Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin LaDieu.
Hi Benjamin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always been drawing. One of my first memories is drawing with markers on paper. As a kid, I would draw monsters soldiers, tanks, comics, that kind of stuff. As I got older and into high school, I took art classes in and out of school. In my senior year, I took the art school prep route and had 4 art classes every day. I then went to Maryland Institute College of Art and graduated with a BFA in General Fine Arts.
Then after that, I was kind of clueless about what to do with this degree and worked nonart jobs for years. Eventually, I decided to go to school again and got an associate’s degree in film and video production at Full Sail Real World Education, in Orlando FL. Again I don’t think I made the right choice and while most of my classmates went to LA for work, I went the NYC and in a disastrous turn of events ended up back in Harrisburg.
In Harrisburg, I fell into a job doing AutoCAD for about 15 years. I started drawing again more regularly but I would say it was off and on. During this time, I started promoting music shows which led me to make pen and ink drawings for the promotional flyers and posters. With the excitement around these, I was approached by a dubstep label/music blog out of the UK and proceeded to do 3 pen and ink drawings for some of their vinyl releases.
I left the AutoCAD job about 3 years ago and decided to try and make art my full-time gig. I have since been ramping up my drawing portfolio doing mostly pen and ink, with a few pencil drawings as well. It’s been about 2 years since I started this journey and I have entered a bunch of local shows, won some prizes, and sold a few pieces. I have a few new ideas in mind and I am excited to bring them to the masses.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Definitely not. I would go into the long list of personal issues getting in the way of my progression as an artist but let’s just say I am prone to all the stereo-typical artist blocs, not believing in myself, and the struggle with being motivated. My problems tend to get in my way a lot. I waited until I was 46 or so to try and make art my reality if that tells you anything.
I also have struggled a lot with being consistent in the direction, style, and subject matter of my work as I get bored and lose momentum often. As a result of that, I would tend to be all over the place, with my work although I have made progress more recently. Now I feel like I have more consistency.
With pen and ink, I struggle a lot with trying to not fill in every inch of the paper which does not lend well to having a foreground and background. Lots of midrange, making everything kind of grey. I threw away my last piece because this happened and I was just very frustrated with the whole thing. I try to learn from these mistakes but there are always the 2 steps forward 1 step back going on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I would say I am most known for my pen and ink works. I do enjoy pencils too but the art schedule I have set for myself right now demands I do pen and ink.
With pen and ink, I would say my work is known for how detailed I get. If you stand back from my work you will miss what is going on. When you get up close you will see just how crazy I get into every little detail of the drawing.
I am most proud of my piece Itollynyth, which I think is my best work thus far and I had that shown in the Manifest Draw 2023 show in Cincinnati, Ohio. Another success I had was getting my piece, Winter Tubs in the Forest into the Art of the State 2023 show, which is the state of Pennsylvania’s official juried art show shown at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg. This piece took me 3 months to finish and was a very difficult and detailed drawing.
What sets me apart from other artists is how I approach drawing and the way I draw. I feel like I have an unorthodox way of doing pen and ink as when I look at other pen and ink artists they all seem to be from the same school of design which I try to take note of but I always seem to just come back to my bad habits in the media, which if you make it your thing I guess can be a positive.
What are your plans for the future?
I have a couple of things in mind for my future projects. I have made it a point to do my work as a series recently, really focusing on consistency. I think this makes better sense to market the work.
I am almost done with my current series though I would say I am almost burnt out on the subject matter of doing landscapes. My next series I am planning as character pieces, which I am very excited to do. A fun and wacky take on the monster themes from my youth.
Also while doing that I have been trying to design a card game, and if I ever get something I think is working, I will do the art for that. Eventually, someday I hope to get a real studio as well because right now I just have a desk. Also, I would love to paint again. I enjoyed painting oil while in college but I have not done much since.
At this point, I am trying a few different things, seeing what sticks and what will sell. If things start to take off in one direction I will head down that road.
Pricing:
- Mytholl of the Wood – 700$
- Itollynyth – 700$
- Winter Tubs in the Forest – 3000$
- The Path to Tsurdya – $700
Contact Info:
- Website: www.benladieuart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benladieuart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benladieuart/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@benladieuart
