Price: $17.95
(as of Feb 07, 2024 01:53:33 UTC – Details)
Product Description
Day of the Dead Girl by Ben Krefta
My name’s Ben. I’ve worked as a professional artist and illustrator for the last 20+ years. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fear of dying. More precisely, of being dead. Apparently, psychotherapists call this “thanatophobia”.
The fear felt like there was a terrifying monster lurking in my subconscious. It would sprint towards me, desperate to grab hold if I should so much as glimpse at it for a moment. I would keep it locked up in the back of my mind and there it stayed.
As a young adult I did pretty well in life. On the surface at least. I had an amazing partner, completed a degree in art and design and was given my first art book publishing deal at 21 years old.
Unknown to the outside world, I’d been suffering from anxiety and depressive episodes throughout both my childhood and adult years due to this whole death issue. It was secretly ruining my life.
I was aware that I’d eventually need to confront this monster before it teared me apart from the inside. I was desperate to fully escape the darkness and suffocating feeling this fear would bring. And I wanted to finally move towards a bright and terror-free future! It was on my 25thbirthday that I decided to finally beat this fear at all costs!
Although I had no idea how to get over it. How do I rid myself of a fear that has always been a part of me? I didn’t have people around me who I felt would understand this weird dying phobia. Nor did I know of any world-class specialists who might have a solution. The fact that I was almost financially broke at the time meant throwing money at the issue wasn’t the answer either.
As to not burden others, I’ve always been one to hide my emotions and try not to show weakness. However, I decided to bravely swallow my pride and ended up seeing a therapist. She believed I’d be able to tackle this monster over time. I was hopeful.
I took a seat in her cramped office while she faced opposite me. The curtains were half drawn, allowing for some daylight to shine through. After we finished brief, polite introductions, there was a pause. I could hear the overhead fan spinning quietly in the background as I nervously squeezed the soft leather arms of the chair I sat on. I then began tentatively explaining my story.
Several sessions later and things weren’t working out. She’d often veer off topic; bringing up her own issues, such as her alcoholic father or husband who seemingly also had a problem with drink. Half the time, I felt like I was her therapist! I left.
At around the same time, life decided to punish me. A relationship with my partner ended, my best friend betrayed me and the art in my gallery, at the time, was not selling and causing extra stress I didn’t need. I felt so defeated. I remember going for a walk late at night to try and help process my current circumstances. It was quiet but for the sound of nearby rustling tree leaves in the wind. The damp pavements were dimly lit by overheard street lights and the smell of wet rain still lingered in the air. I thought, now I might as well just unlock the monster in my mind and embrace my phobia head on. How much worse can things get? They did get worse! The fear gripped me to such an extent that I had a complete metal breakdown…
I was a patient guy and used to dealing with problems. For example, I was never naturally talented, so even the process of learning to draw presented me with relentless challenges and failures to overcome on a daily basis. Fortunately, that meant I’d managed to build up some resilience and inner strength I could use to help get me through what felt like hell. It took months, but I finally made my way through the abyss and back out to the other side. My life circumstances eventually began to improve.
Still determined to alleviate my fears of death, I tried a new, more measured approach. Over the course of several years in my 20s and 30s, I read many books on religion, spirituality, psychology and even theoretical physics. It was an invaluable education, giving me an exciting new perspective on life, death and the universe.
As a part of my journey to understand death, I learned of Mexico’s ‘Day of the dead’. Rather than being a morbid, depressing funeral, it’s a festive celebration held to honour the deceased. It demonstrates a refreshing mix of joy, colours and sounds with what is usually considered solemn, spooky and sad. It illustrates the view that life and death are complicated topics. That death is a nuanced issue and not the end of everything. In fact, it can be the start of a celebration!
As of now, I’m happy and doing great! My personal life has sorted itself out and I have people around me I love and care about. Professionally, I can’t complain- having sold thousands of individual artworks to customers across the globe, and with my art books selling over a million copies and translated into several languages. Most importantly, I’ve finally started coming to terms with my mortality.
We cannot know ultimate truth or what lies beyond. And so, I learned that defining death as this scary, bad thing is not necessarily correct and certainly not useful. I created this artwork to remind us that there can be something positive, even beautiful, about death.
Artwork Available in multiple sizes
We provide artwork to fit any size wall space, whether it be in your living room, bed room, hall way or office
Production and Shipping Time
There are 4 ways to print this artwork:
1) Premium Glossy Paper is for high quality, professional paper-prints.
Sharp, Vivid and rich Color sets this apart from a casual, home photo print and makes use of artwork specifically created at super-high resolution for maximum detail. (watermark signature not on final product)Premium Glossy Paper will last a long time.This option is available in 8×10 inches, 11×14 inches or 16×20 inches.They are designed to be placed in a glass frame, purchased separately (starting at a few dollars at your local Target or online).
2) Canvas are ready to put up on your wall straight out of the box for ultimate convenience.
Gorgeous finished look. with zero assembly required, it comes out of the box ready to hang with a simple nail in the wall.Stretched Canvas Prints are a well-known, high-end way of displaying artwork.1.5 inch thick wooden stretcher-bars give it depth and shape, in the same way an oil painting is traditionally assembled. There are no staples or ugly lines visible on the sides (very important).
3) Ready to Hang Canvas PLUS Black Floating Frame
Add a modern Matt Black Floating Frame to your stretched canvas.0.75 inch thick wooden stretcher-bars with a gap between the canvas and floating frame.
4) Ready to Hang Canvas (Split into 3 panels). Includes the above canvas features.
This is for larger pieces- the artwork is split into 3 even panels. These 3 separate canvas panels put together make a single large image.This gives a modern look, and allows spectacularly large sizes on your wall!
Estimated delivery time for printing, assembling, packing and shipping is around 10 days.
From Concept to Creation- How the artwork is made.
Initial Sketch
Initial idea is conceived and drawn
Adding Details
The artwork is further refined…
Shading Added
Shading and rendering is expertly added
Ready to order
The high quality artwork is finished and added to art prints using cutting-edge printing techniques
About the Artist
This Day of the Dead art print has been created by Ben Krefta – A professional artist for over two decades, best known for his ‘How to Draw’ art books, which have sold over 1 million copies globally and translated in to several languages. He specialises in manga, comic and tattoo inspired designs and fine art.
Each artwork is created in exquisite detail at high resolutions, making each premium print looks it’s finest – with sharp lines, smooth transitions and vivid color. Ben personally oversees the translation of this Sugar Skull Girl artwork on to paper and canvas fine art prints to make sure each customer is 100% satisfied with every order.
Date First Available : January 13, 2020
ASIN : B083XQN3G7
Super high quality artwork- created by the artist at High Resolution for superior clarity
Artwork available as High quality Gloss Art Print (Unframed) or
Artwork available as Premium Canvas with 1.5″ wooden bars
Multiple Sizes Available to fit any space
Made in and sent from the USA. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
