We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ben Askew a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ben, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
Growing up I had a really hard time learning how to read. I made it all the way to 6th grade with a 2nd grade reading level.
When I was young my mom would marvel at how much I loved books. I would sit and turn through the pages. To her this meant I would be a great reader like she was. Unfortunately, little did she know, I was studying the pictures.
Time came for me to go to school in the 90s and they had moved away from phonics to sight reading. This didn’t take and I was passed through the cracks and placed in special classes. 6th grade was the boiling point and my mother was frustrated and she lost faith in the school district. So she pulled me out and homeschooled me.
I sat down every day with Hooked on Phonics cassette tapes and within 6 months I was reading the hobbit. My mother would later go to school and become a teacher to this day.
Not being able to read in my early life had a massive impact on me. I felt unintelligent and embarrassed. Especially when called on to read in front of my peers. So I would escape through my drawing. I would create worlds I wish I could run to. It was therapeutic because it was the one thing in life I was better than everyone else.
Now I want to build a passion in the next generation for books and reading. Illustrating and writing children’s books feels like a story of victory. Overcoming the expectations on my life and conquering my embarrassment and fears. Much of my success can be attributed to my mom. Who wouldn’t accept low expectations and drove me to be more.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve always been an artist. Always drawing always creating. My entry into children’s books just made sense.
I have three children and bedtime is filled with made up stories of dragons, goblins and trolls. Add artistic talent to the mix and you get a children’s book author/illustrator.
I’m most proud of my first children’s book “Captain Blunder Might Live Forever”. It’s the first project that feels like I accomplished something.
This book spring boarded me into the world of children’s books. Almost instantly I got connected with some amazingly talented authors who loved my wild and wacky style. This lead me to illustrate “The Mighty McKraken” for author illustrator Izzy B. This book has recently been nominated for a couple awards.
I want to challenge myself with every client. With every work I want to push myself and my art to stand out among the rest.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Well, we can first start with our education system. Creatives learn very differently. It’s the old story of asking a monkey and an elephant to climb a tree. I wasn’t very successful in school because I didn’t fit the mold. This left me feeling pretty dumb. Creatives need a place where they can learn hands on. Let them be creative.
Next, stop buying art from retail furniture stores and Hobby Lobby. Find your local artists and support them.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My inability to read as a kid drives me to encourage young people who are in the same boat I was. I want them to know they have every opportunity to be successful in life.
I realize that in life everyone gets to make their own choices. Not one of us on this earth has the same ideals. Today every book, movie and news broadcast places value on their ideals being the right ones. My mission is to not come with an agenda. I just want to make good art. I want to make children’s books that can be enjoyed by everyone. No matter your background, ideals, morals or values.
Contact Info:
- Website: benaskewbooks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benaskewbooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087310071004
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-askew-582870161/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4CXsDRiuyYHnq2QbrxJQBg
Image Credits
Ben Askew Illustrations, The Mighty McKraken written by Izzy B., Professor Nincompoop written by Jimmy Vee, This Monkey Lost A Banana written by Ben Askew, Captain Blunder Might Live Forever? written by Ben Askew