Interview: Ben Ferrari
Artist Ben Ferrari crafts compelling characters that showcase his dynamic line art skills and lively sense of depth and detail. He recently took time from his busy schedule to chat with comicbookinterviews.com publisher John Michael Helmer about his career in comics and where his art career is headed...
JMH: Where were you born and raised?
BEN: I was born in San Francisco, Ca, but raised down in Southern California. Moved back to the Bay Area in 2001, not leaving again.
JMH: Tell CBI about yourself…
BEN: I have 3 kids and a great wife. We live outside of SF. I take the train into San Francisco 6 days a week working as an Electrician. I get home, spend a couple hours with my kids and wife, then work on making comics until bedtime. It's a nice life.
JMH: How long have you been drawing comics?
BEN: I started tracing Transformers and GI Joe comics when I was 10, doing some math... I've been drawing for 27 years. That is a very long time.
JMH: How did you break into the industry drawing comic books?
BEN: I sort of did the back door route. Started drawing my own characters and stories, slowly but surely completing a 100+ page OGN mid 2000's. Started self publishing more stories and books as Earthbound Comics in 2009 with lots of help from collaborators. Switched to Pilot Studios in early 2012 and never stopped making books! As of today, late 2013, I have published around 25 books! Some are completely mine, but plenty of others were collaboration with others, while quite a few I just did the publishing part, having nothing to do with the interiors at all.
JMH: Do you have any formal art training?
BEN: I did take some classes at a community college in art, but specifically for comics? No. Rob Liefeld did give me some tips while I worked for him in the mid nineties. Some stuff I still use to this day.
JMH: Who are your artistic influences?
BEN: Jeff Johnson, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Joe Bennet, Chris Sprouse. I'd say those are the guys I usually take a peak at for "inspiration".
JMH: How do you focus when drawing?
BEN: Music, always. Maybe a glass of wine. I only get two hours or so a night, so there is usually plenty of emails flying around as I try to get a page done. Tons to do on the publishing side, which sometimes I enjoy just as much as the actual art. I like editing, I admit it.
JMH: What types of technology do you use to draw?
BEN: Recently switched to mechanical pencils, which was big. I always do rough drawings on the page with a non photo blue pencil, as it doesn't show up as much when I scan. Sometimes I will pencil over the blue pencil, then ink. Sometimes I will skip the pencils completely, inking directly over the blue pencil. I actually use a refillable fountain pen for inking, which is new for me. Cedric Nocon, a very talented artist I met while at Extreme turned me onto them. Oh, what else? A 11x17 scanner, Photoshop... I guess that's about it.
JMH: What was the first comic book you ever read?
BEN: I discovered my first comics at a local 7-Eleven store on the spinner racks, must have been early GI Joe or Transformers.
JMH: Do you read any of the new comic books that are being published today? If so, which ones?
BEN: Oh, quite a few and it's always changing. I just started on the first two trade paperbacks of Superior Spiderman! The book is so great! I don't read Spiderman books, haven't for years. But I happened to pick up the issues where Doc Ock actually takes over Peter's body and did think it was pretty cool. Then they started the actual Superior Spiderman family of books and I kept hearing how great they were. So I picked them up and I love them, Going to pick them up regularly. Besides that, Walking Dead (though I'm not sure how much longer), Prophet, all the X books while Battle of The Atom is raging, but All New XMen on a regular basis. Capullo's Batman is the only New 52 book I still read. The Final Plague from Action Lab is incredible, Star Wars, Jupiter's Legacy, Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova, as well as Tom Strong and The Planet of Peril. Even gave Afterlife With Archie a shot, it was awesome.
JMH: Print vs. Digital. Your thoughts…
BEN: Print forever, digital...never.
JMH: What sources do you use for a cover image?
BEN: Sometimes I'll flip through my favorite books looking for smaller images, poses to use as a very basic inspiration for a much larger more detailer cover. No light boxing or anything, just a simple idea. Then of course it'll change enormously from the source image. Sometimes I'll take photos of myself doing silly things, in action poses and use those as a basis for a cover. Sometimes I use nothing at all, just do some thumbnail ideas, pick one and go!
JMH: What other mediums or genres have you drawn for?
BEN: I've done a half dozen murals over the years. At a restaurant I worked at, in my room and my children's room. Did one children's book as well. A mother approached me as I was drawing a few years ago, while at my son's gymnastics class. She had written a script, based on the death of her husband. It explained to her young (and unborn, at the time of the father's death) son, just who his father was, and what kind of man he was. It was called Prince Larry, available at Lulu.com.
JMH: What project are you currently working on at now?
BEN: At Pilot Studios I do a lot of things, besides drawing books. I finished a couple of covers for other small press publishers (like your Red Leaf Comics!) recently and had to focus on production of other books we're publishing. I do a lot of editing of books, currently Carriers #1 (story by Erica J. Heflin, pencils and inks by Jim O'Riley and Silas Dixon) and a Carriers: Swimsuit Issue (working title...). We've also got Son Chasers #2 (written by Buck Weiss) in production, as well as Stars #3 (written by Kurt Belcher), both with pencils Kurt Belcher. Kurt is also planning a Kurt Belcher's WORLD #2 with us as well. I just finished a 14 page story that will appear in The Team #1 from Glow in The Dark Radio Comics in the next few months, from Mike Luoma. We also have Longhunters #5 coming up from George Meyers. So, lots of stuff going on from Pilot Studios!
JMH: What future projects do you have in the works?
BEN: Carriers will be an ongoing series, which will hopefully be picked up by a larger publisher and get seen more widely as a result. I have a nearly complete Carriers: Animated Series pitch that I hope will be picked up.... that'd be swell.
JMH: Do you have any words for aspiring artists?
BEN: Keep drawing. Draw from life, draw from photo reference. Also, if no one wants to publish you, publish your own stuff! You'll never reject yourself!
JMH: How can fans and publishers get a hold of you?
The best place to see our publishing schedule and upcoming stuff is facebook.com/PilotStudios! Or you can chat me up at[email protected]! To buy our books, check 'em out on Idnyplanet.com! Just order a copy, they print it and mail it to you! Simple stuff! While we're not on Diamond yet, that's the future, so keep an eye out! Or download copies at drivethrucomics.com!
JMH: Ben, CBI appreciates your time. All the best.
BEN: Hey thanks for the opportunity to show off what we're doing at Pilot Studios. I think most people who read our books will agree that we put out a quality comic on a regular basis. Thanks!
Artist Ben Ferrari crafts compelling characters that showcase his dynamic line art skills and lively sense of depth and detail. He recently took time from his busy schedule to chat with comicbookinterviews.com publisher John Michael Helmer about his career in comics and where his art career is headed...
JMH: Where were you born and raised?
BEN: I was born in San Francisco, Ca, but raised down in Southern California. Moved back to the Bay Area in 2001, not leaving again.
JMH: Tell CBI about yourself…
BEN: I have 3 kids and a great wife. We live outside of SF. I take the train into San Francisco 6 days a week working as an Electrician. I get home, spend a couple hours with my kids and wife, then work on making comics until bedtime. It's a nice life.
JMH: How long have you been drawing comics?
BEN: I started tracing Transformers and GI Joe comics when I was 10, doing some math... I've been drawing for 27 years. That is a very long time.
JMH: How did you break into the industry drawing comic books?
BEN: I sort of did the back door route. Started drawing my own characters and stories, slowly but surely completing a 100+ page OGN mid 2000's. Started self publishing more stories and books as Earthbound Comics in 2009 with lots of help from collaborators. Switched to Pilot Studios in early 2012 and never stopped making books! As of today, late 2013, I have published around 25 books! Some are completely mine, but plenty of others were collaboration with others, while quite a few I just did the publishing part, having nothing to do with the interiors at all.
JMH: Do you have any formal art training?
BEN: I did take some classes at a community college in art, but specifically for comics? No. Rob Liefeld did give me some tips while I worked for him in the mid nineties. Some stuff I still use to this day.
JMH: Who are your artistic influences?
BEN: Jeff Johnson, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Joe Bennet, Chris Sprouse. I'd say those are the guys I usually take a peak at for "inspiration".
JMH: How do you focus when drawing?
BEN: Music, always. Maybe a glass of wine. I only get two hours or so a night, so there is usually plenty of emails flying around as I try to get a page done. Tons to do on the publishing side, which sometimes I enjoy just as much as the actual art. I like editing, I admit it.
JMH: What types of technology do you use to draw?
BEN: Recently switched to mechanical pencils, which was big. I always do rough drawings on the page with a non photo blue pencil, as it doesn't show up as much when I scan. Sometimes I will pencil over the blue pencil, then ink. Sometimes I will skip the pencils completely, inking directly over the blue pencil. I actually use a refillable fountain pen for inking, which is new for me. Cedric Nocon, a very talented artist I met while at Extreme turned me onto them. Oh, what else? A 11x17 scanner, Photoshop... I guess that's about it.
JMH: What was the first comic book you ever read?
BEN: I discovered my first comics at a local 7-Eleven store on the spinner racks, must have been early GI Joe or Transformers.
JMH: Do you read any of the new comic books that are being published today? If so, which ones?
BEN: Oh, quite a few and it's always changing. I just started on the first two trade paperbacks of Superior Spiderman! The book is so great! I don't read Spiderman books, haven't for years. But I happened to pick up the issues where Doc Ock actually takes over Peter's body and did think it was pretty cool. Then they started the actual Superior Spiderman family of books and I kept hearing how great they were. So I picked them up and I love them, Going to pick them up regularly. Besides that, Walking Dead (though I'm not sure how much longer), Prophet, all the X books while Battle of The Atom is raging, but All New XMen on a regular basis. Capullo's Batman is the only New 52 book I still read. The Final Plague from Action Lab is incredible, Star Wars, Jupiter's Legacy, Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova, as well as Tom Strong and The Planet of Peril. Even gave Afterlife With Archie a shot, it was awesome.
JMH: Print vs. Digital. Your thoughts…
BEN: Print forever, digital...never.
JMH: What sources do you use for a cover image?
BEN: Sometimes I'll flip through my favorite books looking for smaller images, poses to use as a very basic inspiration for a much larger more detailer cover. No light boxing or anything, just a simple idea. Then of course it'll change enormously from the source image. Sometimes I'll take photos of myself doing silly things, in action poses and use those as a basis for a cover. Sometimes I use nothing at all, just do some thumbnail ideas, pick one and go!
JMH: What other mediums or genres have you drawn for?
BEN: I've done a half dozen murals over the years. At a restaurant I worked at, in my room and my children's room. Did one children's book as well. A mother approached me as I was drawing a few years ago, while at my son's gymnastics class. She had written a script, based on the death of her husband. It explained to her young (and unborn, at the time of the father's death) son, just who his father was, and what kind of man he was. It was called Prince Larry, available at Lulu.com.
JMH: What project are you currently working on at now?
BEN: At Pilot Studios I do a lot of things, besides drawing books. I finished a couple of covers for other small press publishers (like your Red Leaf Comics!) recently and had to focus on production of other books we're publishing. I do a lot of editing of books, currently Carriers #1 (story by Erica J. Heflin, pencils and inks by Jim O'Riley and Silas Dixon) and a Carriers: Swimsuit Issue (working title...). We've also got Son Chasers #2 (written by Buck Weiss) in production, as well as Stars #3 (written by Kurt Belcher), both with pencils Kurt Belcher. Kurt is also planning a Kurt Belcher's WORLD #2 with us as well. I just finished a 14 page story that will appear in The Team #1 from Glow in The Dark Radio Comics in the next few months, from Mike Luoma. We also have Longhunters #5 coming up from George Meyers. So, lots of stuff going on from Pilot Studios!
JMH: What future projects do you have in the works?
BEN: Carriers will be an ongoing series, which will hopefully be picked up by a larger publisher and get seen more widely as a result. I have a nearly complete Carriers: Animated Series pitch that I hope will be picked up.... that'd be swell.
JMH: Do you have any words for aspiring artists?
BEN: Keep drawing. Draw from life, draw from photo reference. Also, if no one wants to publish you, publish your own stuff! You'll never reject yourself!
JMH: How can fans and publishers get a hold of you?
The best place to see our publishing schedule and upcoming stuff is facebook.com/PilotStudios! Or you can chat me up at[email protected]! To buy our books, check 'em out on Idnyplanet.com! Just order a copy, they print it and mail it to you! Simple stuff! While we're not on Diamond yet, that's the future, so keep an eye out! Or download copies at drivethrucomics.com!
JMH: Ben, CBI appreciates your time. All the best.
BEN: Hey thanks for the opportunity to show off what we're doing at Pilot Studios. I think most people who read our books will agree that we put out a quality comic on a regular basis. Thanks!
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