ABOUT BEN

I have around 25 years of professional experience as a multidiscipline fine artist, designer and craftsman. As a visual artist, I have strived to adapt traditional techniques to a digital art workflow, employing both adaptations of classical methods and cutting-edge 3d/ CG tools and approaches. I have aimed to create art pieces which are both detailed and rich in painterly character.

I do still paint, but I have, for some years now, spent a deal of my time designing and making jewellery. My wife's family were in the jewellery game for decades and (like, I expect, many from my generation, especially creators and those of us off the land) I've always been handy enough on the tools. With my lengthy background in the creative industries it was probably unsurprising that I would gravitate towards professional silversmithing, and, when I did, I quickly fell in love with the medium.

I craft jewellery in much the same way as I create visual art, utilising both computer design and hands-on traditional metalworking practices - so I typically spend my days bouncing between my PC and studio workshop.

BEN HOOLE (MBA., MPET., B.Comm.)

Thematically, I strive to create uplifting visual art and silverwork which is a celebration of divine love, beauty, and those things that (family aside) matter most to me. Faith, freedom, country living and the most admirable qualities of the human spirit. I spend perhaps 13-14 hours a day creating, and, as an artist, it's most important to me that my time makes a positive difference in the world, even if my impact is small.

Academically I hold an undergraduate degree in commerce, a Master's degree in business administration and a Master's degree in professional education and training. Despite way too many years of formal education, my art and craft training is mostly informal and hands-on. My artistic and crafting techniques and workflows have developed over many years of informal professional study and practice, rather than out of a book.

I grew up on the land, currently live in regional Queensland with my wife and daughter, and am a long-time (35+ years) boxer, natural bodybuilder and black-belt martial artist. My wife, Jacqui, is a fellow artisan, who helps me with the jewellery and runs Australia's premiere dance headwear label at https://jacquihoole.com.au.