Different strokes

COLDWATER - Creating art is the epitome of freedom to Coldwater resident Benjamin Heyne.

"My mind is free to go where it wants. It makes me very happy. There's nothing holding you back," he said on Friday afternoon in his backyard while spray-painting onto canvas a stunning scene of two swans swimming in the fading glow of a setting sun.

Heyne, a 28-year-old supervisor at Armcorp Construction in Celina, said he wanted to try his hand at spray-painting after watching a demonstration video online about three years ago.

"My first spray painting project was done on break at work on a piece of cardboard," he recalled. "It has turned into a hobby of mine."

Since then, Heyne has honed his techniques, developing a style that he said is "out of the ordinary and breaks all the rules."

People may have seen Heyne showcasing his talent during the Mercer County Fair this year. A spray-painter in action, he said, is exciting to watch. He likes to watch artist Porifio Jimenez of Mexico, whom he said is phenomenal.

"His artwork is untouchable when it comes to spray paint," he said.

Heyne has learned many techniques. Layering paint colors on top of one other plays a huge role in his work, he said. Using paper and a scalpel, he can scrape away layers of paint to reveal what's underneath, making a colorful effect.

"It can turn into what you imagine it would be. It makes new characteristics on the paint. It's super cool," he said as he dabbed a piece of paper from a magazine onto the canvas to make tree leaves.

He can run a straight-edged blade from side-to-side to make it look like a reflection on the water. Another technique he employs is folding a piece of paper in half and spray-painting in the crease.

"The paint will run and leak out like an ink pen," he said, as he poured the paint on the paper to make tree branches.

Heyne said there's no such thing as a mistake when painting.

"I make mistakes every time I paint because it's so hard to control. It's just a new way to make something new," he said. "A paint drop can be turned into a bird by pulling to one way and the other to make wings."

Art has always fascinated Heyne. His former high school teacher, Nick Wenning, saw potential in him and let his curiosity grow, Heyne recalled.

"He took many of my classes - painting, drawing, jewelry. Of all the students I've had, he was one of the top students," Wenning said. "No matter what he touched, he could create something from that."

Heyne also likes to take anything he can find and turn it into something new with metal as his favorite material.

"It is very hard to work with, but at the same time it's very unique what you can make with it," he said.

In his garage, he used scrap metal to customize his motorcycle. He even turned bullet casings the 21-gun salute at his grandfather's funeral into a bracelet.

His daughter, Grace, 8, enjoys helping him with projects, Heyne said.

"Right now, we have a piece of drift wood and we're gonna hang it on the wall," he said. "On it we made a little bird out of wire and she wants to put an empty bird cage next to it. She thought of the whole thing herself. It makes me very happy she's taking after me."
  His house is full of their projects. He and his wife, Rachel, also have two sons, Bentley, 5, and Conrad, who will turn 1 in October.