Lost Comedians series

This time last year I made a proclamation. I only want to work on stuff that I love. I want to be involved in comedy. I didn't really know how specifically I would wedge my Chuck Taylor into this world but soon enough I was able to get in with San Francisco comedy clubs (and SF Sketchfest!), making show posters. I'm even getting up for some open-mics. It's kinda nuts how quickly things have moved since then. After getting to know the folks at Cobb's Comedy club and Punch Line, they asked me to help them redecorate the green room at Cobb's with a series of caricatures. These are the comedians who left us too soon. So I launched into painting these iconic comics in watercolor and inks. 

When I was first commissioned, I had visions of these pieces being ultra-simplified Hirschfeld-esqe caricatures but strangely enough they are turning out to look more like my drawings. Oh well, the world already has Hirschfeld-esque drawings. They were drawn by Al Hirschfeld.

Check out the first seven pieces comedians, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Mitch Hedberg, Patrice O'Neal, Greg Giraldo, Redd Foxx, and Robert Schimmel

By the way, this is an image dump because stuff on Blogspot shows up in Google searches and not on my current, Squarespace site. It's a bum out. For all the latest bookmark BenWalkerArt.com.

Better Off Dead 30th Anniversary Live Read

There is ONE film that sums up my youth. My brother and I watched this one over and over, more than Star Wars, more than Raiders, even more than Pee Wee's Big Adventure. It's still a Christmas tradition in our home: 

Better Off Dead

Sunday Feb. 8th SFSketchfest is hosting a live read of the script by creator Savage Steve Holland and (much of) the original cast like Curtis Armstrong, Kim Darby, Diane Franklin, Amanda Wyss plus super-cool understudies like Eddie Pepitone and Jon Heder! I managed to get myself involved with this event, drawing this here poster. It will be available at the show along with prints of my other Better Off Dead artwork, including a surprise piece that will be revealed at the event! 

Tickets are still available through SFSketchfest.com

More of my work at BenWalkerArt.com

Critters in Sweaters and Such

They are critters. They wear sweaters and such. See more at BenWalkerArt.com

See more at BenWalkerArt.com

Recent stuff

I have noticed that a Google Image search for Ben Walker Art brings up mostly old work of mine, and other Ben Walkers out there. So here is an image dump of what I've been working on recently. For more info go to BenWalkerArt.com. Thanks!

Weirdos in Love

 Feel free to send these Valentines to someone you love or like a lot.

PLUS!

Prints of The Lost Ring and the Very Resourceful Suitor are available at Benwalker.Bigcartel.com. Muy Romantico!

A Very Special Print Release

The Lost Ring and The Very Resourceful Suitor

As you may know, this August I proposed to my sweet lady, Amanda (miss Fancy Face) and she said yes! So I painted something to commemorate our pending nuptials and celebrate life, love and the good times we have living in San Francisco. 

This piece will not be sold in a gallery. Instead, I am making 100 prints available to anyone who loves life, love, and/or good times in San Francisco. 

The Lost Ring and the Very Resourceful Suitor 

Available at BenWalker.BigCartel.com

ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARD US LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Yes, putting together even the most modest wedding takes some serious funds and Rockefellers, we ain't. That's why 100% of the proceeds from sales of this print go toward Amanda and I living happily ever after.

Do I have to mention that this is just in time for Valentines day? This 11"x14" print costs roughly 4 times as much as those horrifyingly unfunny Hallmark cards and it's at least 5 times cooler. It's also less than half the calories of the chocolates you will otherwise have to pick up at Walgreen's on the way home from work, come February 14th.  

The Lost Ring was painted (and etched) with ink and acrylics on Claybord. My good friends at Zerofriends, in Oakland, California are making these Giclée prints on heavy, watercolor paper. Super-nice! Each print comes signed and numbered. Prints will be packaged up with a hug and shipped to you on February 6th.  

Get the print at benwalker.bigcartel.com

And follow us on Twitter! @ArtofBenWalker, @MagicalManders

The Graven Twins

A Collectible shot glass for The Edwardian Ball, 2013 

This Friday and Saturday (Jan. 18th and 19th) San Francisco celebrates the Edwardian Ball. This year the event will come with a little Ben Walker flavor! That flavor is to be dispersed in 1.5 ounce shot glasses. 

Cast your eyes on The Graven Twins!

What is The Edwardian Ball?

(from Edwardianball.com)

"The Edwardian Ball is an elegant and whimsical celebration of art, music, theatre, fashion, technology, circus and the beloved creations of the late great author Edward Gorey."

This will be my third time attending The Edwardian Ball. So far, I have had nothing but a blast with my lovely lady, Amanda Storey. But I hear you wondering if this is the type of event for you. Is it too goth? Too Steam-punky, too blah blah...Don't even worry about it! If you like art, dancing, drinking, fashion, or any combination of these things, this event is worth checking out! Drop the preconceived notions and go have some sexy, old-timey fun.

Check out Amanda's previous Edwardian Ball looks and experiences at her blog, MandersFancyFace. 

Our friend Aaron Delachaux will be spinning his Boom-Swing type music Friday night. There's no way to keep from dancing in a ridiculous manner when this stuff if playing.

More information on the Edwardian Ball at edwardianball.com.

Ellingson's Daily Slimer

My friend Josh Ellingson draws a Slimer every day. At least, he has been for the last 116 days. They are all done on dry erase board. It's a habbit that started naturally enough. He drew the first 60 at work. Not on the sly either; The big-wigs and everybody else loved it! You see, he was working on a Ghostbusters casino game so his dry-erase Slimers were drawn to warm up and to rally the troops.

The Ghostbusters game is pretty much wrapped up now and Josh has moved on to other projects. But that hasn't slowed down the Daily Slimers. And now he's pulled other artists into it! So here is my take on Slimer. Haven't you ever wondered what he looked like before he was a ghost? I sure did.

See the Daily Slimers and Josh's illustration work at joshuaellingson.com

Pre-Slimer by Ben Walker