Who better to illustrate Captain Science's cover than another Captain?
Meet Jas Ingram: Captain Lovehandles.
BEN Books and author Bobby Nash are excited to welcome cover illustrator Captain Lovehandles himself, Mr. Jas Ingram to the project. To help you get to know Jas a little better, we asked him a few questions.
Welcome to Oz, Jas!
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative outlets.
I've been doing illustration and design in Atlanta ever since I graduated college in 1982. So I've had to draw pretty much everything at one time or another. More recently I've done more lowbrow type subjects. I'm a licensed Rat Fink artist, and have RF paintings for sale at the Oddities Museum in Atlanta. I participate in Inktober, a grueling October drawing challenge. I'll draw pretty much whatever comes to mind. And I play music with a couple of bands, Possum Kingdom Ramblers and When Ukuleles Attack.
2. What drew you to Captain Science in Oz?
I have always loved that 1950's science fiction, the comics, books, movies. The idea of setting it in Oz made it appealing. Also, I knew Bobby Nash would really deliver on the story. I've got some of his books and always find them fun reads.
3. What art mediums do you work in? Do you have a favorite?
I think I'm mostly known for my black and white inking style, and that's my favorite, even though I'll dabble in acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, and digital art. For this cover, I drew the ink drawing 2X size, scanned the drawing and colored digitally in Procreate.
4. When did the creative bug bite you? What was your first art experience?
I've ALWAYS drawn. My brother Hootie is an artist too, and our mom used to refer to us as "a pair of drawers". I may still have a drawing of Popeye I made when I was four.
5. What motivates you to create?
The idea of creating something unique and fun. One good example is the Future Folk coloring book. I saw the movie The History of Future Folk on Netflix one night and was inspired to create a piece of fan art. The guys from the band loved it and we started kicking around the idea of the book and I'm really proud of it. I've also illustrated books with (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder) John McEuen and local restaurateur and recording artist Clay Harper. The John McEuen book had a foreword by Steve Martin, which was a thrill.
6. What's coming up for you? Any new projects you can talk about?
I've started talking about an Oddities Museum coloring book now, and that would be fun. I've always got things in the hopper. You know what I'd like to try? Being a courtroom sketch artist, so if any media outlets or law firms out there have a way in, let me know. Also, I have a couple more songs I've written that the Ramblers may record one day.
7. Where can people learn more about you and your art?
I'm Captain Lovehandles all over the place... Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, Etsy, Youtube... and UkeRepublic.com has a Captain Lovehandles signature line of products.
CaptainLovehandles.com is my tumblr blog where I stick my art that I'm pleased with. And Possum Kingdom Ramblers is on the music streaming platforms.
I've been doing illustration and design in Atlanta ever since I graduated college in 1982. So I've had to draw pretty much everything at one time or another. More recently I've done more lowbrow type subjects. I'm a licensed Rat Fink artist, and have RF paintings for sale at the Oddities Museum in Atlanta. I participate in Inktober, a grueling October drawing challenge. I'll draw pretty much whatever comes to mind. And I play music with a couple of bands, Possum Kingdom Ramblers and When Ukuleles Attack.
2. What drew you to Captain Science in Oz?
I have always loved that 1950's science fiction, the comics, books, movies. The idea of setting it in Oz made it appealing. Also, I knew Bobby Nash would really deliver on the story. I've got some of his books and always find them fun reads.
3. What art mediums do you work in? Do you have a favorite?
I think I'm mostly known for my black and white inking style, and that's my favorite, even though I'll dabble in acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, and digital art. For this cover, I drew the ink drawing 2X size, scanned the drawing and colored digitally in Procreate.
4. When did the creative bug bite you? What was your first art experience?
I've ALWAYS drawn. My brother Hootie is an artist too, and our mom used to refer to us as "a pair of drawers". I may still have a drawing of Popeye I made when I was four.
The idea of creating something unique and fun. One good example is the Future Folk coloring book. I saw the movie The History of Future Folk on Netflix one night and was inspired to create a piece of fan art. The guys from the band loved it and we started kicking around the idea of the book and I'm really proud of it. I've also illustrated books with (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder) John McEuen and local restaurateur and recording artist Clay Harper. The John McEuen book had a foreword by Steve Martin, which was a thrill.
6. What's coming up for you? Any new projects you can talk about?
I've started talking about an Oddities Museum coloring book now, and that would be fun. I've always got things in the hopper. You know what I'd like to try? Being a courtroom sketch artist, so if any media outlets or law firms out there have a way in, let me know. Also, I have a couple more songs I've written that the Ramblers may record one day.
7. Where can people learn more about you and your art?
I'm Captain Lovehandles all over the place... Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, Etsy, Youtube... and UkeRepublic.com has a Captain Lovehandles signature line of products.
CaptainLovehandles.com is my tumblr blog where I stick my art that I'm pleased with. And Possum Kingdom Ramblers is on the music streaming platforms.
Thanks again, Captain.
Learn more about Captain Science in Oz below.
