With Halloween approaching, the craving for darker content is natural. Taiwanese artist Ben Chen captures the eerie essence perfectly with his horror-style comics, known for their surprising endings. Chen, who shares his work with 4.5K followers on Flickr, describes his style as “dark, humorous, and full of imagination.” His previous lighter illustrations gained popularity, especially as t-shirt designs on Threadless.
Creating art is joyful for Ben, and he intends to keep drawing as long as he can. His process involves exploring ideas through sketches before finalizing his work, typically taking 2-3 days for illustrations and 4-5 days for comics. His advice to fellow illustrators is to experiment to find what suits them best and incorporate their own personality into their work to create unique characters. Art, for Ben, is not just about creativity but also a means of self-discovery, underscoring the importance of passion and fun in the process.
Horror’s rising popularity might be linked to its role as an anxiety outlet, a theory supported by scientist Coltan Scrivner. In uncertain times, Ben’s comics offer an engaging escape.