The Spinoff’s cartoonist Toby Morris chats and draws with New Zealand’s doodlers in the webseries Two Sketches. In the fifth episode, Toby sits down with comic artist Ben Stenbeck. 

Two Sketches returns with another leisurely draw and a chat hosted by award-winning illustrator Toby Morris. In this episode, Toby chats with Dunedin-based illustrator Ben Stenbeck, whose distinctive artwork has seen him forge a career at the top level of the American comic book industry while remaining relatively unknown at home.

From his studio, Ben discusses his 14 year career as a professional artist: how he broke into the comic industry at its peak from New Zealand, how he “made a mess” of his pages for a Buffy comic and what’s it’s like collaborating with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. Toby and Ben also delve into more personal topics such as the loneliness experienced while working from home and dealing with imposter syndrome.

Ben’s insights into his life as a working artist are funny and brutally honest. Watching him draw in Two Sketches, we get to see a master at the top of his craft.

Two Sketches is made with the support of NZ On Air. Watch earlier episodes, with Michel Mulipola, Sharon Murdoch, Sam Orchard and Meteria Turei here. Subscribe to The Spinoff’s YouTube channel here to see all our video series.