About the Artist
1937-2023
Benjamin Fay Brode
Benjamin spent his early years exploring the sleepy countryside of San Diego County. There, he developed a great love for the natural beauty of California and (by his own account) had his first encounter with the wee folk who lived in the pepper tree. The son of artists, Brode was encouraged to be creative and engage life with an artistic sensibility.
Throughout his career Brode exhibited mastery in many fields from graphic design to fine furniture and cabinet making. In 1998 he began the singular pursuit of painting with oils. Inspired by both early California impressionism and contemporary landscape painters, his style reflects the influences of George Innes, Arthur Mathews, Xavier Martinez, and Wolf Kahn. His paintings have been shown in Santa Barbara and collected around the world.
From 2011-2013, Brode’s paintings focused on the Big Sur wilderness. The sketches and paintings from his sojourns are a part of the collaboration with Thomas Steinbeck for the book: In Search of the Dark Watchers.
Ben at work in his studio in Santa Barbara, California
"As far back as I can remember creating images from deep within my own psyche has fascinated me. As a boy, surrounded by nature, I found myself more influenced by the natural world than the human world. I have found direction from the Earth rather than through books or critiques."
Benjamin Brode lived in Santa Barbara, California where he painted, played with his grandkids and dreamt of sailing off into the sunset.