Ben and Michael

Ben and Michael banner

Ben and Michael is a fictional book about a boy and his father trying to live as a family after the loss of someone very special to them.
The main idea was born out of a social media challenge, but then it became this project about these two characters.

Ben and Michael library
Ben and Michael kitchen
Ben and Michael cover without text
Ben and Michael living room single page
Ben and Michael cemetery single page

Behind the scenes

Thumbnails

I drew some thumbnails for each illustration to play around with the composition. As you can see, Michael was a gnome in the first sketches, but then he became an adorable child. Ben is half man and half moth.

Ben and Michael thumbnails

Visual References

I knew I wanted to use digital watercolor for the illustrations. So I got some references for that type of media and also other references for drawing the scenarios.

Ben and Michael visual references

Character Design

After deciding on the main characters, I created this model sheet to have a reference for different character angles.

Ben and Michael model sheet characters
Ben and Michael expression sheet characters

Spot Illustrations

Ben and Michael spot illustrations

Kitchen Scene

See the sketch and final art.

Ben and Michael kitchen sketch
Sketch
Ben and Michael kitchen
Final art

Book cover and inner pages

Ben and Michael cover mockup
Ben and Michael cemetery book mockup
Ben and Michael kitchen book mockup
Ben and Michael living room book mockup
Ben and Michael spot illustration book mockup
Ben and Michael library mockup

Book cover - Before and After

See the final art and inserted texts.

Ben and Michael cover without text
Final art
Ben and Michael cover
Final art with texts

All Final Arts

Ben and Michael all illustrations
Ben and Michael thank you banner

Would you like to work with me? Contact me by email.