s not talk about it.
What do you do in your free time?
I shoot every chance I get. When I’m not thinking clearly or feeling uninspired, I paint.
What inspires you?
People - their figure, personality, creations, abilities. I thrive on that.
What do you do for money?
I’m the preparator for Alan Avery Art Company.
What do you do for pleasure?
Masturbate? Just kidding (sort of). I enjoy drinking with other creatives and talking about art. That’s my high.
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
A banana or banana nut bread from Starbucks.
If you could live in a different era?
I like this one. I know it’s trendy to want to live in the twenties or fifties or seventies, but we’re in a weird and interesting time and I’m excited to be a part of it.
Favorite fictional character?
Monroe Stahr from Fitzgerald’s The Last Tycoon.
Time travel is suddenly possible, when/where do you go?
New York in the sixties.
Skirts or pants?
Pants. Though I wouldn’t mind the breeze of a skirt.