" A Squiggle Here, A Squiggle There..."

It is amazing how thumbnails work. Sometimes, it doesn't take too many lines to define a shape. It is almost magical. These two thumbnails aren't any larger than two inches wide, if that. They were sketched on the script next to the appropriate scene. This was scanned at 300 dpi in case the director, or I, need them enlarged.

Fairly easy to see how one quick squiggle can make or break an idea, or drawing. It is almost magical!

Copyright 2015/Ben BensenIII

"A Fight Scene...What Was The Most Expedient!"

A composite shot of the scene...

I am still working, as a storyboard artist, on a feature film project in St. Francisville, Louisiana. At

times, it can get pretty intense even though the deadlines are pretty much self determining between me, the cinematographer and the director. Thankfully, there's no drop dead deadlines, like there are in the advertising world.

A friend asked me if I was drawing all of these key frames (establishing shots) from out of my head and without any scrap. The answer, pretty much, is yes. And, it is exhausting, for me, to do so.  But, we spent three days shooting location shots in and around southeast and central Louisiana, so I do have photos to work from. But, in classic art direction form, the angle always seems to have a need to be changed. 

In one scene, there's a fight that culminates in an old sugar cane factory in Plaquemine, LA. It's pretty cool place to walk around in, and, at the same time, it's a real death trap, if you're not watching where you are walking. As it happened, one photo wasn't enough and the angle was not to the director's liking. So, I cut and pasted two photos and then, in Photoshop, warped them, to fit in perspective... kinda!

I spent way too much time trying to draw two guys fighting. I thought, my wife loved the movie,"The Ouiet Man" with all the John Ford regulars, and as it always seemed to be in his movies, there's always a great fight scene. ( I needed the bad guy to fall back when he is punched, dangerously close to the hole in the steel floor.) 

So, I Googled it and there was an almost perfect shot of John Wayne taking it to the actor, Victor McLaglen. So, I drew it from that shot, scanned it into the computer, and pasted it into the scene.

The final comp... for now!

The scene needed some definition by moving lights and darks.

Later, I redrew, actually traced, the entire layout, with all the changes and then, added rays of artificial light. The finished piece with sketches, pasteup, retracing, and final comp was completed, in  about four hours.

   

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III

"Okay, That's A Bit Over The Top, But"...

Atchafalaya Spillway...

I really have been remiss in keeping with my original intent. That is, to sketch everyday and post whatever I can that isn't an embarrassment to my "reputation" as a great American illustrator.

Okay, that's a bit over the top, but you know what I mean. Somedays you are hyper sensitive to every line you put down, and it, many times, looks worse than a mindless and aimless doodle you create between beers.

I can't explain it. I stopped trying to, long ago.

Anyway, I decided to post some "thumbnail" sketches that I'm doing for a film being shot in and around the city of St. Francisville and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Before investing any more time, ink and paper to show my interpretation of just what the director is thinking, I draw these quickies before I go and do another round of sketches in a larger size.

The director swears she can't visualize thumbnails, so these drawings are for me to formulate an approach.

Fireside hug...

We aren't even a tenth of the way through the script, and I've completed about ten large pencil sketches, ( legal size ) and eight color finals, which I complete on the computer. To get to that point, I've done, already, about fifty thumbnails that vary from 1"x2" to 2"x 6".

Here's a few samples...

Copyright 2015/Ben Bensen III

"Abita Springs Cafe And My Thoughts While Staring At A Church."

Fakin' it with negative shapes and great grub!

It's been a while since I've had the time to ease into the morning with some coffee, a pen and a sketchbook. Two weekends ago, my wife and I stood in an unorganized, but well behaved, line waiting for a table at the Abita Cafe in downtown Abita Springs, LA. We had to wait for about twenty or so minutes, but it really was our fault. It was Sunday brunch time and services at the little church across the street just exploded with the exiting faithful.

Faithful to get a seat at the cafe in time for brunch, that is.

When we finally got to sit down, it seemed the weather had changed. People who had no problem, twenty minutes ago, sitting outside on the veranda, slowly began to bundle up or request an indoor table. But, we were nice and cozy with a cup or two of the cafe's own brand of dark roast coffee. At $2.50 a cup, I made sure I got my free refills quite often. I think the waitresses understood, ha!

Anyway, I had a four egg Greek omelet with hash browns and it was excellent. The omelet comes with fresh basil apparently from their own back yard garden, and asking for a little extra created no turmoil or nasty looks. 

I'm always hesitant to order hash browns because every cook's idea of what that means is different. You really don't know exactly what state of mind the hash browns can come in, but these were great. I don't remember what my wife had, but she appeared to be awfully quiet on the other side of the table until her plate was empty. So, I guess she loved what she ordered.

The only problem I had with this meal, besides the crowded situation, was that I could not just sit and stare out the window and people watch. My partner in life can't sit that still, so we left the restaurant not too long after we finished eating. It would have been rather selfish, anyway, to hog a table on this Sunday morning.

But, a few wet aggravating days ago, I went back to test another omelet and calm down. The week hadn't started off to well, and I felt I needed some comfort food. It was almost lunch time, but they  were still serving breakfast. This time, it was their famous Alaskan Smoked Salmon omelet with scallions and dill sauce. Very nice tasty and rather light. And, again, the hash browns were treated with the same love and respect as they were two weeks earlier. 

I love consistency!

Of course, the coffee flowed, as my sketchbook and I enjoyed the time off to eat, think and stare, and capture what I could with pen in hand... southern styled!

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III

"We Don't Need No Stinking Resumes"...

Short thumbnail storyboard for Lincoln Aviator...

I'm an artist. It what I've done most of my life to earn my keep. It is pretty good money, but it is usually quite hectic with unrealistic deadlines and stressful situations. It usually is an adrenalin rush and not for the faint of heart.

Above, is one of the many on-site thumbnails I sent to the potential client. These little pieces of art are usually drawn in front of a pacing art director who wants his or her idea quickly visualized for approval before going to a final. Last week, I was asked to present along with a bevy of thumbnail sketches, a resume including a detailed story of my career. In all my life, I have only successfully used a resume to get a job, once. It was for a full time job at an aerospace plant where I work for just under four years.

I, then, went freelance and never again was asked for a resume. I have one, but I only occasionally revise it... once every five years or so!

Since when do we need to pdf a resume for a storyboard job. I'd much prefer googling an address, driving to the place, paying to park, walk into a lobby, present myself to the client and open up my "effin portfolio" and wait for a response or a conversation!

Proof's in the puddin'... not a resume!

And, besides, behind one's portfolio is a real, live, engaging and fun person who is looking to share his or her talents with another, supposedly, talented person. Why not a meeting face to face? It ain't like we will show up with explosives strapped across our waists to push the button if we, as artists, are not validated with love and candy kisses!

It is not like artists have never heard the word, "NO!"

In afterthought, I guess I'm rather put off that I am here in Louisiana, where no one really knows me like they do in Los Angeles. This is the ninth or tenth time I've been asked to present a resume. As I said, in LA, I've only once written and presented myself to a client in that manner. 

I must not be good at writing them anymore because I haven't been hired yet from any resume or pdf sent here in Louisiana. I once hired a company to formulate in words what I do for a living. It cost me a good penny or two. Made me feel like what was being said about me was totally fabricated. They embellished way too far and kinda went "Brian Williams" on me.

Said I was with the "special forces" when I actually was a mess hall cook!

Well, anyway, I now have a cleanup job to perform in my studio. And each sample has to be placed back where I found it, or it will never ever been seen again. I pretty much wrecked my flat files, my dvd's, and my slide trays to come up with some usable samples to "pdf"...

 ... along with a "resume!"

Copyright 2015? Ben Bensen III

"How Come You Never Draw Me?"

Keepin' it Real for Carl...

Just sittin' here watching a matchbox hole in my soul. 

About two weeks ago, a burly, scruffy faced senior, asked me why I never found his face pretty enough to sketch. I hadn't been at the senior center in almost half a year since my mom is now in a nursing home. Carl loves to harass and tease the ladies, and any guys who he knows can handle the teasing.

I took a picture of Carl on my clamshell cellphone because he seemed overly concerned about his bridgework and how it makes his mouth appear crooked. It's one thing to sketch a person that possibly can't sit still, it is another thing when you're sketching a heckler with about a half dozen seniors looking over your shoulder.

I promised I'd get back to him in a week or two as he only visits the center on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Today, Tuesday, I remembered to bring the sketch, but when I walked into the center at lunchtime ( I really should know better! ) everyone asked me to sit down and have a knosh and be a part of the group like mom and I used to. I thanked them, but decided to just sit down and have a cup of coffee. Naturally, they asked about my mother and I let them know how she was getting along at the nursing center... and how she was not. My mother has always been a difficult person to deal with and it only took a few months for other seniors to realize Mimi's true sobriquet. For sure, I pretty much had everyone's sympathy especially Carl's. She was one of Carl's best targets.When they asked me about why I was again visiting without my mother, I showed them my sketch of old codger.

As I did, I noticed a slight groan in their perusal of Carl's likeness. I assumed that they knew all about Carl's denture work and fear, possibly, he wouldn't approve of my interpretation. Instead, they informed me that he was in the hospital with pneumonia. Some folks said, in rather hushed tones, that he was also suffering from prostate problems.

"Darlin, Cynda said, "go see him at the hospital and show him your portrait. I'm sure he'd love to see you and your sketch!"

Everyone agreed and I promised that I would go visit him today, and if not, certainly the next day and that I would also bring the portrait along for him to enjoy. Still, it kinda puts a hole in your soul, ya know?

Ben Bensen III/ Copyright 2015

"A Tough Nut To Crack, So I'm Told..."

Sketched from a coffee house nutcracker... edited, ha!

My chiropractor says I'm a tough nut to crack. We "crack" each other up every time we get together. After about two months of C, he suggested I see his massager to tenderize me. This has been my fourth session with the guy. He put me into this glute isolation position and pounced.

Oh man, it hurt so good!

Like a worn clutch or brake that you didn't realize needed an adjustment until you actually feel the results, I now remember what it is supposed to feel like when walking.

"Damn," he said. "Freddy, ( the chiropractor ) was right!" You ARE a tough nut to crack...you've got no flex!"

"I don't know," I replied..."Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

"No"... he huffed!

"Sorry," I laughed!

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III