These sketches are the very first designs of Ben from Gears Of War, but in truth he wasn't really thought up entirely by me. In fact, his design was actually inspired by an original character from another artist I used to watch closely. It was a character that Jubilations (from DA) made, named Token, and she posted some of him in an artwork called Big Innocent Farm Boy Routine. I was a fan of her work and style, and I picked him out for Ben's design, due to the fragile and innocent nature he pulled off from his expressions.

To avoid stealing the whole design of her character, I randomized his face to look like a "pretty boy", and altered his hair to almost resemble Jim Hawkins' hair from Treasure Planet. Then I chose a red color for his hair to compare the meaning of his last name, Carmine. Carmine is actually termed in English as a reddish color but not entirely a true red. So in my newer drawings of him, his reddish tone is perceived as a darkish red.

And, voila! Benjamin Carmine was then born. Enjoy!

Gears Of War © The Coalition
Token © Jubilations
Art © MyFantasiMind 2009