Traces

A quick trace of my Nan (felt tip) from a watercolour portrait, using my flash new Lightbox.

Little Confucian

As soon as I saw the photo in the newspaper I knew that at least a little painting/study had to come from it. In the original image there is a crowd of these little well behaved dudes, I only had time to paint the one. The book he is holding is no doubt a pocket size copy of the Analects of Confucius, the teachings of which emphasise Loyalty, Filial Piety, Kindness, Honesty and general good Humanity. The writings of and about Confucius heavily influenced the morality and philosophy of the chinese people before the destructive Cultural Revolution of the 1960s.

Winter Indoors

Nasty little computer viruses, pre christmas busy-ness and a touch of SAD have all kept me from posting anything up here recently. Mind you, a few portrait comissions and successfully selling Skateboard Clocks have meant that my away from web endeavors haven't been in vain.

Posted here are some roughs from my sketchbook that were warm ups for the aforementioned portraits. Also the initial studies for the first Wall-Clock-Deck (below).

More Smash Sparrows

After the swift sale of the first clock-deck, it was decided that I should keep these coming in the run-up to christmas.

On sale now at Smash Skates, Beccles.

Smash Sparrows

Nature.
That's what Skateboarding is all about.
Outdoors, fresh air, cruising around a smooth concrete car park on a plank of 9 ply maple. Well, perhaps not the most natural of occurences, but it gives you a sense of freedom at least, and that's what I like about it.

It's with that in mind that this recent piece has come to be. A collaboration between Smash Skates of Beccles and myself, as a part of their new wall clock range.

With any luck, more will follow.

Vans

Vehicular doodling done while at work.

Abstraction

In recent years I have often been encouraged and advised by tutors or fellow students to 'loosen up' and 'let yourself make a mistake'.
I know they mean well and I do understand what they're getting at, but I just wanted to show that I have indeed been there. Examples below.
Through experience I have come to find the challenge of accurate rendering much more rewarding and indeed a broader realm within which to operate.


Two pieces from my Foundation course in Fine Art, Norwich, 2002. Created using Acrylic, Pencils, Large wax Crayons and rampant emotions.

Juliet

Havn't posted anything for a while due to my internet connection going down as it was upgraded. It was nice to be without it for a little while and go back to relying more on books and the things around me for entertainment & general stimulation, but it did make me realise that this here In'ernet is a valuable tool indeed, I missed it.

All things in moderation is good.

This is a picture of my friends daughter, done in my spare time (originally just a practice piece).

Vintage rOmantic

Abit of an experiment in Vintage Sepia look imagery. Further developments may follow.

Animation tab

I've added an Animation section to my online portfolio so that some of my recent 'movie' commissions can be displayed, enjoy.
JoelBenjamin.co.uk

Idyll Knight

Another poetry analysis illustration for the Epoch Times London Edition. A dramatic moment is depicted from the poem 'Idylls of the King' by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Click the link to see Gustave Dore's Illustration on Wiki, he was the Don.

I had planned this image to be a bit more Frank Miller-esque, but seeing as I didnt actually look at his work while drawing, it didn't come through so much (at all).

Trackbiker

Just a little doodle I liked.

Birds

I haven't created or completed anything much in the last two weeks, due to working at my day job and other such commitments. I've also been spending quite a lot of time educating myself about art history. Mainly by reading through Taschen art books on classical painters (recently Vermeer, Delacroix and Velazquez next) and by watching Matthew Collings 'This is Civilization' on Youtube, which I really recommend. However, the UK weather has just decided it's going to unleash upon us all sorts of cold and wetness, which should prove productive for me.

Posted here are some quick studies of sparrows and pigeons from my Lincoln back Garden during my 3rd year at Uni ('06).

Tomthro

Took this one a bit further on computer, while listening to Ugly Duckling (I still love them).

SteeFrone

Over longated faces have been my typical error for as long as i can remember.

The corrected version will be inked up shortly.

A Cats Tale

A peliminary design for a potential commission I may be illustrating soon. I have developed a tendency to use large areas of darkness in my compositions recently. Considering how I can save time and effort by using block black has become part of my thinking when coming up with ideas for pictures. I'd like to trace where I got this idea from initially, this guy probably had something to do with it.

St Cecilia

The version above was printed on 10/09/08 in the Poetry Analysis column of the Epoch Times London edition. The version below I coloured on photoshop when I had more time. St Cecilia is the patron Saint of musicians, and has been rendered beautifully in many classic paintings.
Click here to see her wiki page and learn stuff.

Which Frame?!?

Meditation Girl

This image is something I made in my free time recently.

The girl depicted is practising a Falun Gong meditation excercise and I think that in the original photo I worked from, she is at a peaceful protest outdoors somewhere. The reason being that Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted under the Communist government in China. Many spiritual practices in the East, despite being more akin to China's original, ancient culture, dont fit in with the partys ideology and are therefore supressed (often violently). Falun Gong practitioners around the world outside of China have therefore taken it upon themselves to protest against this gross violation of Human Rights, just like the girl in this picture.

I've been very impressed and influenced by this guys work recently, and I think it shows a bit in this piece.

Upstairs Exhibition

My work has been hanging throughout August at the Upstairs Gallery in Beccles. I've had lots of positive feedback and a good wedge of my contact info postcards have been taken (hopefully by art lovers who arent 'feeling the pinch').
Thanks to the very kind gallery owner Michelle, I'll be exhibiting for all of September now too! Cheers!

Click on the banner above to check out the Upstairs Gallery website and all that goes on there!

Slice of Life

A few bits from Life drawing class, which will be sadly missed thanks to the local High School deciding to cease all evening classes :_(

Antidote

Latest piece for the Epoch Times Newspaper, London Edition. Printed today on the Art & Culture page, alongside an analysis of the poem 'The Character of a Happy Life' by Sir henry Wooton.
My image is inspired mainly by the lines; 'And entertains the harmless day with a well-chosen book or friend', and based largely upon Norman Rockwells famous 'Willie Gillis' (below).

Click here if you'd like to read the poem and analysis (alongside someone elses illustration!).

Mosaic'd

Inspired by a series of 'NikeSB' print Ads, I've added a little background colour to the line portraits I made. Click the pic to see 'em over on the portfolio site.

Exhibition - Upstairs Gallery, Beccles

Check it out Kids, up all month!

Also, Ive updated my Online Portfolio a little to match the work on display at the Exhibition - www.joelbenjamin.co.uk

Food for Thought

Another piece of Leaflet illustration. This time to advertise the Buffet services of the lovely 'Food for Thought' sandwich shop in Beccles. Available through selected outlets in the Beccles vicinity.

Jasper

Drawn from a Cretee holiday photo :)

Crete Peeps

Beach people watching in the sun. Coloured quickly in Photoshop.

Trunks Man

Blue Bikini Lady

Busy lil' Beach Blondie

Holiday Flowers

A sketch of some Beach-side Geraniums from our most frequented bar in Crete, Revans.

Plein-Air in Crete

1 A4 sketchbook + 1 Pentel BrushPen (full with Quink) + 1 week in Crete = Some nice bits to post up here.




More to follow soon.