Geometric Love

I managed to squeeze in some print designs over the weekend so that I can spend a couple of evenings screen-printing in the SNAP studio basement. I'll post photos of the prints once they are finished.

Shape-o-lio-lio

Mini-print Design for SNAP

Just finished this design for the SNAP studios mini-print show that starts on the 6th July. The private view will start at 6pm on the 8th July and includes a stellar line up of illustrators which you can see by clicking HERE. The artists taking part are donating a print each to help raise money for SNAP and all the prints will be on sale for a very affordable price. Toodles!

Plone Conference 2010 Logo

Netsight Internet Solutions contacted me a few weeks back about designing a logo for the Plone conference they are hosting in Bristol. Netsight are a Bristol based company and as the hosts they wanted the logo to incorporate not just Bristol landmarks but also the city's quirks and cultural identity.

I tried out numerous compositions ranging from very busy and cluttered to minimal and spacious. One of the things I really enjoyed about this job was that the client wanted the icons and graphics to be a little rough around the edges so it was great to loosen up and relax a bit. You can see how the logo was used for their website by clicking HERE.

Interview at Sooner Than Now!

Howdy Folks! Simon at Sooner Than Now asked me a few questions the other day. You can read my verbal wibblings HERE. Enjoy!

Journey to the Centre of the Page

I created this map for fellow Pocko illustrator and all round good dude, Adam Hayes and his fantastic maps project. You can read more about this map HERE and find out more about Adam's exciting project by clicking HERE. DO IT!

The Evolution of Neko-mata

(Running from left to right is Neko-mata featured in Nobrow 1 (2009), The Bento Bestiary Limited Edition (2009) and The Bento Bestiary (2010)). My blog has been pretty quiet of late due to an intense workload. One of the projects that is taking up a large serving of my time is the brand spanking new hardback version of the Bento Bestiary that will be available from all good bookshops in October. I'm redesigning the whole thing almost from scratch and thought it would be interesting to show the evolution of one of my favourite Yokai. Neko-mata is an old possessed cat that torments it's owner. Any more details would ruin the fun. I'll post some more teasers in the coming months. Thanks for reading.

Free 'Me No Want To Work Today' Wallpaper for your iPhone

Get the 'Me No Want To Work Today' monster on your iPhone for FREE! Simply head over to the Roxbury Industries' website by clicking HERE and download it along with fantastic wallpapers from Peskimo and Oreli.

Astro Cat Tote Bag available from Magma

The Astro Cat black tote bag is available now from Magma books in London for £9.99. Astro Cat appears on both sides of this hip, all cotton, shopping accessory. Alternatively, you can purchase it HERE from their online shop.

Ben Newman Merchandise at the Tate

If you are heading to the Tate Modern in London then keep your beady peepers peeled for these tasty pieces of merchandise that I designed exclusively for the Tate shop on the second floor.This signed limited edition print of 100 measures 40cm x 50cms and is a steal at only £20, click HERE to purchase it while stocks last.

Next up is a malfunctioning robot on a T-Shirt printed on a climate neutral cotton so it was made purely from renewable green energy. Purchase of this fine garment can be made HERE.
Note to self, iron T-shirts before photographing them for promotional purposes. Ooops!
Lastly, the 'Scribble Cat' T-Shirt, again printed on the same climate neutral cotton. Both Tees are £20 and you can purchase this one HERE.
Also, please note that the cat on the tee appears to be white. He isn't. The sun was just really bright and seems to have bleached him out a bit so he doesn't look very blue in the photograph.

That's all, folks!

Sneak Preview From Next Book Project

Ssssssssshhhhhhhhhh!

Kerry & Kevin Collaboration - Open Call

Just before Christmas, I was sent a rather fetching letter with an egg cup on the front and an invitation with the words "Say Yes" screen printed across a page from an old children's annual with a cowboy on. The letter was from a project called Kerry&Kevin. I'm not sure if there was a subliminal message in this invitiation but for some reason I decide to "Say Yes".

To help explain 'Kerry&Kevin' better, Kerry says "this project started in December 2009 with the intention of combining different processes and opinions in response to the issue of social inclusion. For example: how do people experience inclusion on a social, everyday level; what are the social consequences of inclusion; how can we make people aware of others; offer support systems and understand individual needs and behaviour. I have invited 41 practitioners from a range of disciplines to contribute due to their expertise, methodology and subject knowledge, I have asked them for some of their time, conversation and participation. This project will evolve from Kerry and Kevin's discussions and interactions, and the outcomes will vary from a chat, a workshop, a written statement to sharing an existing piece of work."

This project is open to collaboration so please check out the site as there are many wonderful people involved, including Bill Drummond and the Untimely writers to name just a few. Below is my contribution to the project illustrating my feelings towards inclusion stemming from my practice as an illustrator. These are just the first two panels of an eight panel sequence so to see the full story click HERE.

Batman No 72 on Covered Blog

Robert Goodin from Covered blog asked me if I would like to take part in the first "Covered Art Show' taking place at Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles. Covered is one of my favourite blogs and I check in there everyday at 4pm (GMT) to see the latest post so obviously I didn't hesitate to say YES. The show started a few days ago and features a stack of awesome cartoonists and illustrators redrawing any existing comic book of their choice. Prints and originals are available to buy via their flickr site, which you can find by clicking here.

I drew my interpretation of Batman No 72. I really struggled with this image mainly due to my workload from November through to January. Finishing the comic, the Porporpeius mask, the 'dicephaly brothers' toy and box, and a merchandise range for the Tate, plus the mania that is Christmas, all happened at the same time and I have to admit I felt utterly burnt out when I got round to doing this. Anyway, if this picture doesn't remind you of being extremely tired then you can buy it for the bargain price of $50 here. It is a giclee print in an edition of 20 so get 'em while their hot!

Little Ao-sag-bi

Here is 'Ao-sag-bi'. This illustration is just a small detail in a much larger picture than feeds into an even bigger project that should be due out in October. Unfortunately, I had to adjust his position for the final image but I like this initial composition so much that I thought I'd share it.

Ouroboros Update

The fantastic Nate Williams very kindly interviewed me about the process of creating 'Ouroboros' over at Illustrationmundo, where you can see early stage sketchbook drawings of the comic, you can read this verbal exchange HERE. Creative Review even picked 'Ouroboros' to be in their 'very nice publications' for March section, clickity clack HERE to peruse. Finally, the AOI featured it on their blog with some very positive (if misspelt) words, tap that mouse HERE to go there.

Below are a few unused images from the illustratiomundo interview. First up is the pencil sketch and colour final of page 7.
Pencil sketch and colour final of page 18.

Finally, here is a section of the shelf beside my desk. It's littered with books and toys and is a constant source of distraction and inspiration.

'Ouroboros' Signing at the Here Gallery, Bristol

To celebrate the release of my debut comic book 'Ouroboros', I'll be signing copies of it at the Here Gallery in Bristol from 7.30pm-9pm on Tuesday 2nd March. The Here Gallery will have copies of 'Ouroboros' for sale so come along for a few glasses of wine and a warm atmosphere, your more than welcome. PS - Bring your hip flasks!

Mr Fish Dude at Piñatarama!

A big Thank you to Jorge Alderete fo asking me to take part in Pinatarama at the Vertigo Gallery in Mexico. Here is the press blurb for the show.

The piñata’s associated with the Latino culture, but historians point to Asia (especially China) as its actual point of origin. It’s supposed that the famous traveler Marco Polo’s visit to that nation, he saw how the Chinese created colorful animal figures covered with paper, which is hung with ornaments, and were used in the New Year celebrations. As a good observer, Polo brought Europe the idea of these early piñatas. Although housed in various regions of their religious significance, today, is considered a symbol of fun and entertainment.

Between contemporary design of characters and this popular tradition the project aims to let ourselves be surprised by the unexpected results arising from the interpretation of these characters by Mexican artisans who made them. And give the viewer a particular facility where the 30 piñatas “design” reflect the contemporary look of mixtures, juxtaposition and appropriation, in this case an object culturally ingrained in Latin America. Mexican artisans Ricardo Linares and Lorenzo García will be constructing the piñatas based on the designs of 25 worldwide artists including Cupco, Cecy Meade, Apak, S.britt, Snaggs, Tado, David Gamez, Gaston Caba, Sonni, and many more!

Who is that dapper sea creature? It's the Mr Fish Dude Piñata!
Here is a picture of more of the Pinatas. Go to nfgraphics to see a whole host of great photos of the show.

Also, I recently set up a facebook page so feel free to join up here for sneak previews of projects before I post them on this blog.

'Ouroboros' Out Now!

I am very pleased to announce the release of my debut comic book, Ouroboros, which has been published by the super kind folk at Nobrow. The book is printed in three spot colours on an off-white Munken paper and is retailing for £8.50. You can buy it now from the Nobrow website and the first 40 people to buy this regaling tale of utter futility will receive a signed copy for no extra charge! Still need convincing? Well, read this insightful review by Bobby Jewel to help make up your mind.

Inspired by the mythical serpent Ouroboros, Ben Newman brings the reader on a tale of action and adventure that juxtaposes brutal violence with ecstatic comic exuberance. Where our protagonist fights a band of rogue, thuggish, drug peddling perverts after they murder his newly beloved mermaid.

Brought to life in a world of Newman's trademark bold style and visually arresting use of colour and timing; Newman plays with the theme of life, death and rebirth across 24 pages of vivid and original story telling. As described in the book, Ouroboros ‘is that which is forever done, but which may not be undone, it is life and death intertwined. Both chicken and the egg... but also Sunday dinner'.

Here are some sample pictures that Nobrow have taken for you, dear reader, to enjoy. Hubba hubba!

For those of you in Bristol, you'll be able to purchase 'Ouroboros' from the Here Gallery on Stokes Croft Road, where I'll be signing copies from 7.30pm until 9pm on the 2nd March. So come along and say hi!

Porporpeius at The Museum of Small Things

Opening from the 5th February until the 7th March, 'The Museum of Small Things' is being held at Ultralounge inside Selfridges, London, and it is one hell of a show. Here is the skinny on the exhibition.

The Museum of Small Things will inspire visitors to open wide their eyes and to slowly look, and then look again, at the world they inhabit. M.O.S.T. will house priceless gems too subtle to compete with the show-stopping technology of the modern world. Modest masterpieces under-valued in cultures where biggest is better and mega, if achievable, is best, will be centre-stage. The variety on display in this museum will dynamically demonstrate how the lines between all forms of visual expression have become blurred. Exhibits range across images, objects, moving pictures, ideas, detritus and treasures.

I was asked to design a Deity mask that would be built for the exhibition by the extremely talented Felix Wentworth. Here is Porporpeius himself, the drug addled half-brother of Neptune, god of water and air, bodiless and pathetic!

Here is the legend of Porporpeius.

One of the little-known God Deitys of water and air is Porporpeius, who you may remember from his booming music career during the Blues revival of the 1960s. Heavy drug use and a failed suicide attempt during the late 1970s drove Porporpeius to confront his half-brother Neptune about his rights to the Kingdom of Atlantis. Unfortunately, Porporpeius fell off the wagon just before this confrontation and after causing a dreadful scene at Neptune's son's birthday party, Neptune decided to sever Porporpeius' head and hide his body in the darkest depths of the sea. For the past 40 years, the bodiless Porporpeius has been strung out on cheap liquor and cheaper drugs, searching every square inch of the Earth for his missing body but to no avail.

Whilst at the preview for the show, I made a film of how the mask is viewed because I couldn't do it justice with just a photograph.

The photos below are to demonstrate how amazing Felix's skills are and to help give a better impression of the depth and layering of the mask.

I'd like to say a big thank you to Ali, Valentina and Nicola at Pocko and Kit Grover for the huge amount of energy and time they put into making the show look so incredible and also, for asking me to take part in it.

Pre-Order The First Ever Nobrow/Ben Newman Vinyl Toy

Roll up, roll up! Thats right folks, you can pre-order the first ever Nobrow vinyl figurine designed by moi (er..me) and available exclusively from the Nobrow website. This sexy chunk of plastic is a limited edition of 50 which will never be made in the same way again! It will also be presented in a sumptuous silk screened printed box which I will hand sign and edition ready for it's release on the 12th February. Holy Nizzle Whizzle! Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks for the launch of a few more super exciting projects which I have been working on for the past couple of months. Gidee-up!

(Please note that the toy box in the picture above is not the final design and is for advertising purposes only)