that time of the year….

August 31st at Backside Echo Park. 8pm, be there.
If you like sweets, you will be stoked.

<3bnj

no one rides for free, except slackers like me

Being the ultimate jerk that I am, i’ve been lagging on blog updates.

While it may seem that I’ve been doing nothing, I’ve actually been doing… nothing.

…..But in-between all the doing nothings, I was asked to be part of an art show, “no one rides for free”, by my friend Gus who runs Silver street supply.

I snapped some photos of opening night, and the show will be hanging at Bowls in little tokyo for another 3 weeks. Go by and say hi, and spend some loot on something nice for yourself.

Super shouts to Gus for putting it all together, all the fellow artist showing, and the Bowls guys for putting on such a great show!
<3bnj

work + work + work + work

hey guys
been busy grinding away!
<3bnj

Chilling, but not really.

hi!

you’ve missed out on:
2 art shows, me getting a van, a long ass trip, and lots of plotting.
I’m pretty sure no one checks this anymore, anyways.
<3bnj

Less and more.

Less hindsight, more fore thought. New rule in effect for me.

<3bnj

sketchies.

I haven’t hit the sketchbook in a long time. Its always blue lines for a project for work or friends, so its nice to just mess around with my brush pen.
(totally stole this photo from my instagram. If you’re on there, add me! @bnjbnjbnj)

<3bnj

CCS: behind the design

CCS came by the office and we walked through a T shirt design from sketch to printed.
Check it out if you want to see an abbreviated version of the making of a T (usually theres a lot more ichat harassment between old man and myself)!

<3bnj

was (not was).

Shit happens.
It’s a fact of life. Sometimes stuff just happens that our of your control.
Unfortunately, the last few weeks I’ve been on the wrong end of that.

Thats being said, A while back Alex Spit asked me to design an old gig poster style print for some upcoming shows.
I agreed and got to sketching. After a few emails, we agreed on a design and i got to work.

What design, you ask?
this one.

Rick, Old man, and Jon from Mixed Media, the dirty, foul mouthed, coffee and cigarette fueled angels that they are, helped me out and burned a screen for me. I kept the film to make a stencil out of.

After a little trimming and a lot of luck, I ended up with a stencil to fill with fluorescent paint.

(If the image is moving really fast, its because thats how I imagined it, when in reality it was me complaining the whole time.)

After a lot of drying, and a lot of cursing, The print was done.

SPIT: LA: 18×24, edition of 25. day-glo print (never to see the light of day after this).

I’m actually stoked on how these came out, and love the day-glo (it lights up under black lights!!) inks, so expect to see this combo later.

ps. ifyouflipitupsidedownitsaysyoucunt. k bye.

<3bnj

freaky tales.

A few months ago I finally mustered the courage to e-mail Jensen (co owner of Gallery 1988) to be part of a show. I had been going to every opening, had tons of friends who had shown awesome pieces, but am always extremely apprehensive when it comes to any self promotion on my end.
Well, it paid off, and I was asked to be part of the Internet meme show.

After tons of thought I chose Pedobear. If you’ve been on an internet forum in the last 4 years, you definitely know who he is.
The entire concept was to have a Lisa Frank-esque look slowly dissolve into this horrible choice to jump into a van with Pedobear.
I quickly jotted down a quick sketch of what type of composition I wanted to run with, and got to work in Illustrator (I know, I know, but time was of the essence here). After a few rounds, I sent off my files to ChamoStudios in Downtown L.A (I exclusively go through them for ALL of my art prints, these guys definitely know their stuff) and waited for some ink/paper tests.

After a little back and forth to dial in the right amount of contrast on the right paper (side note: I LOVE the way this ink/textured paper worked out) I quickly signed all 10, Framed one to show, and off I went to drop off at the gallery.

Opening night was filled to the gills. I had a lot of friends come to support (I was really nervous, if you ever see me at an opening I’m a part of, I’m usually freaking out on the inside), and tons of fun was had by all.

I’m extremely pleased to say since then the print is now sold out, so if you got one, consider yourself part of my horrible, nerve wracking process!

(Final print next to the Sharpie jot that started it all)

and heres the final:
Benjie: Prowlin’(2012) 13×19 print, edition of 10.

<3bnj

oh, you’re in LA tonight?

I’m showing a new print (prowlin!) at Gallery 1988 melrose tonight.
come say hi!

bnj<3