May 5, 1977

Completed for Lucasfilm Ltd.-

I remember my first glimpse of Tatooine as I watched R2 and 3P0 pass by the skeletal remains of a sand creature.  The two moons setting in the pale sky filled me with curiosity about a world outside of my own.  Then there was the force; it was all around us, binding us together and made up of all living things.

“I wanted a concept of religion based on the premise that there is a God and there is good and evil.  I began to distill the essence of all religions into what I thought was a basic idea common to all religions and common to primitive thinking.”-George Lucas

When I took on this project and ventured to Tatooine, my goal was not only to capture the elements, characters, and environments of the story, but also to bring back the emotions George Lucas intended for us to have during its development nearly 4 decades ago.

“A New Hope” reminds us that successful story telling requires much more than just a high budget and special effects; it must inspire our hearts.

Medium-Colored Pencil on Rives BFK paper
Dimensions-22”x30”
Status-Available

-ben

The Deathly Hallows, One-sheet

What can I say? I've followed them from year one when they took their first ride on Hogwarts Express all the way to the destruction of their school in the battle of a life time. Undoubtedly, this was the most emotional piece of art I've ever created. With the completion of each subject, I said my farewells to a genre that has influenced my career for over a decade.

I doubt this art will be published in the near future, Mrs. Rowling has not yet released rights over to any licensor to sell limited editions based on the HP franchise. Unless my rep finds another route for the art, this will remain a one off original piece. For now...

The art is completed entirely with colored pencil on Rives BFK paper, and measures 22"x30".

For more updates on new art and available products, check out my official facebook page, [link]

-ben

Alice in Wonderland

-conceptual art for Disney's fine art program,

When I decided to take on this film I really had to dig deep into what made me enjoy it. It took me back to my childhood when my imagination ran my life. I remember believing in fictional worlds as much as I did reality, sometimes keeping me in trouble as I would daydream instead of working.

Aesthetically, I wanted this art to be different than anything I had done in the past. The idea came to me when I saw a sketch on the cover of a drawing pad, I noticed that the off white paper held more innocence with colored pencil than the tonal paper I normally work on due to the bright palette and distinct texture.

The art is completed with Derwent Studio colored pencils on off white drawing paper. Dimensions measure 18"x24".

I don't know the future of this piece, I've been given permission to post it, if it were to become licensed it would have to go through another avenue than the license I was currently pursuing due to live action and likeness approvals.

Best-
Ben

Tangled Concept Art

Since this past January I've been working on conceptual art for Disney's fine art program where I've been creating ideas for future limited editions. If I remember correctly I did 4 concepts and they're publishing 1 for sure that is still going through approval and another is still up in the air.

This was an idea I had where I wanted to see how the film Tangled would read on pink paper. Instead of doing the entire poster I just did Rapunzel to see what kind of reaction the art would get from Disney's art department.  Guess you'll have to wait and see what's in store!

The art is completed 100% in colored pencil on pink canson paper, dimensions I believe are 16"x20".

Ben

Han and Leia color study..

Concept art for Lucasfilm-

A few months ago I was asked to complete an idea similar to my print for Celebration 5, this time to include Han and Leia as apposed to Anakin and Padme.

What you see here is first study of what I'll be working towards for a future piece. The art is completed with colored pencil on canson paper, the texture allowed me to get a to a finished study much quicker than a smooth surface would like the poster art I usually create.

What I intended to get out of this piece was color balance, to really find a zone that felt right for Bespin and a layout that would bring back the emotion of Han and Leia's separation in the cloud city.

I hope to have an updated version before long,

Ben

Medium-Colored Pencil on Canson paper
Dimensions-12"x24"
Status-Original art available

Mission to Asgard..

I apologize for the delay, just about everything I've created since January has been going through approvals. But I'll begin posting things as I'm given permission.

Here's what I got out of traveling to Asgard..

Thor- a truly brilliant film. I was very inspired and proud to say the film truly did the character justice. Chris Hemsworth portrayed Thor very well just as Anthony Hopkins played the King of as Asgard perfectly.

I felt like Thor carried a very epic story line, a traditional tale of discipline where Thor learned more about himself after his powers were stripped from him by his father. Even though we may not agree with what our parents do and say, they always have a better range of knowledge in the long run. We eventually see their plans unveil themselves in time and we can appreciate what they do as it builds our character.

Fun fact-The reference for the destroyer came from the action figure at Side Show

Medium-Derwent Studio Colored Pencil on Rives BFK paper
Dimensions-22"x30"
Status-Original art for sale

Best-
Ben

Harry Potter Exhibit NYC..

I wanted to take a minute and share a wonderful experience I had this past week.  Due to a new project coming up on the Harry Potter franchise, I decided to visit NYC for the official exhibit put together by Warner Brothers.  The show included props, costumes, creature designs, head busts, and much more.

I would go in and describe each moment I enjoyed but it would take too long, and I couldn't do nearly as well as my agent who was permitted from Warner Brothers to make a video on her tour through the museum.  Take a closer look here,

http://www.artinsightsmagazine.com/ArtInsights_magazine/Outside_Insights_vids.html

If you have the opportunity to visit the show it's more than worth the trip,

Talk soon,
Ben

Thanks for Everyone's Patience..

I apologize for not sharing much art lately, I've been stuck on the drawing board since January and still have not been given the green light to post any art.  Please hang tight and hopefully we'll have something up soon.

Best-
Ben