Meet Ben Bayani | Cartoonist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Bayani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, why did you pursue a creative career?
I wanted to be a cartoonist because I love telling stories through sequential art. Comic books are a medium that brings my stories and characters to life. This gives me the ability to express my artistic vision through my imagination and creativity. I’d like to show my comics to the world for people to share it with their friends and family. My goal in making comics is to immerse the audience into the world I created with compelling stories and relatable characters.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a cartoonist who makes comics and illustrations on Clip Studio Paint software on my Wacom Cintiq. I’m the creator of the slice-of-life webcomic, Chion and Kobi. You can check it out on Tapas and Webtoons. On Instagram, I post character art, illustrations, and mini-comics. The inspiration for my comics is from Disney films, anime, and manga. What makes me stand out from the others is that my art combines elements from anime and western art styles. I’m proud that I made a few episodes of comics to show to others. It’s a challenging yet rewarding experience that requires a lot of effort and dedication. I taught myself how to draw with drawing books and then attended SCAD to nurture my artistic abilities. There are a lot of challenges such as improving on my weaknesses such as figure drawing and writing dialogue. I still have a lot to learn and improve at this point in my life, but I will learn along the way and find ways to improve by seeking help. As I make my comic, I push myself to work harder by using the feedback from my editor. What I want the world to know about my story is that I can create dynamic characters and unique worlds that engage the reader’s imagination.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is a lot to do in Atlanta. Piedmont Park is a great place to explore with beautiful scenery and events to check out. It’s a good place to exercise with nice walking trails throughout the park. Another great place to check out is the Georgia Aquarium. There is a lot to do in the aquarium with facts about ocean life and aquatic creatures to see at the exhibits. Plus, there are fun events such as the sea lion and dolphin show. Another highlight is the Atlanta Zoo. It’s a great place to see and learn about animals from different parts of the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate a shoutout to the Pajama Program. It’s an organization where children read books and receive pajamas as gifts. People volunteer to be the reading buddy to children to talk about the story. It’s an opportunity for me to tell stories to kids and guide kids on reading the books. I work well with the staff who admire my contributions and the art I shared with them. Another shout out should be for Issac Fisher. He’s a friend who admired my comics and art. We attended the same school together. He helps me figure out a plan for reaching my goals as an artist. Issac is also a cartoonist who creates great comics and art.

Website: toonben.com
Instagram: toonben90

Image Credits
ToonBen (Ben Bayani)