​ben shamback received a ba in Illustration from central connecticut state university and his mfa in painting from fontbonne university in st. louis, missouri.  ben's speciality is painting oil on copper.  his still life paintings address the relationship between support, paint and process.  the intense realism of these paintings is intended as a contrast to the physicality and harshness of the metal.  ben was awarded the faber birren color award in 2003 and the gold medal of honor for oil painting from the allied artists of america in 2004.  realist painter philip pearlstein honored ben with a realism Award at the 2002 biennial exhibition.  he is an associate professor of painting and drawing at the university of south alabama.