Patrick "Taz" Bentley

Artist Statement

When I am confronted with a blank canvas, I attack. There are no preconceived notions; I begin with a blank slate, led purely by the medium and by motion. The canvas becomes a stage where shapes speak, where colors, gradients, and negative spaces each have their own voice. Unlike music—drumming, my chosen medium for nearly five decades—painting on a canvas confines motion within its two-dimensional form. Yet, somehow, the shapes take on a life of their own.

My artistic style is profoundly experimental. I am drawn to abstraction for its expressive capacity. While my works primarily inhabit two dimensions, I've observed how they evolve through a process of shaping and molding until they suddenly announce themselves to me—sometimes with a bang, other times with a quiet whisper. Even after completion, new subjects emerge. My art reveals itself over time, unfurling from my subconscious.

Each piece is an extension of my experience, an expression of the human condition—the intangible soul, inexorably intertwined with my interpretation of navigating this world and creating within it. My art is a testament to the fluidity of emotions, capturing moments of raw vulnerability and unbridled joy. It reflects the interconnectedness of life's textures—the rough edges and the smooth transitions.

As a retired rock 'n' roll drummer, I bring rhythm and tempo into my art practice. Each brushstroke echoes a beat, every color harmonizes like a chord progression. The canvas becomes a visual symphony, where harmony and discord dance together in perfect balance.

My creative process is a perpetual exploration, where every stroke and shade reveals a new facet of my artistic identity. It's a dialogue between spontaneity and meticulousness, between chaos and control. Through abstraction, I strive to distill complex emotions into visual poetry, inviting viewers to interpret and connect with the essence of my artistic expression.

In essence, my art is a testament to the transformative power of creativity—an ongoing narrative that evolves with each new canvas. It is an invitation to delve into the depths of human experience, where every layer unveils a new story, a new revelation. Through my paintings, I aim to capture the ineffable essence of existence itself—the beauty, the struggle, and the profound interconnectedness.

Biography

Creative expression takes form. Whether singing, songwriting, drumming, photographing or painting, there is no denying a lifelong proclivity for expression. In this case, it's painting and photography with a modern tenacity and a beguiling grace. Rock n’ Roll drummer Patrick “Taz” Bentley, born and raised in Dallas, Texas, is perhaps best known as the hard-driving drummer for Izzy Stradlin, Reverend Horton Heat, Tenderloin, Burden Brothers, Duff McKagan's Loaded, and many more. Don’t let that distract you! It certainly hasn’t distracted Taz from his passion for fine art. From his time at Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet to current day, his expressions are hard-hitting, regardless of medium.

What once was (Ce qui était autrefois)_2023_Acrylic, colored pencil and charcoal_40 x 30 inches
Trois Boîtes avec un Baiser Éternel_2023_Acrylic, colored pencil and charcoal_43 x 31 inches
La deuxième, la première place_2023_Acrylic, colored pencil and charcoal_23.25 x 29.25 inches
En Parlant de Reconnaissant_2023_Acrylic, colored pencil and charcoal_28.75 x 24.75 inches
La Longue Finition_2023_Latex paint, acrylic and charcoal_30 x 30 inches
Avec Reconnaissance_2023_Acrylic and charcoal in antique frame_17.63 x 14.63 inches