Martin J Benoit (his last name rhymes with "Renoir") has been capturing the images of his world in pen-and-ink since the early 1980's. His collection of works has something for everyone.

He first became interested in art at the impressionable age of eight while watching an artist work at a theme park. That memory stuck with him through the years. His first pen-and-ink work was for his own home in 1983. Over the years since, he has fine-tuned his highly-detailed ink works to produce drawings of intense detail. Viewed from a few feet or across the room, the incredible detail of Martin's work gives life and depth to the drawings.

Martin works with a very fine-tipped technical pen. After composing a scene from his vast collection of photos and clippings, he spends hours in preliminary pencil sketching. Every line is measured and calculated to produce a drawing of exact proportions. It takes an average of an hour per square inch to complete an original ink drawing.

During the inking process, Martin will work inches from the drawing surface. As a drawing develops, main structure lines are recalculated and continually updated, an aspect of Martin's precision work that he truly enjoys. The basic outline of the subject matter may require many days to do while the incredible detail of dots and lines that give the drawing life takes weeks and, on occasion, months to complete. It is this attention to care and detail that is very evident in his work.

Martin's subjects are as varied as his interests. Flowers in bloom, machinery at work, people on the move and at rest, structures of historic interest, scenes of breathtaking beauty - all and more are represented in the works of Martin J Benoit, WFA.

A native of Louisiana, Martin worked for a number of years on his father's sugar cane farm. His background has rooted the old-fashioned values he holds dear. Stories told to him by friends and relatives have been the basis for many of his works.

Martin has exhibited his work throughout parts of the country and has added some of these scenes to his offerings. Works that showcase the uniqueness of Louisiana have been joined by those of the midwest, the eastern seaboard, and the Sierra Nevadas.

Over his 30-plus years as an artist, Martin has honed his craft, driving himself to produce the beautifully-detailed works for which he is known. The challenge he has set for himself is to constantly move forward, take risks, and experiment with new techniques all in the realm of pen-and-ink.