Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Woods.
Hi Ben, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to both music and art. I started playing guitar when I was about eight, and all through high school I was drawing constantly. When I got to college, music took the lead. I played in bands, performed shows around Nashville, and got into producing electronic music. I still made art here and there, but it became more of a side thing.
Throughout college I also got involved in online communities and collectives, collaborating with artists across the world. I really loved developing ideas with other creatives, and that’s something I’m always after. Those connections pulled me back toward the visual side and eventually into Web3, where I rediscovered how much I loved designing and bringing ideas to life.
These days I’m freelancing in brand design and illustration and always building something on the side. I love working with bands on prints, album art, and merch ideas, and in the Web3 space I enjoy getting into product development and shaping ideas from the ground up. Over the last few years I’ve really wanted to push my art further. My personal illustration is all hand-drawn with a retro-futuristic style, and I’m focused on making the best work I can. At heart I’m an entrepreneur, always coming up with new ideas and finding ways my art and design can be part of them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. For a long time I was working a full-time job outside of design while freelancing on nights and weekends, which meant constantly juggling my time and energy. It was hard to find space for my own art when I was always focused on client work and paying the bills.
The Web3 space brought its own challenges too. It moves fast and can be unpredictable, so projects and opportunities could change overnight. That taught me to stay adaptable and keep learning, but it also meant a lot of uncertainty.
Probably the biggest struggle has been staying true to my own creative voice while balancing everything else. Over the last few years I’ve made a real effort to prioritize my personal work again, and it’s been worth it. Every setback has pushed me to get better and figure out what I really want to be making.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a designer and illustrator specializing in brand design and illustration. A lot of my work lives where music, art, and the internet meet, from prints, album art, and merch for bands to brand identities and product development in the Web3 space.
My personal illustration is all hand-drawn, in a style I’ve developed and cultivated over time, and it’s what I’m most proud of. That work carries directly into the projects I take on with bands, and I’m really excited about a recent album art project that turned out great.
What sets me apart is the mix of perspectives I bring. My music background helps me understand what artists are trying to say, and years in online communities taught me how to collaborate with people anywhere. I’m an entrepreneur at heart too, so I’m always thinking about how an idea can grow into something bigger.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going on a hike with my dad when I was very young and spotting an albino owl together. It was extremely memorable and has stayed with me ever since.
A few years later, I was out with my mom and we spotted an albino deer. Seeing something that rare twice, each time with one of my parents, felt truly profound, and those are moments I’ll never forget.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://benwoods.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benrz?dlrf=b2hieGN4OXh5dHVt&utm_source=qr
