Thedemonboy.com

This website is going to be extrodinary, beautiful and full of fun stuff. Animations, music videos (eventually little games the user can play) my graphic novel in progress, the characters and their art galleries, other little interactive things as well. Basically my Demon Boy world and his pals gathered around. I'm learning ALL about web design and animation at the same time: it's craziness but I have to so I can eventually do something I love or at least understand and I think the animation thing may be the answer. I hope, I pray, (I want it! gimme!) I need something good to happen or I'll end up like the illustration below.

R. Crumb

Demon Boy sketch of his school

It's showing here in Brooklyn at an art facility called 3rd Ward. It's small 3x5 mole skin sketchbook and I didn't get to finish all of it but oh well, time sucks and you move on.

Cheers

www.trickhouse.org

You have to view his work in real life to fully appreciate what he is capable of and his work will make you stand still. I never felt as if I were the "passive observer" but rather; seeing through his eyes and heart and feeling a genuine presence of the painters psyche. Something I rarely feel with today's art. There is something to be said for mastering ones craft and skill and he did it effectively through meticulous brushwork. So many artists have tried to copy him and have failed miserably. He was, to say the least "obsessed".  This is not your typical photo-realism...it goes beyond realism entirely. One of the reasons he is hated by the art world is simply because he was so gifted with his technique and few people can even come close to achieving what he accomplished or be as prolific. Sure, he had a lot of sentimental work and it's not his strongest point but what artist doesn't go through this stage or express some type of human sentiment?

Good to see someone who went against the grain, the norm or more importantly, the smug pretentiousness of the Art World. His work was more than just technical precision and I believe, in time, will be seen as a rare and misunderstood man.  

I saw the work below in a show once (title-Winter, 1946) and it's mesmerizing in real life. Tone, mood, abstraction, complexity, strangeness, "otherness", somber, austere, pensive, powerful and unsettling. Did mention dark? I love it.

Super JC, Pen and Ink

Introducing Demon Boy and Super Jesus.

Thanks SVA, Tom Hart and Lauren Weinstein for refreshing my creative life :)

TO BE CONTINUED.............

(he's not punching the guy out by the way, just preparing to exorcise Demon Boy.)

very cool stuff by the man himself.

Also, released in the Radiohead style format (pay what you wish) is Ben's work Repetition Patterns which can be found here CClap Publishing

This man is on the move! I need to follow his example!

Chris Onstad, the creator of Achewood, a HILARIOUS online comic strip, will be doing a book signing at Rocketship,  my favorite Graphic Novel/ Comic/ Art Book store in Carrol Gardens/Cobble Hill (who knows which one is correct).

The guy has gotten mad reviews and his comic strip was dubbed #1 online comic of 2007 by Time magazine.

 It's adult humor by the way. Not for kids.

Ben was able to give a reading at Freebird Books (a SUPER cool used book store......I bought like 5 books that night) right here in Brooklyn. Of course, Ben read from his book, "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine"  which contains my very first book cover art and I'm very proud of that fact because it's a beautiful cover and a super great story!

I  have to say, hearing Ben read in person was a great pleasure . He's a natural born stage man and narrator as well. Sharp wit, highly animated and overall a warm and thoughtful guy.  I was thinking "dude, you have to do a  book on tape  series" and I think more than one person agreed, if not, even mentioned it to him. Seriously, the book takes on a whole new spectrum when he reads and I hope other people will have the opportunity to hear him as well. THIS is an important characteristic for a writer and very crucial to making appearances and giving readings. If you have a certain flair for reading in front of people and keeping their attention, then you have a special gift.

Congrats Ben on a great book, reading and night of beers!!!!