Elijah Van Benschoten

About Elijah

As a painter, drawer, printmaker, and photographer, Elijah Van Benschoten maintains a vigorous multidisciplinary studio practice as well as an active college teaching career. Van Benschoten has maintained a long-term project of documenting daily art practice beginning in 2008 with 1,000 consecutive days of producing at least one drawing per day, 1,000 consecutive days of color study works, 1,000 consecutive days of figure study drawings, and 1,000 consecutive days of painting. Currently, he is over 500 days into another 1,000 days of daily painting. His work has been shown in galleries and museums across 15 states and on two continents. In 2003, Van Benschoten earned a B.F.A. in Painting from Siena Heights University and later an M.F.A. in painting from Syracuse University in 2006. Originally a Michigan native, Elijah has taught at various schools in New York, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.

Regardless of the medium I'm teaching, my primary focus in any course is to teach the importance of craftsmanship and a strong work ethic. Beyond that, I believe it's also important to establish a positive, enjoyable atmosphere for the class in which students know they can ask questions, express themselves freely, and take risks with their work.