One day freshman year, junior Benjamin Nicholas made a decision that would shape his life forever. He decided to run for Info Time Announcer, the voice of the morning announcements on Monday, the smallest student government position at the time. Soon, students across the school would know him by his nickname, “Big Ben.”
For Nicholas, art has always been a huge part of his life. Nicholas lives an artful life in many different fields, including cooking, writing, music drawing and design.
Nicholas said he began his artistic journey with his comedic YouTube series, “Cooking with Benjamin.” Nicholas said the videos were the first example of the unique art style he creates today.
“I took on the persona of this Michelin star chef who only cooked complete garbage. And I remember I would have an idea for some horrible dish. This is still my favorite [food], the master sandwich was four slices of bread with a thin layer of mayonnaise between each one,” Nicholas said. “It was the worst thing I’d ever had.”
Since then, Nicholas has continued to explore many artistic disciplines. He creates music, writes stories, draws, makes shirts and creates comedic characters.
Assistant Head of School Hal Mason, Nicholas’s English teacher, said that Nicholas is quite interested in philosophy and is always involved in class discussions.
“Artists are people that see the world a little bit differently. They see the little elements in it that most people miss,” Mason said. “This painting [The Dog by Goya], and Ben’s perception of that painting is a really good example of something that is not unique, but it is specific to a more artistic way of seeing little details in the world that might be meaningful.”
Junior Charlie Hewitt, one of Nicholas’s closest friends, said that Nicholas’s entrepreneurial nature is a great influence on both himself and his art. Together with their friend, junior Henry Serino, they have released several songs on Spotify, even earning a verified title for their account.
“[Nicholas] really tries to push the boundaries of what art can even be considered,” Hewitt said. “Oftentimes, he’ll just say something really prophetic to me.”
Hewitt said that Nicholas’s art is an outlet for his creative strength and a core part of his personality.
“It’s clear that art really influences and shapes the way that he thinks. You know, him as an artist is very much a core part of his identity, and he takes great pride in the quality,” Hewitt said. “Ben considers his brain to be almost entirely art. His entire identity is shaped by art and how he believes himself to be art.”
Nicholas said that much of his day-to-day persona has evolved from a bit that he created, Nicholas explaining that his self-presentation is also a part of his art and the “Big Benjamin” character.
“I consider that part of the larger art piece of Big Benjamin. It takes discipline to not let that slip. And I’m not perfect,” Nicholas said. “Sometimes I won’t have the energy to stay ridiculous twenty-four-seven.”
Hewitt said that he admires Nicholas’s effect on others, and that Nicholas has taught him to value himself as art.
“He’s given me a lot of self-confidence,” Hewitt said. “I try to model myself after him. I see him as a really great guy.”
Nicholas said that spending so long with the character of “Big Ben” has changed him as a person.
“I think that goofy side where I just try to exaggerate the things I do, in a way makes them [people] fun to watch and funny to interact with,” Nicholas said. “Art just became a part of me.”
