Ben Thompson

Illustrator

• What media/materials do you use?

I work with both traditional and digital media. While traditional is my first love and the means by which much of my early work was accomplished, it is digital that tends to get the bulk of the focus these days.

Traditional:

When the opportunity to use traditional media arises or the work is of a freelance/commission nature, Oils are my primary choice. While I use a variety of brands, Holbein is my favorite as they have many colors not found elsewhere.

As a medium I prefer Maroger (of the Flemish variety), and Stand Linseed Oil cut with Turpenoid. While these are the most commonly used, I still experiment from time to time.

Brushes include a variety of styles and brands, though they are almost always red sable unless painting larger areas where cheaper bristle brushes are more appropriate.

Though I have occasionally painted on canvas, I tend to prefer a tempered masonite or reinforced wood panel when possible as I have more control over the quality of the surface achieved (this often depends on how much detail I am after in the final piece).

I typically finish a piece with several applications of Krylon's "Kamar Varnish" spray. This is a gloss finish varnish that unifies the surface, enriches the colors and resists yellowing while protecting the piece for years to come.

Digital:

The bulk of the day to day work and even preliminary studies for many of my traditional pieces finds me working in Adobe Photoshop almost exclusively, with some brief forays into Adobe Illustrator when vectored text for a logo job calls for it.

Brushes are largely limited to those found in the shipping version of Photoshop, and of them the "Soft Ended Round" and " Soft Round" get the most screen time. I have occasionally used third party or custom made brushes, but I find that often they tend to stand out in a negative way and I can usually achieve the desired result without them.

I am a huge fan of the "Magic Picker" color wheel plugin from Anastasiy and would recommend it to anyone who is serious about digital painting in the Photoshop environment.

• Do you sell originals or prints?

While the images shown on the website represent a small cross section of my work (most of it recent), there are both originals and prints available to purchase for these and others not shown here, particularly from my work on Magic: the Gathering.

Originals:

Originals are typically oil paint on masonite/wood panel and come in a variety of dimensions. Most are unframed though occasionally there may be one that shows up framed and ready to hang. Prices vary depending on any number of factors (size, subject matter, personal favoritism etc.) I have a "mostly" complete list of available pieces that I would be happy to forward you upon request. I also invite you to inquire after a specific piece you may be interested in.

Prints:

With a few exceptions, prints are available for most of my images and come in signed, unnumbered editions. These are printed on acid-free paper with a 7 color ink printer. At this time prints are available in two sizes:

8.5" x 11" - $12.00
13" x 19" - $30.00

Shipping is $5.00 within the United States and can include multiple prints if ordered at the same time. International orders will vary, please inquire.

Paypal is accepted in addition to personal checks and money orders. I do not accept credit cards at this time.

• Do you accept commercial/private comissions?

Absolutely. Though the details will vary depending on which one you are considering:

Commercial:

While my ability to accept freelance or commercial work is handled on a case-by-case basis and may be limited by my existing "Non-Compete" contract with my current employer, I am always looking for a new creative challenge. Feel free to contact me with the details regarding your project and let's make some art!

Private:

Private commissions tend to be much more flexible as they are not limited by contracts or my employment terms elsewhere.

If you are considering commissioning an original piece of art, remember that the effort an artist puts into such a piece is no different from that due a commercial assignment and will in fact take the place of just such an assignment on their schedule. This also means that you will be involved in every stage of the creative process from initial sketches to the final details, assuring the end result will be a piece you and I are proud of.

The cost of such a piece varies and is determined by any number of factors including subject matter, size, complexity etc. Contact me for more details and we can discuss your ideas.

• Can I get my Magic: The Gathering Cards signed?

I am more than happy to sign cards by mail, provided you include a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope for their safe return.

I will sign the cards with a black ink sharpie across the text box as seen in the example here unless you have another preference.

If you would like me to sign your cards in a different place just let me know. If you prefer a different color ink, please make sure to provide the pen you prefer and assure that the postage will allow for its return. Please do NOT mail metallic paint pens as they can leak during shipping making an unfortunate mess of your hard earned collection!

Please use the contact form below to request a mailing address for your cards. This allows me to keep an eye out for your envelope, and for any accompanying questions you may have.

• What if I want to use your images online?

The copyrights attached to my images belong to any number of clients, and as a result I am unable to grant permission for their commercial online use. Exceptions to this may include art blogs, fan sites, etc. but should be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you feel your intended use is questionable but merits consideration, feel free to contact me and we can discuss it.

If you appreciate my work and would like to share it with others, I invite you to provide them with a link to my website.

• Can I link to your website?

Definitely, and thank you for your interest!

Frequently Asked Questions

Answered here are some of the questions that come up most often. If you find that your specific topic is not addressed, feel free to drop me a line using the contact form below and I will get in touch with you.

Contact Form