"Well everything smells like horse shit..."

I recently did this commission.
I was pretty free to do as I pleased.
I knew: it was for someone's 30th birthday, that she was called Fran, that she has a cat, and that she dreams of owning a goat farm.
I've liked using blue lately too.
So here it is.

"Fran's Goat Farm"
210x297mm
Ink and crayon on bristol

Oh, I've also been working on Tinnitus #2.

I unearthed a strip I drew about a year ago, but never inked...so I inked it.

Here it is laid out on the floor of my studio.

I hope you get to hold a printed reproduction of it in the near future.

"Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death"

Wow...6 months since I last wrote here...SLACKER.  (But my day job does tend to get in the way of my mental capabilities...but, I digress.)

Firstly, THANKS to all who have bought comix lately...the Manchester Zine Fair crowd in particular.  Everything's still available for purchase at http://www.benjamincooney.bigcartel.com

So what have I been upto...well, I've been illustrating a real cool book project, that I can't really talk about until it's out, so that's enough of that.  I went to Austin, Texas and Amsterdam, you should too.  Oh, and I've started on Tinnitus #2, here's some progress shots...

...the world's OLDEST comic shop is in Amsterdam...go there!!!

 I have one of those jazzy phones now as well...so if instagram is your bag: @benlcooney

This is NOT the new issue of TINNITUS...

...but it is a new mini-comic by myself entitled "Papa, Let's Eat More!"


A7 mini-comic that unfolds to reveal A4 poster.

A father and son take a trip...earthly delights...celestial visions...birth...death...

Blue risograph print on cream paper.
Signed and numbered edition of 106.
Comes with bonus "this is NOT the new issue of TINNITUS" card.

There is a punchline element to the comic, so if you don't wanna spoil it for yourself, don't look too hard!

Go to the SHOP to get one!

(ps there is a rumour that PLEMPLEM in Germany will be putting the poster image on shirts soon!)

"Goose Freight Train"

The good-gals at Sugar Paper asked me to knock up a 'colour-in-able' postcard for their 'Postcards from Indietracks' workshop at the Indietracks festival, which just happened this weekend.  So there it is below (click on it to see the detail, duh), pen and ink as per...

(click on it to see the detail, duh), pen and ink as per...

What have a black cat, a stripper and a pervert got in common..?

I've been working on TINNITUS no.2 lately, not sure exactly when it'll be out...for now though, you can look at these:

'Don't Mind Me...'

ink on skateboard section

8"x12"

The piece above was done for this:

I think it's still up, go take a look.

...it was a mate's birthday the other day, this was his card from me:

...and here's a panel from a short strip I finished the other day (this'll probably be in TINNITUS no.2):

Eye Flys...

Here's a page from the next issue of TINNITUS...tentatively titled TINNITUS No.2...
...if anyone can correctly guess the song that's referenced throughout the strip, I'll come and build you an eco-friendly concrete bunker for the ensuing nuclear war that I keep dreaming about...

I've also just finished a poster/strip for Shape And Situate: Posters of Inspirational European Women #3...here's a sneak at it...

...Hyacinth House b/w Send Me a Postcard.

Dan asked me to if I wanted to draw a new House shirt...I said "YEAH!"...here it is:

For those not in the know, the House is Sheffield's indoor skatepark, which has been around for over a decade...and is located in one of the city's more 'seedier' areas....

Here's one of the actual shirts next to Dan's extravaganza of line! Both can be bought in their shop. Dark blue ink on white shirts.

I also drew a piece for a fundraising exhibition in Manchester which ended last friday...the work had to be postcard size (the exhibition being called '5.8 by 4.1'), here that is also........

"..let me hide myself in thee..."

After some seriously tough times up in Teesside, original Death twins Ronny & Danny Calow decided it was time to get things back on track...LEGACY skatestore is up and running.

They asked me to draw a shirt for 'em...here t'is...

TINNITUS No.1 is...OUT NOW!!!

First issue proper of TINNITUS comic...get it here!

All drawn by me.

Stories about schizoid siblings, old friends, cruddy jobs, coffee, hippies, german psyche bands...

A5 comic.

24 heavyweight black, white & grey printed pages plus card cover.

Comes wrapped in a handpressed linoprint dustjacket.

Signed & numbered edition of 108.

FREE issue zero with every order!

AAAAAND...the first FIVE web orders I receive will also receive an alternative screenprint/ink dustjacket...these are closer to the original jacket I had in mind, before I jumped aboard the goodship linoleum...(you'll still get the proper dustjacket as well).

If you don't have paypal or whatever, email me and we'll sort summat out...and if you're lucky enough to have a shop and want to stock TINNITUS, get in touch and we'll do some wholesale!!!

Oh yeah, I made this neato video preview...it's almost like you're in a shop having a flick through fer yourself...oooohhh ahhhhhh!!!

Adventures in screen printing...

The comic, aka TINNITUS No.1, has been printed now...I have a hundred copies sitting right here next to me...now if you've read ISSUE 0, you'll recall that each issue of No.1 was to have a screenprinted dustjacket, hand pulled by yours truly...when...

(click it bigger)

...now, I'm not usually one fer giving in...and I'm not gonna release this thing without some form of hand finished cover...so I sat and I sat...deflated...and to cheer myself up I did what I often do...I look at art that I dig...a lot of OLD art...old art that happened to be HANDPRINTED..."these dudes didn't have emulsions...exposure units...mesh counts...they had a block of wood, a tool, some ink, and some paper..."

...now the wood may have been replaced by linoleum...but essentially it's the same 2000 year old process...and lots of back to front thinking.

So, hopefully, ISSUE No.1 will be with you shortly...and even more hopefully, it will be wrapped up in a hand-printed linocut dust jacket...but who knows, in a week or so I might just be drawing 'ADVENTURES in LINO PRINTING' with the ghost of Frans Masereel carving my face off...watch this space.

Salute of the SLUGGER...

...ze boys at SLUGGER are holding their annual skatecomp down the local park soon...here's a poster I done for it...click on it if you would like to see it bigger!

Oh, and come to the comp...bring beer!

"...no man is an island..."

Frankie "Fists" Johnson...

(click it big if you cain't read it...)

CHRIST ON A BIKE!!!

...and now CHRIST ON A BIKE ON A T-SHIRT (drawn by me).

The excellent Superdead Skateboards wanted to pay homage to that most wonderful of exclaimations (sic)...the one you use when nothing else will do (well maybe "F*CKIN' SPIDERS!")...and they thought I was the pen for the job (wasn't he in the bible too?)

The shirt is featured in Superdead's new catalogue of goodies (which also features other radical scribblers) and can be seen here.

The catalogue also celebrates the release of Andy Scott's and Eddie Belvedere's first pro-models for the 'dead (as well as a guest boards for Fred Muthafuckin' Gall, Jimmy Boyes, Div Adam and Ben Schroeder!)...stoked to be a part of it!

Now go demand it at your local shop!!!

"Black tear falling on my lazy queen..."

"...got a tattooed tit, say no.13."

"Here's a wagon..."

"...get on in..."

INK for AID...25th April, Leeds

As you all know, Japan needs all the help she can get right now...and luckily some bighearted folk in Leeds decided to get organazized.

"In the wake of the recent disaster in Japan, a community of local artists and promoters from all over Yorkshire have been moved to work together in order to raise some money and awareness in support of the people most affected by one of the biggest earthquakes in the history of our planet.

Artists from all over the world are donating work to the cause which will be available to buy at the aucton; view work and details here: www.facebook.com/INKforAID

All the profits to Save the Children, working directly to support children orphaned and families devastated by the crisis in Japan."

I am honoured to be a part of this. Here is my piece for the exhibition/auction: "hands..."
ink on preloved skateboard
22 x 83cm
signed & dated edition of 1

Get yersens down and do some bidding for the greater good...

Pot-hole...

...hit a pothole a few weeks back which threw a bit of a spanner, nay, a whole spanner, in the works at TINNITUS...I think it's been removed and the pothole filled...what you see above is a panel from another story which should see the light of real (not digital) day sometime soon...feast your eyes, fill your bellies, digest, pass wind...sleep.

...news on TINNITUS no.1

I think the guts of TINNITUS no.1 is together...the skin not so...the whole thing'll need birthing too...more soon...for now stare at the preview panel above...maybe even hazard a guess at what's goin' on...who knows?

issue zero still available (for less than a cost of a stamp and an envelope)...you can also read it for absolutely NOTHING if you hit the little COMICS cloud up above...but wouldn't you like to touch it?

"...Set the controls for the ♥ of the Sun."

Click it to enlarge it.

This week I've been 'assembling' TINNITUS issue1...my next bit of news might even be a preview of what's gonna be inside it!

But alas, today I started doodling at the breakfast table and couldn't leave...(see above)...having read one of her most recent blog posts, I hereby dedicate the above illustration to Ms Seleena Laverne Daye...(psst, you can read her excellent post by clicking her name!).

"...here comes your man."

It was my little brother's birthday yesterday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!)...for which I drew him this card. No particular reference point, no particular inspiration, apart from that he likes big scary stuff...but looking at it now, I wonder how many times this 'image' has appeared in comicbook form...a lot I'da thought...(I've also just realised the visuals and titles for this and my last post have recurring themes...oohhh SPOOKY!)

Regular visitors (if such a being exists) will also notice that there're some new little 'features' on this here space of mine...namely, the little tabs at the top of the page...just thought I'd make it a bit easier for you to look around at what I've done...and new visitors won't know the difference! Click away!

p.s. I hope Kim Deal smiles forever.............................

"...I'm gonna be your man."

Sketchbook 24.01.11
Click it to see the big ANIMATED version!
Oh...and go see Black Swan.

"...simple stuff."

Greetings.
I'm glad people have been diggin' the TINNITUS...if you haven't picked one up already, follow the little link to the right...or get yourself to one of the fine establishments listed a coupla posts ago.

I've been working away on the first issue proper for the past week or two...all I can say is...be patient...hopefully it'll come good and you'll see it as some sort of reward....

Speaking of patience...my original plan was to release or 'upload' ISSUE-0 on here when ISSUE-1 is born into the real world of physical things...so that any of you that haven't had a copy can see inside it...but that may happen sooner...

I'll also be posting some snippet preview stuff on here as I'm working on ISSUE-1 too...

For now though...here's a sketchbook entry drawn last night while waiting for something to happen...no scan, just a photo...PEACE

"...Feed your head..."

UberCRAFTzine SUGAR PAPER are putting together issue number SIX of '20 things to make & do' as we 'speak'...and they kindly asked your mumble narrator to illustrate the cover...big shoes to fill considering superdoodler BUNNY BISSOUX did a helluva job of number 5...

Now, seeing as quilting is a thing to make and do in the zine, I decided on a quilted (front & back) cover...and in amongst the obviously crafty paraphernelia featured on the panels, you may also viddy a few subtle references to the roaring Jefferson Airplane...(Grace Slick...sigh...swoon...)


SUGAR PAPER no.6 '20 things to make & do' is being launched this Sunday (14th Nov.) at 'We Can Quilt It'...which is taking place at Fuel in Manchester...here for details!

...anyway, here tis...click to enlarge!

"...Scratching peace symbols in your mind..."

It seems like forever ago when I drew this, but it's finally out there in the ether...DEATH FROM ABOVE...go buy...

Thanks to Nick at Death and Mr Allen for letting me do my thang...

...right, I need to get back to drawing naked acid damaged hippy chicks...eat 'shrooms not animals...P-E-A-C-E.

"Embarrassed to be alive..."

...this fella keeps poppin' up in my sketchbook...thought I'd share him...maybe he has a story to tell?

Aaaaand Issue-Zero of TINNITUS can now be found in the following fine emporiums:

SLUGGER
35 West Bars
CHESTERFIELD

CAPE & COWL COMICS
11 Theatre Yard
CHESTERFIELD

THE HOUSE
Bardwell Rd
SHEFFIELD

THE OLD SWEETSHOP
1 Nether Edge Road
SHEFFIELD

THE RUDE SHIPYARD
89 Abbeydale Road
SHEFFIELD

LP RECORD STORE
53 Howard Street
SHEFFIELD

GOOD GRIEF
Third Floor
Afflecks Palace
MANCHESTER

PURL GALLERY
62 Port Street
MANCHESTER

There are also 100 copies winging their way to Japan right now...If you know of a shop/gallery/cave that'd take a stack, get in touch...or if you want one for yersen, go here...

TINNITUS issue zero OUT NOW!!!

I am pleased to announce that the premiere issue of TINNITUS is ready and waiting for your viewing pleasure!

Issue ZERO is a FREE A5 4-page comic, acting as a sorta preview of what to expect from future issues of TINNITUS...it features a few short strips...crap jobs, awkward dates, hopes dreams & schemes...and is printed on 120gsm paper...hand numbered and signed edition of 1000.

You can click here to get a copy (it is FREE, but you gotta pay for the stamp & envelope!)...(if you don't have paypal, email me and we'll sort something out).

...or, I will be dropping them in selected (read "anywhere that'll let me leave 'em") shops/galleries/places around the place...so if you're lucky enough to see it sat somewhere in real life...JUST PICK ONE (or 50?) UP...IT'S FREEEEEEEE!!!

At the moment, there are piles sat in PURL GALLERY and GOOD GRIEF (both in Manchester)...and SLUGGER SKATE SHOP (in Chesterfield)...I'm hoping to hit the road this week and leave some around the country...just get in touch if you want some!

Now in terrifying 3D!

Seeing as Knit & Destroy is 'going to the movies' next week (see post below)...I thought it only fair to drag the flyer illustration kicking and screaming into the terrifying space we know as...the THIRD DIMENSION!!! So grab your 3D specs cuz it works a treat! (Probably best to click the image and see it in it' fullsize glory!)

...And in other news...It was my dear ol' Dad's birthday last weekend, for which I drew him this slammin' can of Cooney's Brew...Extra Strength of course!!!


Oh, and TINNITUS issue zero is pretty much ready to print...so it should be with you real soon! So while you wait...why not sit back, relax and let Mr Banhart tell you how I feel...

KNIT Conquered the World!!!

I was lucky enough to be asked to illustrate the poster for the opening exhibition of a new contemporary craft and textile gallery in Manchester...PURL...which is set to open on October 22nd...the gallery is located within PURL CITY YARNS which is also opening on the same day...

The exhibition itself is also the debut solo exhibition of the Knit-tastic KANDY DIAMOND of KNIT & DESTROY fame........

So lots of debuts all rolled into one...check the details on the poster and GET YOURSELVES DOWN (or UP!)!

Illustration by yours truly...text/layout by PurlCityYarns...
(click it to see it BIGGER and in a lovely new window)

"...I don't want to complain, but i find the world insane..."

I've started work on the cover for ISSUE ZERO of TINNITUS...which is, for those who haven't read the posts below, a comic drawn and soon to be released by, me...

Here's a little sneak at a panel from one of the strips...
(click it to see it bigger)

Le sketchbook de vacances Français...

"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day..."

As mentioned a few moons agon in the very first utterance on here, I've had some board graphics in the pipeline for Death Skateboards for a little while...well, the first one is now OUT..........and I am S-T-O-K-E-D!

Zarosh - LOG OFF (click it to enlarge)

Now do yourself a favour and get off the internet and go outside...