Interview
Joseph Benjamin
Joseph “Robert Dalesio” Benjamin (JRDBenjamin) is an artist first and foremost. He is an abstract painter. His work follows an Impressionism / Expressionism style. He is a poet, and a writer. He is a communicator with the “gift of gab.” Joseph is a musician; comedian; and an all-around entertainer extraordinaire. He self-produces; directs; and acts in his own videos. He aspires to be a podcast host, an enigmatic interviewer and promoter. He markets for his business; and for his art; and he also extends his reach to assist other creators to find their audience as well. His primary goal in being an artist is to help change the world in small but meaningful ways. To make the largest possible impact for positive change is the overarching purpose in his endeavors. For his children; for all the children of the world. Joseph wishes only to bring the light that we all deserve to have in our lives.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born and raised in Haverhill MA, a city in the glorious East Coast State of Massachusetts. Growing up in those days I would ride my bike around ‘the Aves.’ This is a series of streets interconnected with one and other. I used to do little creative things on rainy days back then, as I got older it seemed the rainy days continued even when the sun was shining outside. I began isolating myself as I reached middle school.
This is where I began doing abstract doodles a bit more often. I filled a couple of sketch books with random doodles, attempts at drawing things like animals, dragons, people, and superheroes. I would spend a lot of time playing with Legos; building little scenes and playing out stories with the characters I would make up. I would do my drawings as well. I would come up with characters and draw them consistently for fun. I would even play with magnets on the fridge as a young child. I liked the warmth of the radiator that emitted from the lower end while I would play with the magnets and make up stories of war and peace. I liked art class, but I had not really developed any sort of confidence in my art. I would get put down easily; and this would cause me to have phases of creativity, followed by crippling doubt and disillusion. When I would try to draw in class I would look to my pears and see the ones who are better than me; I wouldn’t see them in terms of ‘oh, I could do that’ I would look at them and say; ‘wow, I can’t do that.’ This sort of mentality plagued my artistic endeavors all my life.
Right up until I was in my 30s, working as a security guard for a little-known Art Gallery part of a humble academy in Andover MA. Philips Academy’s Addison Gallery of American Art. This would be the place where I would actualize that I am in fact an artist. That I am worthy of creation, that I have always been an artist; and that the world blocked me. I blocked me. And now it was time to break free from those bindings. I worked in the Gallery for about a year; and in this time, I went from being disinterested in art to slowly realizing that I wanted to learn how it is done. I would see the rare occasion where artists would come into the gallery to give tours of their art. As a security guard we were discouraged from being interested in the art; to avoid the tours with artists when they were on site. I would listen strategically staying just out of sight. Sometimes walking just to get a good look. I became fascinated with the art as time went on; I decided one day to go around and memorize the names of the artists associated with the works. I would read the blurbs written by the curators and the artists themselves.
I became immersed in this world. After a period, I decided to get some supplies to paint. I had been drawing sketches again; I read the book ‘The Artists Way’ By Julia Cameron. I recommended this book to many friends and family. It helped to realign my values. Everything happened at once and I began to paint. I wasn’t great at it, but I wanted it so badly that I kept painting. I made several decent paintings in the initial run. This transformed my belief to realize that I can paint; that I certainly am an artist. I began to become a little discouraged as I realized my initial burst of creativity was not continuing to work the same way. I would share my work on social media and in those early days of painting I was susceptible to criticism. Some folks would say it is interesting how your work has been getting progressively worse.
Now, I didn’t take that as a blow, I took it as a call for examination. I investigated my favorite works, and I looked at what I had been doing. I realized that what is happening with the newer stuff is that I am experimenting and developing. The goal shifted from making great paintings now, to developing to make great paintings one day. This was a good move, and I didn’t really intend to do it. I just intuitively did that.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My paintings are political, emotional, and psychological. These areas are explored as I create them and upon their completion. There are many stages my paintings go through, and this is what resulted in the realization that I should begin doing live streams on Youtube of my paintings. In addition to the posting, I have been doing public forums on Facebook. The Art of Creating Abstract Art would be the one I posted most frequently. Initially, in my development I was seeking advice and professional level criticisms. I reached out to one art teacher within this very group. They were surprisingly willing to give my first series of paintings an honest look. This was monumental for me. She gave me honest pointers and highlighted the areas where I did very well. This gave me confidence in my own judgement that I needed to hear at the time. I knew there were things I was doing right and things I was doing wrong, but I couldn’t really judge which was which with acuity.
After the span of October – January 2024-2025, I stopped painting. I reached a block where I couldn’t seem to get myself interested in creating paintings like I was doing at first. Then I worked a lot at two new positions, and my focus was taken for that purpose. A worthy reason to set the brushes and canvases aside temporarily. I was wise to have put up my work all over the room where I would be sleeping every night. This kept the dream alive that I am an artist though I am not currently painting and creating. I did! And I see that every day. This would be my thought process. I would have days where I would look at the art I made and be inspired because I thought ‘wow, how did I do that? I can’t paint like that anymore.’ These thoughts echoed into my being and would inspire me to do better and try a little harder to be effective at my jobs as building/facility management.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I would paint with emotional depth and create images that I would not have any idea of their inception until their completion. Then, I would begin to interpret while painting them. I don’t particularly have a plan when I paint. I just go for it. There were key conversations that I had during this 2025 ‘ice age’ where I would begin to receive planted seeds. I realized I am quite a talker; I became increasingly inspired to be creative in creating something in my daily life. What I wasn’t realizing is that as creative we have a need to create; or else we get depressed in life. I became increasingly aware that I must find a way to create and explore. This culminated in December 2025. I realized one night waking up at 2-3am once again after doing so for weeks. I had been getting up early for work but overshooting it quite a bit. Initially I would force sleep for a few hours before starting the day. Finally, I made the choice. I chose to get up at 3am and set myself up to paint. Then I made another decision. I set up my phone to live stream on YouTube. This was the end of beginnings. I started painting every single morning and streaming on YouTube. I developed dramatically as an artist daily and weekly. My creativity exploded continuously. I never stopped. I keep creating and exploring now. I began creating political pieces.”
Are there any art world trends are you following?
“Art is everything, I have been spanning into every area for artistic inspiration for the past month. I use YouTube for my live painting, and other artistic endeavors. I created a song in one take of inspiration ‘Another One More Day.’ (I believe I will have to produce this more completely in the future); the reprise of ‘One more day’ which I had written and performed all at once a few years ago. I dabble in poetry; I talk to the camera nonstop in my YouTube videos. Sometimes it’s all about painting, it is always about honest expression. I did a comedy video ‘Talking to myself: drive to madness.’ My answer here culminates in that I follow the beat of my own drum, not really following the leads of other artists. I love other artists on an individual level. I love artists like I would a brother or a sister; that's the way it works for me.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“Regarding my painting, technique wise, I have realized I am almost exclusively using my plethora of pallet knives, and similar devices; the humble window squeegee is powerful tool in my arsenal for all of my work nowadays. I enjoy dropping paint directly on the canvas and swiping intuitively, or ‘cutting up the paint;’ find my colors, or ‘flashes of light’ in those rapid movements. Seldomly, I will use small brushes, posca pens, fountain pens, micron pens for details.”
What does your art mean to you?
“To me art is the truest form of magic in this world. Within everything you will find a form of art. The actualization of this concept into your everyday life can make a monumental difference in the serenity that comes from everyday life. A simple conversation, a moment looking into the middle distance, the feeling of the breeze on a spring day; or the harsh bite of the cold in the dead of winter. There colors of life are in every form and shape we can experience with our senses in this world. The dark and the light; the details of the reflecting prism of light are what we see in our eyes. The human eye is able to perceive color and forms in a manner that machines cannot truly replicate. The unity of the camera lenses and the human eye is an incredible multi-dimensional view that further enhances the level of artistic potential that we are able to utilize and capture. These tools we possess as humans are a gift. We should be accepting the expansion of technology as such, rather than something to fear. The only thing to fear is fear itself after all.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“Currently, my favorite piece is Eight Bells painted by Winslow Homer. This piece is objectively beautiful of course; I enjoy the blues and contrasting complementary colors; the interpretation of the lighting, as well as the lack of light. One could decern that the sextant in the image would likely not function at all in the ensuing storm that appears to already be upon the depicted vessel. The sailors appear to be utilizing the tool with skill and precision; however, given the climate it seems it would be impossible to have the required amount of light to determine any valuable measurements at all. This seems to imply that the sailors may simply be going through the motions in hope that the device will prove to be effective. Another perspective offers that perhaps there is just enough light for an effective measurement despite conventional wisdom dictating this is an impossible venture. This appears to be a reflection of the indomitable spirit of humanity; that we would in spite of all things against us we still will hold onto the hope that success is possible; regardless of the odds stacked against us. In this way, for me personally the Eight Bells is one piece of art that speaks to me on a profound level and I would consider this my current favorite. The combination of meaning in tandem with the painting's aesthetic beauty is for me personally second to none.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“For my recent inspiration, I went to the Multicultural arts center ‘Free to be’ exhibit in Cambridge; these shows have been incredibly noteworthy as these artists come from diverse backgrounds and have messages that are often missed in society. The work at the Philips Academy’s Addison Gallery of American Art is ever inspirational. The shows rotated regularly each year, sometimes a couple times a year. I make a point to take a trip out at least annually. The Sowa Artist Guild in Cambridge is a collection of artists in studio spaces congregated in one building comprising of 4 floors of awesome. This is an unbelievable experience for anyone who may be interested in the world of artists. Being a Boston local, or if one is traveling to the city, this location is an incredible opportunity for any creative person to connect with an artist community.”
Instagram: @JRDBenjamin
Other links: www.youtube.com/@JRDBenjamin; Hybridtherapeuticmassage.com; Facebook.com/Joey.Dalesio
