ARTIST PROFILE

The Dead Beatnik (aka Benjamin Thomas) is a Fine Artist/Illustrator/Graphic Designer with 18 years of experience in providing visual and conceptual solutions for clients from Disney to Aerosmith. As comfortable with traditional painting and drawing media as PhotoShop, Illustrator and Painter, he employs methods tailored to each individual project.
Whimsy plays an important role in his personal work and, when appropriate, in his commercial work. Poised in the hodgepodge that is suburban Los Angeles at the dawn of the 2nd Millenium,he draws on a variety of cultural and historical sources to inform his work.

CLIENT LIST

Los Angeles Athletic Club


Disney Theme Parks


Warner Music Group


Harley-Davidson


Walmart


Hard Rock Cafe


Mervins


Kohl's


Jimmy Buffett

RESUME

EDUCATION

B.F.A w/honors* Illustration ‘92
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA

B.A. cum laude*Fine Art*’87
Pomona College
Claremont,CA
Phi Beta Kappa

WORK EXPERIENCE

President/Founder/Art Director/Chief Cook&Bottle Washer
Dead Beatnik Studios-’04-present

Artist- Giant Merchandising- Aug’97-Nov'03
develop concepts/design/illustrate merchandise for
Disney Stores*WarnerBros. Studio Stores*Retail Private Label*
Retail Licensed Properties* Tour*Hard Rock Cafe*
Harley-Davidson

Contract Hire-Disney Interactive-Oct’96-Mar’97
asset design,clean and fill on ”Ready For Math With Pooh”

Freelance Illustrator-’93-present

Artist in Residence-The Blank Theatre Co.-’90-’94

Teaching Assistant-Pomona College
Art Department-’86-87

Director of Pomona College Student Gallery
Fall’86

SKILLS/SERVICES

Using the Photoshop,Illustrator and Painter on the Mac, traditional media
or some deliciously unexpected
combination of the two,
Concepts developed
Ideas illustrated
Designs realized
Perspective forced
Language tortured
Wars fought
Governments run
Bridges destroyed
Uprisings quelled
Revolutions started
Tigers tamed
Saloons emptied
Meetings interrupted
Riots incited
Navels contemplated
Corners explored
Meanings doubled