Phoenix color comps

Hey guys, just wanted to do a little update to show you what I've been doing for the Phoenix. The cover I'm working on is for their "Silencing Free Speech" issue, and I was lucky enough to have a lot of freedom in this issue. After all, how can you censor the free speech cover? ;)

The first one is probably the color scheme we're going with, but I'm doing the first and second ones just in case. Sorry, third comp, you didn't make the cut. Better luck next time!

Thanks again to Kevin and Kristen at the Phoenix for the opportunity - next update with finished artwork, then with the cover! Hooray! It'll be running from Providence, RI to Boston, MA and Portland, ME, so Jared can pick up a copy, too! Look out for it!



Other than that, I've been relaxing and ordering things online (such as awesome taxidermy mounts to paint on) and POSSIBLY a neon pink bike that I'm PRAYING is still available. ALSO hoping to get my first tattoo on July 27th. <3 I can't wait!

Off to finish my work! Bye bye!

I forget how you do art.

The only drawing that came out okay, today.

My head has been a big ball of mush since the show ended. All I've been thinking is: what's next? So here are two separate lists of things I want to do and things I have to get done. It helps to write it out and settle my head.

Things I have to do:
*Final linework and colors for Boston Pheonix cover for Tuesday
*Create a Speakerdog papercraft toy in the next two weeks
*Make a mural for Blick (no idea what yet) in the next couple weeks
*Series of pieces for show in August
Things I want to do:
*Do tons and tons of life drawing of everything everywhere
*Make a series of paintings on antique panels
*Make a series of paintings with various sayings
*Make a drawing that fills the whole paper
*Learn how to really digitally paint
*Build my website and make it awesome
*Do awesome collabs with other artists
*Create more characters
*Update my physical portfolio

When it comes to organizing myself for the things I have to do, there's no problem there. I get it done and do my very best. But when I have so many options for the things I want to do, I get stuck and feel very overwhelmed.


What do you do to stop a creative block?
Suggestions? Ideas?

Updates after Space 242

Just a little thing I did before the Space 242 show last night, which was AWESOME!!! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who took the time and the gas to come out and support myself and my lovely artist associates. It was one of the best times ever, and I'm so lucky to have such great friends and family. The show is up for a month, so if you didn't get the chance to come at the opening, let me know and I can give you a private tour!!


Aside from that, working on a cover for the Boston Phoenix's "Silencing Free Speech" issue. The cover will run from Boston to Portland (meaning you can pick one up, Jared!), and I couldn't be more excited. Final sketch done, onto color comps. More updates on that in the next day or two.

I bought 4 more wooden plaques/panels at the Goodwill store with Alex today, and I can't wait to start painting! I'm really digging the whole plaque thing - it feels much less sterile than painting on a square or a rectangle. So yay! Lots of new work coming up for the Paint Pens in Purses show in August.


Thanks for watching my blog, and thanks again to everyone who made it to the gallery and contributed to the creation of the event, especially Ami Bennitt, the gallery director. I've been asked to do my own show sometime next year, and I already know the talented folk I'd like to be apart of it.

And one final Thank You to Veronica and Andy for giving me the opportunity to be in the show with them. As two of my favorite artists and people, I'm honored to be able to show my work with yours, and the motivation you both had for creating work for the show gave me the inspiration and motivation I needed to make 10 paintings in two weeks before the show. Thank you so, so much. <3 style="text-decoration: underline;">

Off I go!

Atomic Hearts and the Electrical Brain

It's finally here!!!! I'm so excited!! It's going to be a fantastic show, filled with awesome, awesome amazing art by some of my best friends, and I hope some of you get a chance to be there!



Click the picture for information about the show and to rsvp!!


Also: I'm currently designing a cover for the Silencing Free Speech edition of the Boston Phoenix! Watch out for it!

Just a sketch

A little girl I drew the other night. I think she's cute. Colored pencils.


Waiting for the show on Friday. <3 Super excited!!! I bought a pretty dress to wear. <3

The Bubble Demon and the Sponge Alien

Here are the last two monsters I created for the Space 242 show: The Bubble Demon and The Sponge Alien. This completes a series of 6, which you'll be able to check out at the opening next Friday, the 26th.



The show was hung today (HUGE HUGE thanks to Ami and Gavin and crew!), and I have to say I'm at a lossfor how relieved I am. When you've been working at a steady constant for so long, it's hard to take a break. I'm very proud of the work I made, and I'm so impressed with all of the other work. The show is going to be amazing (one of the best yet, if I may be so humble), and it's so wonderful to know I get to show work with three of my most favorite people. (Lindsay, Andy, and Veronica.)

Next on the menu: papercraft toy for Speakerdog, and another gallery in August for Paint Pens in Purses. And, possibly on the horizon, Pop Euphoria II? I'm so excited, and this is shaping up to be a very good summer, full of wonderful opportunities to make and show my art.

Blast Off Billy the Space Clown

BetsyBop needed a boyfriend, so I made her one, despite having WAY too much other work to be doing.


That's the thing though. When I get burnt out from drawing, instead of going outside or making some food, I just draw something else until I'm ready again. It's constant. As of the day I'm writing this (Wednesday), I did artwork non-stop all day from 11AM to 3AM. And I could have just gone to bed after my last painting, but I made Blast Off Billy instead.

You have to realize at some point that, if you want to art and nothing else for a living, you have to be able to commit to that. I mean, isn't that why I went to art school in the first place? I only wanted to draw, and nothing else. It's my whole life, and it makes me so happy. Even when I'm exhausted and babbling in my blog like now.



And everyone deserves to find the person they're made for. <3

The Littlest Ghost Clown

Here is the 4th of 6 smaller paintings I'm doing for the 242 show. Just simple, 3- or 4-color paintings with silly characters.

Couple more little guys

Here are two more characters for my little painting series for Space 242. We have 9 days until we hang the show! Yikes!

Mr. Grin-Grin, Original Bomb Clown

The Rabbler alien

Aside from that, I was accepted to be apart of another gallery show in August for Paint Pens in Purses, an amazing group of female illustrators from around Boston who put on awesome shows around the city. I'm really excited to be working with such talented people and finding other artists with a similar style to mine. Go check out their website here! Paint Pens in Purses

ALSO finished the painting of this piece today. Took me less than 20 hours in all, which is good. I'll post a picture of it at some point. OR MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO TO THE SHOW AND SEE IT! Go ad go!Artwork ©Veronica Hebard 2009.

Also, I got a twitter today. Nothing important on it yet, but here you go:
Bamcat's twitter

BetsyBop the Space Clown

A silly little character I made up for a silkscreen. <3


(Thanks for the help, Veronica!)

Muska

Alien monster number one: Muska



Thanks for looking!

Character sketches!

Sponge Alien

Rabbler Alien

Muska Alien

Littlest Ghost Alien

The Bubble Demon

Here are the sketches for my series of aliens that I'm painting for the show. They I just wanted to do something fun, and I started drawing these on the trainride back from Worcester, when I was freshly inspired by Andy and Veronica's awesome work. :) I wanted to do something for the show that I thought was unique to my style, and making smaller paintings is very relaxing to me. I could make a million of them (and maybe I will). The last one of 6 will be my bomb clown, Mr. Grin-Grin.

They'll be painted in gouache on 6" x 8" panels. ...maybe bigger if I decide to buy more board... I'm so confusing! I can't commit to anything, hahaha.


Less than two weeks until the show, and I have 6 small paintings and 3 big ones to make. If those guys can do it, I can do it too. :)




Also! A special thank you to Alison Cowell who is lovely and bought one of my paintings and a couple of prints from my etsy. She's pretty awesome for someone with only one "L" in their name. <3

Paintings and adventures and thanks!

Herro! My computer is all set, no viruses, and running faster than ever. HUGE relief. Special thanks to Jared for being my tech support and diffusing my computer-not-working rage. <3 style="text-align: center;">(Basil kitty!)

AAAAANNDD one more GIGANTIC Thank You to Andy and Veronica for taking care of me and feeding me pancakes and burritos while I helped them with Space 242 stuff yesterday and today. I'm so impressed with everything they both have made for the show, and in general. I know it's all going to look fantastic! I had a lot of fun staring at all of their interesting toys and playing with their kittykitty and swooning over their beautiful artwork. I didn't even bring my sketchbook! Ugh! It made me very antsy not working on something while they both worked so diligently.

Their work motivated me to come home, buy 4 new boards, make 3 new drawings, and create a painting based off of a previous piece I had made for the show. I'm super pumped to get the rest of my work done! Here's the final line-up:

4 Ku*Chi*Ku paintings, gouache, not digital anymore (from 11" x 14" - 16" x 20")
4 Clown pieces (shown here previously) (from 9" x 12" - 12" x 20"
4 small clown pieces (6" x 6")
and 6 small character/alien pieces (5" x 7"


AND last but not least, a small painting of Rainbow Brite that's going up on my etsy! Give her a nice home! She loves you!

Original paintings and prints up on etsy!

Hello loved ones,

I recently posted some more artwork and prints onto my etsy! I've also included my awesome squirtgun keychains for sale, and I'll have limited edition ones available soon as well.

So buy my artwork! Support a starving artist. There will be treats and goodies in the mail for you if you do. :)

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade bamcat.etsy.com

News!

©Ben the Illustrator

Hello all,

I've recently been selected to design a Speakerdog for the upcoming 6th series. I'm really psyched! Papercraft has always had a spot in my heart, and knowing I'll be apart of something so cool makes me happy.

I've also been featured here! (well, I wrote it and submitted it...) Yay!

I've been actively trying to stay updated with all my online resumes and profiles and making everything look nice and pretty and neat. I've been applying to contests and for little freelance bits on craigslist and other sites. I'm really trying to use all of my resources to the fullest, and I've been meeting so many wonderful, talented artists.

I'm also reading a book called "How to be an Illustrator." It's INCREDIBLY helpful if you need to go with baby steps. I need shit LAID OUT WORD FOR WORD about how to do things or I'll panic that I'm not doing it right. So it helps to have advice and suggestions from another seasoned professional. It gets me pumped up to get things done. So I'd recommend it to anyone trying to get into the illustration field just starting out - the book is even written as though you were a college senior.

That's all for now! Etsy updates soon! Working on small paintings of Rainbow Brite, Princess Peach, Strawberry Shortcake, and Minnie Mouse. :)

The Glorper Complete

I've made a decision not to post all of my finished pieces for the 242 show on this blog until the show's already started. Until then, you only get sneak peaks!

So here's my first piece colored and finished, and I'm very pleased with it. Getting the colors to reproduce is going to be a hassle, I know, but fortunately my work does custom printing, and I can be there to make sure I'm getting what I'm paying for. This piece is 14" x 17".


Thanks for looking!


More updates tonight probably!