Most New Year’s resolutions fade away after a few days, but Ori Bengal is 1,000 days into his resolution to create a piece of art every day.
Bengal has been a 3D animator, photographer, copywriter, web designer, homeless, broke, and successful. In 2012 he decided that he was going to be an artist. He has created art every single day since then. This Saturday will be his 1,000th day, and the day he puts out his first art book.
“I had an impression that galleries and museums were boring, until a friend took me to a bunch in Maui,” says now-artist Ori Bengal. “First I felt awe and wonder at the pieces, then I felt pain and heartbreak that I’m not creating art. I started, but it wasn’t until I announced that I’m doing a daily drawing that I really got good. Drawing turned to painting, turned to carving, turned to sculpture, turned to welding, turned to 3D printing, turned to bronze… which turned into 1,000 days, turned into an art book.”
Steven Pressfield, Author of New York Times best-selling book, “The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” echoes Bengal’s statements on the importance of doing the work daily, and that sacrifices need to be made.
Pressfield says, “The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”
Bengal says that at first it was difficult, but daily creation became part of him. He would skip sleeping and blow off friends and dates, but never skipped creating art.
Steven Pressfield also said, “The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”
Ori started painting on his iPad using a $5 app. His artist’s toolset graduated to paper, canvas, computer programs, clay, wax, and even $200,000 CNC machines and molten bronze. He learned by trial and error, YouTube videos, online courses, books, and asking the artists who inspired him. He invested all his money on art supplies and instruction.
He shared his work every day on his Facebook profile to stay accountable. “I knew that someone out there would be a jerk and mock me for flaking. Well, I haven’t given them the opportunity. The amazing thing was what happened as a result. There was improvement in my craft. There was daily joy from following my passion. There were the people I inspired to pursue their own passions. It’s like by following your passion, you give others permission to follow theirs. Then there were collectors of my art, and fans who were moved by my art.”
Collectors from around the world seem to enjoy Ori’s talent and what he communicates through his work.
“Good art, art like Ori Bengal creates – takes you on a journey. It inspires mind and emotion” says Mark Effinger, CEO at WebNutrients.com, and one of Bengal’s collectors. “Ori’s Art is a creative catalyst. It engages the eye on so many levels. And always makes you think. Then smile.”
Fine art Collectors also love the diversity of all that Ori does.
“Pablo Picasso was known for being prolific. He was a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet, and playwright, while having 5 distinct periods in his works, and co-inventing collage and cubism,” says Palyn Peterson, who has purchased numerous pieces by Bengal. “Ori Bengal is hot on Picasso’s trail, constantly exploring new styles, new medium, and new techniques. He is the Picasso of our time.”
Ori’s book will be released on the Amazon Kindle platform on his 1,000th day. The book will include both art that he’s created over the 1,000 days and many of the life lessons that he learned over his journeys.
Ori is designing the book at extremely high resolution to take advantage of the full power of the new Kindle Fire HDX, but you can view his book in full screen and vivid color on any computer, tablet, or smart phone using the free Kindle software.
The book will be on sale for only $0.99 on Saturday the 17th. Ori will also create a limited edition of 100 hardcover versions of the book which will also include his photography as well as his art.
20 people that purchase the book between the hours of 11AM to noon EST (and send Ori their receipt) will be in a drawing for one of these 100 autographed hardcover versions of the book.
For more information on Ori’s book “From Stickfigures To Picasso” or to enter the drawings, please visit http://StickfiguresToPicasso.com