TEA STEAM

NEW BLOG

2011-10-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

Here - joelbenjaminillustration.tumblr.com

IF - Mysterious

2011-09-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

Late entry for (last weeks) Illustration Friday. The word given was 'mysterious'. I've wanted to draw a smoke obscured face for a while now and as I developed this idea it grew into a full on film noir scene image.

I've recently been struggling with what to draw next. Usually having none or too many ideas at once. I think I'll stick to I.F. for a while as it's really draws on ones inventiveness and problem solving skills.

If you have no work on it also works very similarly to a little commission as you're given a brief (a very brief one at that) and have a deadline of the coming friday. It's good.

Many roughs.

Since watching Richard Ayoade's film Submarine, I've had a little obsession with the lead female characters hairstyle. I finally got to put it to use in this piece.

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Want to see next - The Troll Hunter

Affair

2011-09-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

Clutter City Market 'Autumnal Affair'.
Tomorrow at the Norwich Arts Centre 10-4pm.

I'll be there all day with Buffalo Run T-Shirts, Illustration Prints and 'Wolves in Cars zines' FOR SALE!

I may even be offering a Portrait-to-go service, if I can get organised enough.

Come along, say Hi and spend some of your hard earned.

FITH

2011-08-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Recent commission for London DJ Anthony Etherington. Check some of his mixes out HERE.

FITH stands for 'Fire in the hole', another of the DJ's nights.

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I have a new Facebook page! The last one was in the old group format, currently being fazed out it seems.

Please add me as a friend HERE.

Fires

2011-08-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Couldn't feel like drawing at all today. So here's some campfire Gifs instead.

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Mountain Man - Animal Tracks

Shades

2011-08-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

What started off as a simple illustration about some Sun glasses and a hairstyle turned into a whole big experimental power image.

I like it.

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Oh and if you havn't seen it already - Get Creative!

Troop

2011-08-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

Imagine the scene, if you will.

You've just created a range of T-Shirts and set up an online shop when your big brother, whose birthday is approaching, sends you a concise email which reads 'Do me a Storm trooper one'.

Well...

Battle of Endor

Trooper dreams

These were a one-off special for my Bro, all other designs available at the BUFFALO RUN Shop.

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I might be switching blogs soon. I've always said to myself 'if it's (blogger) still good enough for The Sartorialist, then it's good enough for me'. Not so anymore.
Will keep you posted.

Baker

2011-07-22T05:50:00.000-07:00

x SMASH SKATES x
x THE HARMONY SKATEBOARDS x
x JOEL BENJAMIN ILLUSTRATION x

Smash Skates 1st shop board. All standard sizes.

Available at Smash Skates, Beccles or online (soon).

Special thanks to Ash, Ellie, Felix, Adam and Baker the Cat.

1st run of 50 boards signed and numbered.

One of my 'do before you dies' can now be officially ticked off.

Banhart

2011-07-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Portrait of Devendra Banhart, to be filed under 'Bands' in the Portfolio.

The look of Mr Banhart in this piece was inspired by the 'Carmensita' video, a favourite of mine. Added to that the aesthetic of the 'Cripple Crow' album insert.

As mentoned in this interview (5:50ish), Devendra Banhart prefers to leave background sounds in his recordings and just letting everything happen. I was thinking about this while carefully and meticulously arranging the elements of this image in Photoshop. Here there is little sponteneity unless intentionally created. This is something I'm going to try to remedy as everything being just right is getting on my nerves a little.

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Symmetry spirit monster creation

Weekends

2011-07-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I spent a lot of time under the roof of Norwich Arts Centre.
In the day time selling my wares at Clutter City Market and the evening soaking up the fantastic sounds of Sargasso Trio (after some good food at Franks Bar).
A day very well spent.

I was lucky enough to make aquaintance with a lovely creative couple: Jim Mortram and Sister Planet, my awesome stall neighbours at Clutter City.

Sticker gift from Sister P.

Jim's an award winning photographer of environmental social reportage stories and portraiture. Sister Planet (Laura Manfre) describes herself as a french illustrator and vintage lover.

Be sure to have a look on their websites, just click the names above.

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Despite a reluctance to add to an ever growing list of usernames and passwords I've just signed up to Twitter.

Find me @_JoelBenjamin_

I'll no doubt use it to endlessly Retweet Booooooom.com posts and Skateboarding snippets.

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I may appear at Les Beaux Velos this coming Sunday at Upper St Giles Street, Norwich.

My part time retail job has me hooked on 12 hour long overnight shifts, one of which is that very same evening/night/following morning. Whether it would be a good idea to spend the day prior to that anywhere else but in bed is, as yet, undecided.

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Just to throw a few more links in here:

The online shop is still going strong at - www.buffalorun.bigcartel.com

Current musical obsession - Timber Timbre

Company

2011-06-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Fashion/lifestyle portfolio piece. After the fairly straightforward inking stage this illustration took me ages, a few weeks, to make the colouring work (I hope it does?).

Just finished - Dantes Inferno (heavy).

Annie

2011-06-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

My good friend Mickey over at Illustrator Lam commissioned me to do some professional colouring for him. His two page comic is a biography of Annie Yang, a woman who was tortured in China for practicing Falun Gong meditation until she managed to get asylum in the UK. Read alittle more on the subject over a Mickeys Blog or at Faluninfo.net

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

This was the first time I've ever got to colour someone elses work and proved to be quite challenging. When you make your own piece everything is sort of planned out deep somewhere in your mind. What was toughest seemed to be estimating how long it would take to complete. Until 3:30am on the morning of the deadline turned out to be a fair approximation.

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The Body Breaks - Devendra Banhart
I have 4 Devendra Banhart albums now!
I guess you could call me a fan (portrait coming soon).

WolfCarTee

2011-06-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

For some reason it has taken me ages to get my little zine 'Wolves in Cars' up in the shop. (Read original post here)

Well, it's finally available to order and to celebrate this feat of effort there is a new Tee to match.
100% cotton in Mens and Womens fit.

Check out at -
www.buffalorun.bigcartel.com
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By the way, I have a table booked at the next Clutter City Market on Sat July 2nd at the Norwich Arts Centre, 10am - 4pm. If you're in the area come along and see all the glorious goods available from tons of local creative types!

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Missed the gig but got the album - Phosphorescent

Thrift WIP

2011-06-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

A small piece of a current commission. Might be quiet on the blog front for a little while.

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Listening to....

Yeasayer - Wait for the summer

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean

Timber Timbre - Bad Ritual

Thom

2011-05-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

Portfolio piece - Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
I went for the Lotus Flower video look as I love to use large shapes/areas of flat black that his hat makes up. The colour scheme is directly inspired by King of Limbs cover palette.

Process.

I listen to Radiohead quite a lot these days although I've missed a a bunch of their albums (the ones between Kid A and In Rainbows, including the solo Thom Yorke releases). I have some catching up to do.

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Just added some prints to the Online Shop! Take a peek at BUFFALO RUN.

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Had the pleasure of seeing live last night - Staff Benda Bilili - They really know how to party.

AViAN

2011-05-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

Recent commission for brand new label AViAN records. Underground electronic/techno straight outta Cambridge.

Check out their blog and have a listen at - avianmusic.tumblr.com

Many thanks to Vicki.

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The T-Shirt shop is now up and running at - www.buffalorun.bigcartel.com
Please check out the Tee range and check back for new prints soon.

If you're really feeling it, please share a link and tell all your friends.

Tees

2011-05-02T04:35:00.001-07:00

Click images to view larger.

Buffalo Run

Relics (col)

Relics (bw)

3top

GiddyUp

Online shop up soon.
Pre-orders available - mail@joelbenjamin.co.uk

Brewtoo

2011-04-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Brew continued..

Closed

2011-04-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Not related to last posts claim of tee designs (coming soon), I have some work on a T-Shirt!
Norwich based Punk / Rock band 'This Business is Closed' are using a Wolf in Car for their tour tees. These tees are a limited edition, so quite possibly won't be available post tour. I'm pretty stoked with the print and was quite excited to see them being snapped up by fans at their show last saturday (from which my ears are still ringing).

I was also lucky enough to meet fellow Norwich freelancer Lauren Marina, check her work out HERE.

Thanks to Rob and the band.

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Now reading - Rework

Idle

2011-04-14T03:18:00.000-07:00

Staying with the simple fashion based imagery, here's my latest. Nice things inspire nice thoughts, yes sir, the simpler the better.

I have no commissioned work on at the moment, something I'm working hard to remedy, so my life is pretty easy going. Having not practiced any meditative excercise for a while now, I decided yesterday to go to a drop-in yoga class. As the class was asked to gently breath, relax and let go of the days work inspired stresses and concerns I found myself thinking "Crikey, compared to these tense business bods my life isn't nearly stressful enough, I should go home and get to work!".
A selection of tee-shirt designs are on their way :)

Marine

2011-04-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

Commissioned piece from late last year for a group of U.S supply marines! (Supply marines are the ones who get food and ammo supplies to the marines out in the field). The final image had lots of text on it; the code name of the team and their individual surnames, but that info has to stay confidential.

I was looking at a lot of Terry Dodsons comic book art while working on this one. I think it shows a little.

Glad they're back on air - Big Illustration Party Time!

Infinite

2011-03-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's good practice to, every so often, take a break from what you usually do and have a dabble in something else. Here's me not drawing but messing around with digital photo collage instead. The infinite beauty and wonder of the natural world is the theme. Now I think of it, I may draw some of these, or something similar. It might be interesting to further remove the images from the original photo sheen & perfection.

Speaking of taking a break, I've just got back from a weekend away, hiking and climbing in the peak district. It was a flawlessly glorious good time, I hope to do it again soon as it's cleared out my head a treat. Up a big hill or small mountain you don't have to think because you're so stimulated by everything around you, but in such a better way than if you're absorbed in a film or computer game. It puts city life back into perspective and is generally very good for the soul. So says I.

Just bought and thoroughly digging - King of Limbs

Grey

2011-03-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

A quick illustration for the cover of Lost Boy issue 2, a norwich based zine by good lad Liam Drane. Lost Boy documents Music, art, photography, skateboarding and plenty more.

The brief was to bascially draw whatever ideas I had regarding the words 'Lost Boy'. Since these guys were discovered I've been thinking about native, historical and lost cultures. Added to that, recent interest in horses and the wild west led to the image of the young Native American.

Two cover variations are printed for each issue. Another Norwich skateboarder/illustrator Janusz created the alternate cover image. His blog here.

Rough idea we didn't go with.

You can buy yourself a copy of Lost Boy at Cherry Cherry, Drugstore or online here! I'm sure I've seen it in Soundclash too.

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Really pleased to be reading - How to be Idle, Tom Hodgkinson (thanks Oxfam book shop!).

Shion

2011-03-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

New fashion based pieces. Simple and straightforward, that's what I like at the moment. Just images.

Yes, I posed for this one.

No, I don't know this lady, she's from an older post at The Sartorialist. Still nice though, huh?

Last week I read a book on the philosophy of Aesthetics. I decided to buy the book in hopes of improving my understanding of the visual arts and maybe get an insight into what I myself am trying to do.
I'm sure I understood the most of it, but it tied my brain in knots at the same time. What did help me was learning that most theories and conclusions were drawn by critics upon looking at and examining a piece of artwork. They were all retrospectively formed theories.
I realise that I'm more concerned with the creative process and idea conception. I often worry myself with what a piece will mean before I've even put pencil to paper, and what it may say about me as a person. On reflection, I'm just going to churn them out and worry about any meanings and implications later, if at all.
Here's to more of the same!

Digging - Forty Ounce Clothing

Lost

2011-03-11T02:50:00.000-08:00

Mention over at Lostboy zine blog. More on this soon.

Browse the whole of Lostboy blog, here.

Creative

2011-03-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

Covertly phone snapped a little advertising I got in this months Creative Review. wohoo!

Lets hope it works.

Brick

2011-03-03T04:23:00.000-08:00

Illustration for the March issue of 'Triathletes World' magazine. The article is all about how to train during winter without getting too bored.

Thanks to Marc at Natmags.

Best music I've ever discovered through a computer game - Enter the 37th Chamber.

Heidi

2011-02-23T06:06:00.000-08:00

Recent commissioned piece for the Oxford University press. This was a sample illustration depicting a scene from the Swiss childrens tale 'Heidi'.

This project was good fun to research and draw, especially trawling through endless photos of the Alps. Unfortunatley I didnt get the gig to illustrate the rest of the book, maybe next time.

Following for a while now - The Realist

Post

2011-02-21T08:29:00.001-08:00

Staplin'

Stackin'

Signin'

Envelopin'

Postin'

Get them while you can!

Check a few posts back to view 'Wolves in Cars' and order your copy.

Brew

2011-02-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Staying with the wild dog theme, Bob has developed into a crafty, home brewing, foxy dangler. The other masks didn't work nearly half as well.

Hoping to get time off for - Primavera, Barcelona.

Masks

2011-02-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

Just made these to add to a previous illustration (next post). So chuffed with them I thought they deserved their own little slot.

Learning to love - Warpaint, Bees.

Buy

2011-02-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

You can order your very own copy of 'Wolves in Cars' by clicking the Paypal button below, paying £4 (including postage) then sending a swift email to mail@joelbenjamin.co.uk detailing your postal address.
Win win.

Cars

2011-02-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

After battling with my conscience, printer and stapler I've managed to make my first ever Zine! Wolves in Cars.

Inspired by the grandeur of the great outdoors in quick contrast with mans best and worst convenience machine.

On sale now at Cherry Cherry, Norwich (just in time for the Zine market).

There's a pic or two more over on my Flickr page.

Super chuffed to discover - Wolf People , coincidentally.

Stag

2011-01-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

I think I've finished colouring this now, it took a few goes.

Latest Love - Julie Doiron

Wine

2011-01-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

I'm on holiday this week. I've been drawing lots :)
Here's my friend Bob, a beautiful character. He loves nature and makes his own various brews. He's not really into Arcade fire, but I don't hold that against him.

Half way through - The Book Thief

Bitter

2011-01-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

Bittersweet.
A fully developed sketchbook idea. Coloured version to follow, sometime.

I went to watch Anti-folk duo JEFFREY LEWIS & PETER STAMPFEL last night at the Norwich Arts centre A really fun gig which culminated in a one man banjo rendition of the 'Goldfinger' theme tune.

I bought two of Jeff's comics, called 'FUFF', which contain some really nice Biographcal/Travelogue stories from his father. It's really inspiring to buy and read some indie comic books, it's helped me to stop coming up with endless new ideas and just get to work.

Recently seen - Ponyo

Wolf

2011-01-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

Due to a bit of blog neglect on my part recently, here's a small slew of inked drawings from my sketchbook. I've been having a really good time just drawing from old photos recently, although I really should break away from it and do some life sketching.
Above - Wolf in Car.

Proles piece re-do.

Horse with slightly too small head.

If I can stick with one theme/subject long enough, a zine will be in the works soon.

Current daily listening - Crystalised

Lynd

2011-01-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New year everyone!
I hope you had a good festive season. Mine was filled with the usual fond family and feasting.

This board was commssioned for a Manchester Skate chef. I think the board had some slick treatment or something as it took about three layers of inking to get anything to stick.

Next on the to-see list - True Grit

Flea

2010-12-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

Flea Market on Magdalen Street, Norwich.

Goya Tee.

Durer Print.

Super chuffed.

Tax

2010-12-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Recent Sketchbook bits.

Finding relevant - Braintax, Retail.

Prole

2010-12-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

About 3 years ago I made this piece for a London based Zine called 'The Proles', created and run by Tim Green. The theme of the issue was 'Metamorphosis'. I went for a modern take on a classic Brothers Grimm fairytale 'The Frog Prince'. Depicting the crucial moment before a startling transformation occurs.

At this time I was between styles, leaving behind the Chris Riddell inspired political cartoon look (which you can see at the very start of this blog) and working towards my current illustration aesthetic.

See it in amongst the rest of the zine here.

Still

2010-11-29T11:08:00.000-08:00

A load of work has been coming in recently and I've been chained to my desk when not at my day job (part time). Sadly there's nothing I can blog about yet :(

Here's another skate DVD sketch, for now.

Currently over-listening - The Suburbs

Eyes2

2010-11-22T05:25:00.000-08:00

Slightly more worked version.

Liking - Lucidity

Eyes

2010-11-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Quick piece inspired by thoughts regarding trust, allure, what we are able to know about one another and first impressions.

Watching lots - Macaframa

Gaff

2010-11-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

New home = New studio space.
This where I'll be spending a LOT of time as a bundle of work has just landed on me (for which I'm very grateful).

Here's a small piece of Sketchbook for now, more bigger work soon.

Glad I found - M.Ward

Homie

2010-11-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Vaguely related to current projects.

Seeing Tonight!!! - MIDLAKE, woop!

Toast

2010-10-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Halloween season special.

Prints available at Cherry Cherry - Norwich
and soon, The Upstairs Gallery - Beccles

Warm

2010-10-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

Latest Illustration work.

Because now it's nearing winter, we all just want to "bunk-down" a bit.

About to watch - Kick-Ass DVD (thanks library).

Gold

2010-10-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

A selection of quickly drawn sketches made while watching Stay Gold - The Emerica DVD.

Pressing pause, drawing quickly, then rewinding (because the pause timed out), fast-forwarding, playing, pausing and then drawing quickly again was the general process.

Drawing images filmed with a Fisheye lens makes for some interestingly curved objects.

Wanting to see - A Town Called Panic

Mard

2010-10-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Recent coloured Sketchbook piece. Inspired by a certain Devendra Banhart Video.

Kommt

2010-09-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

Not sure if I'll be sent a hard copy, but I have another piece in this Seasons Velosophie, the Free, Austrian Bicycling publication.

Your can have a look at the Online Durchblattern! Here, I'm on page 13.

“Bicycling…is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds" says the Louis J Halle quote.

He also said (in the same paragraph); "I have shot in and out of stalled traffic like a goshawk through the woods”, which I am well into.

Tape

2010-09-27T14:30:00.001-07:00

A Snippet of what I'm working on right now.

It may be a while before I can show you it all.

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Song of the day by Tame Impala

PrCatice

2010-09-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

All about this at present.

And these:
- Year 100
- Stay Gold
- Lovin' Spoonful

Velosophie

2010-09-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

'Mellor Velo Roma' piece featured in Vienna's 'Velosophie' Summer edition.

I got a whole page!

Zac

2010-09-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Recent Fine-line and Felt-tip sketches from an outdoor clothing catalogue.

Broke

2010-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I hope to be posting more again soon.
Hard times of late have brought work to a halt.

Except for therapeutic wacom drawings like this ^^

Chief

2010-07-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

Recent Portrait commission for East Coast Skate chief Chris Allcock and Girlfriend.

This was a challenging piece to get right. It's tough to find a balance when drawing long hairs, slowly draw all the lines carefully or swoosh 'em out with long sweeping strokes? A bit of both seems to do it.

See Chris in action >> GY Borough

'Phones

2010-07-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Latest piece - made from 80% fun and 20% serious thought.

The main theme of this image is 'Tangibility'. The nostalgic tactile nature of retro audio gear contrasted against the fleeting and beautiful exsistence of small, wild birds. Also the idea that sound itself can never be fully harnessed or grasped but only experienced. These where the general feelings I wanted to bring together.
(I slightly changed the colour scheme since the Snippet teaser as the colours really didn't work on paper!).

Framed and unframed prints of this image are available NOW at Cherry Cherry in Norwich, which I'm pleased to say has been selling a steady stream of my work so far.

This image is also available from my Society6 page.

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Im sadly not at Latitude this weekend, so won't be seeing the awesome Grizzly Bear on stage :_(

Snippet

2010-07-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Full piece up later in the week.

Glad to have finally watched - Gleaming the Cube!

Wing

2010-07-02T15:06:00.001-07:00

Recent sketchbook piece. More finished work up soon.

Song of the day - MGMT, Congratulations

HAI!

2010-06-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hooray for HAI! (Hire an Illustrator), I've got my little portfolio up on there site. Hopefully it'll catch some eyes.

To see the HAI! homepage click here.

To see my page on HAI! click here.

Society

2010-06-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

I've just joined Society 6, where my work will be available to buy as prints online. View my page here

Leem

2010-06-22T15:59:00.000-07:00

Another recent Portrait commission.
Just Black to Grey Watercolour and the white of the paper.

Baby faces are hard work.

Hands

2010-06-16T05:11:00.001-07:00

Two recent hand heavy images for the Epoch Times UK.
Both for the Poetry Analysis column.

'I snatched the sun's eternal ray', from John Clare's 'A Vision'.
Published Today!

'Thy trivial harp will never please',
from Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Merlin'.
Published a few weeks ago.

Recent reading - Concrete - it's good!

Lead

2010-06-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at a piece currently in progress.

Here's some experimentation.

Hopefully the two will come together.

This weeks listenings = Pixel Mixel by BitBasic (Suffolk lad originally!)

2010-06-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

More marriages.

Recent Portrait commission. I hope they liked it, I know them not.

Currently listening to - Song for Dan Treacy, MGMT.

Bass

2010-05-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

Wedding Invitation front-piece for good friends Rob and Nina.

This American Gothic based sketch was made in response to the initial ideas Rob and I discussed, obviously much changed as the project progressed.

My thanks to the happy couple for being rad clients and taking a whole bundle of reference photos for me.

Visit This Business Is Closed to hear Robs Bass skills (I think Nina has some cupcakes blogged somewhere too??).

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Everything Illustration has slowed down a bit for me recently. I'm taking a little break to get things back on track, gradually.

158

2010-05-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

I've recently posted up a new set of photos on my Flickr page

The pics are from an ongoing side project, documenting sights I want to keep.

Light, Geometry, Shapes, Angles and the Weather. All from within my House.

Erin

2010-05-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Erin O'Connor

Latest Portfolio piece, drawn with reference to photos kindly donated from Paparazzo chief Simon Gross.

Looking forward to this!! - MachoTailDrop

Cherry

2010-04-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

The awesome fantastic shop Cherry Cherry are now stocking some prints of mine.

I recommend you go take a look at all the wonders in store - Lower Goat Lane, Norwich.

Only just found! - Midlake 'The Courage of others'

Blok

2010-04-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

A swatch of sketchbook bits.

Thoroughly enjoying/over listening - Field Music

Astro

2010-04-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Latest piece for the Epoch Times UK print edition, published 30/03/10.

A Reading of 'When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer' by Walt Whitman

Excerpt
"When I heard the learn'd astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them...."

This piece came out looking slightly cartoony, which I was a bit uncomfortable with at first. I decided not to change it though, it just seems to work fine overall :)

In hope of making the computer work part of my Illustrating more efficient I purchased myself a Wacom graphics Tablet this week!
After a slow start it's proving to be a worthwhile buy. Because it's a new tool to get used to and is rather unfamiliar I'm finding myself concentrating a lot more, which I like.

I really shouldn't leave it until 1am to create a blog post, it took me ages to sting all these words together!

P.S. - This flick is soo good, you should SQUIRREL!!....... you should watch it.

Gaga

2010-04-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Musical friend Iain Lowery has an ongoing album project.
I donated a little piece for one of his tracks, all about his last much loved Cat Colin (R.I.P).

Read here
Listen here

Moment

2010-03-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

Epoch Times Poetry analysis piece, from about four weeks ago!
Left unblogged while I've tried to colour it successfully, and failed so far.

A Reading of 'There is a Moment' by William Blake

There is a Moment

There is a Moment in each Day that Satan cannot find
Nor can his Watch Fiends find it, but the Industrious find
This Moment & it multiply, & when it once is found
It Renovates every Moment of the Day if rightly placed

The Epoch Times Newspaper continually uses its independent voice to report on the unlawful persecution of Falun Gong Meditation in China, an issue that may well be kept quiet otherwise.
I thought I'd use the image of Falun Gong Meditation to illustrate this poems moral advice.

P.S. Before me lies a huge dilemma.
Here or Here this summer?

Robin

2010-03-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who made a suggestion for me last week. I've decided which pic to enter now, more on that in future posts.

I have plenty of ongoing work at the moment so will post things as and when I can. Stay tuned.

Your Assistance Please

2010-03-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I received a phone call the other morning from The Creative Review asking if I'd be interested in entering their new annual illustration competition. The winning entries get printed in a special edition of Creative Review, this July.

I'd like to give it a shot, but it costs a bit to enter, and I'm not sure which piece to put forth??

If you have a minute, please take a browse through my portfolio and tell me which you think is my best piece (by that I mean the piece that you deem to be of the highest standard). Work from the Recent work and Illustration sections only please.

You can either leave a comment on this blog or on Facebook someplace.
Most helpful post gets a free print in the post!

Thanks.

Very

2010-03-10T12:38:00.001-08:00

Latest piece for the Epoch Times Uk, print edition. Published today, 10/03/10.

The Antidote—Classic Poetry for Modern Life.
A reading of 'The New Birth' by Jones Very

Excerpt
"The portals open to the viewless wind
That comes not save when in the dust is laid
The crown of pride that gilds each mortal brow,
And from before man's vision melting fade"

I had a six hour turnover for this one, and the request for the shape to be 'really tall and slim'. After a really joyless time inking the linework (out of practice), the rest of the image seemed to come together a treat!
Depicted is the poet himself, who suffered a mental collapse during his time at Harvard University. Claiming himself to be 'the Second Coming of Christ, which resulted in his dismissal from Harvard and his eventual institutionalization in an insane asylum' (wiki).

PS. - Hasty Pizza hunger has caused me to just burn my hand on the Oven again.

Tillman

2010-03-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

The Fleet Foxes Band portrait was created in many steps, namely one member at a time. This worked really well in easing along the end product gradually and fluidly.

Time management is a super huge issue for me at the moment. I'm not piled high with work and rushing around all the time, but it's so easy to spend time unproductively. I've taken to unplugging my wireless dongle, just so it reminds me not to get lost on the internet every time I have to plug it back in to look up something online.

PS. - My hands are under attack!
Left hand middle finger missing a chunk (Climbing),
left hand thumb knuckle burnt (Oven),
right hand thumb Cut (left thumbnail!!).

:(

Fleet Foxes

2010-02-26T12:28:00.001-08:00

Latest Portfolio show piece.
My favourite band of 2008/09, of whom I'm eagerly awaiting their next album, due out later this year.

'Robin has revealed that for their sophomore he will try to sound "less poppy, less upbeat and more groove-based". Taking inspiration from Roy Harper's psychedelic classic, Stormcock, or at least its 12-string guitar he said: "That will be the primary sonic distancing from the last record".' - Wikipedia

Indie-Folk, I do love it.

Scholar

2010-02-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

A Reading of 'The Scholar' by Robert Southey.

Most recent Epoch Times piece. Published two weeks ago, I've been feverishly tweaking the colour version ever since.

The two blue characters are Keats and Sappho, ghostly company of the solitary Scholar as he reads classical texts.
I chose a rather close up composition for this one, mainly to convey the intimate nature of reading alone and the sharing of thoughts and feelings that an author can create. If I read a lot, I often find the voices of characters becoming more developed in my mind, even more so with graphic novels. In this image I wanted the historic authors to be right near the reader, as if they are becoming part of his consciousness.

The colouring on the reader character developed into a sort of sepia look. The idea being that reading books is an age old practice, and the guy depicted is delving into history. The poem also has some content regarding the poem's author making their own place in history to come, or 'futurity' as it's put.

A good few commissions have come together recently, so I'm going to be busy in coming weeks. Luckily the bad weather is keeping me indoors, but like everyone else I'm pining for Spring to show.

Re-discovered Classic of the week! - Tower of Power, Urban Renewal

Further Foxes

2010-02-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

I met a recent Fine Art graduate yesterday. In talking about the subject I was reminded about how much Contemporary Fine Artists have to explain their work. I don't mean 'explain' as in justifying a piece being 'Art' to a bewildered public, but just the practice of backing up each decision made in the creative process.
I used to practice this a lot, but in Illustration it becomes less needed. The image works as an aid to a text (traditionally), an extra piece of accompanying communication. Any explanation needed should lie in the text.
An exception to this is in stand alone Illustration pieces (in my case this one).
I miss explaining my work. I'm going to try elaborating more in future posts.

I won't start here today.
These are just sketchbook practice pages.
Hope you like them.

My housemate's band, The Lost Levels, are on their UK tour right now. Watch a recent video of them HERE.

Fox Practice

2010-02-12T10:20:00.001-08:00

Find of the week - 'What Isn't Nature' by Cass McCombs
as featured on Jason Dill's 'Skate More' section

Casio

2010-02-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

A not so experimental experiment.
No story as such, just something I wanted to draw to see if it works.

Staying with the theme of yesterdays technology, the Casio F-91W sits upon his wrist. I used to have one of these, I'm going to get another.

More like this may follow.

Find of the week - Bob James, 'Take me to your Mardi Gras'

Cassettes

2010-01-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Following on from the Audio entry comes this piece.

Inspired by my favourite road sign, and favourite on the road moment (as long as you're not going too fast and get to stop and watch the beautiful creatures). The last time a group of Deer stepped out in front of me whilst driving along was about 3 years ago when I worked for the Latitude festival at Henham Park, Suffolk. It was pretty special.

The mixture of modern music and Fauna is a curious one, which I like.

Common Nightingale

2010-01-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday - Wilderness

2010-01-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

Not in fitting with my usual look, but on my week off from work (at M&S) I wanted to have a go at Illustration Friday.

The word is 'Wilderness', this is my response. Visually Inspired by Pro Skateboarder Chris Haslam.

Also, as a nod to Bill Bailey in the classic comedy 'Black Books', thats a Subutteo man nestled in there.

Missed

2010-01-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

Two pieces here from 2009 that where left unblogged. Mainly due to my not really being into them upon completion, at the time. Now I look back at them, I don't mind them so much.

Both pieces where for the Epoch Times Poetry analysis column.

There are some more of these in other folders, but they'll being staying there forever more.

Check

2010-01-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Latest show piece specifically for my Portfolio. This one took a while, especially due to the Checked Flannel Shirt. I'm glad it's now complete and am well pleased with it.

Largely inspired by this much loved Portrait, the animal can be seen as representativeof the figure's character or quality.

If I were to put a soundtrack to this image, it'd be - Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp
and/or perhaps anything that brings to mind that Grand Outdoors feeling (Songs with 'Mountain' in the title will do).

Ok, its around 5pm and I still havn't put pencil to paper yet today!

Nightingale

2010-01-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to All!!

2009 was a good one for me and I'm optimistic about all that 2010 may have in store.

Heres the latest piece for the Epoch Times UK edition, published today.

An Extract from 'The Nightingale' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

(Extract)
"No cloud, no relic of the sunken day
Distinguishes the West, no long thin slip
Of sullen light, no obscure trembling hues.
Come, we will rest on this old mossy bridge!"

A bit of moody Landscape to kick off the year. I tried to focus on the atmosphere as much as possible, its my favourite aspect of scenic environments.

Original Rough.

I was really excited to include the element of reflection in this piece, it's such a beautiful subject in itself. M.C. Escher did it well with this one.

Alternate composition idea.

It's all Snow here in Norwich right now, pretty to look at but very unforgiving to the humble Track Bike rider :(

Posture Study.

You can see the actual newspaper page online here.

Present

2009-12-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

I hope your Christmas was Good.
I ate well and did little overall, in a good way.

Now it's over I can post the pieces I was commissioned to create for presents.

The above piece was created for my good pal Thomas. It's an amalgamation of things he likes.

Pencils.

This Portrait was for a very good customer of mine. Hopefully her boyfriend (and his dog) were pleased with it.

First attempt.

Hinterland

2009-12-14T17:50:00.000-08:00

I doubt this is good professional practice, but I'm quite excited by this next piece.
Here's just a tiny hint.

Plus! - The Lost Levels (aka - my awesome housemates) will be playing at The Arts Centre this Thursday. Be There!

MaskAlbum

2009-12-14T08:11:00.000-08:00

I've set up a little Facebook page to run alongside this here blog. You can become a fan of it if you prefer to be informed of updates that way.

Currently Enjoying - Beruit

Telly

2009-11-26T05:13:00.000-08:00

I have nothing much that I'm able to report at the moment, things start getting secretive near Christmas. The Walls have Ears and the Wires have Eyes.

A few sketchbook bits here though.
Above = TV watching drawing.
Below = Good thoughts.

Smooth

2009-11-16T04:49:00.000-08:00

Watercolour sketches from a little Vogue magazine that found me whilst on the train home from London the other day.

Brush & Spoke

2009-11-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

'Mellor Velo Roma' piece posted on Brush & Spoke - a website built to showcase bicycles, bicycle related art, and anything else bicycles!

Ride

2009-11-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Finally I can upload this piece to this blog and my portfolio site, as it's been published!

The Ride journal is comprised of articles, photography and illustrations from a wide range of contributors, getting wider each issue. I was very pleased to be able to have a piece in their publication and an invite to the launch party in Stoke Newington. It was a good night.

The article I was given told the true story of a cyclist in New York getting knocked down by a car for the second time within 12 months. His life subsequently entered a dark place. Gradually he managed to pull himself through thanks to his memories of better times riding in the sunshine.
Quite a tragic story to try putting a picture to, I went for the pre-impact moment before it all went bad.

P.S - Dark was the Night = :D

Hiawatha

2009-11-04T16:01:00.000-08:00

Latest Poetry Analysis piece for the Epoch Times UK, published today.
An Extract from 'The Song of Hiawatha' by Longfellow

Extract
"He had moccasins enchanted,
Magic moccasins of deer-skin;
When he bound them round his ankles,
When upon his feet he tied them,
At each stride a mile he measured"

Second Illustration in recent weeks that uses a low angle shot of a male head ('Awake' was the first). I've had enough of these for now, maybe I should do birds eye view shots next as a remedy.

The aforementioned moccasins, I might get some.

Sendak

2009-11-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

'Where The Wild Things Are' won't be released until around the 11th of December here in the UK. Thought I'd use the opportunity to create a illustration in anticipation.

The shading layer pic ^above^ is an accurate depiction of my excitement about this film.

Hot Little Hands

2009-10-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

A rough idea for a recent commission, of which I forgot to photograph the finished piece.

PRINTS!!

2009-10-27T09:10:00.001-07:00

High Quality prints of all and any of my work now available.

A3 - £15
A4 - £10

Send orders to mail@joelbenjamin.co.uk

High Quality, Kid!