Scherven Portraits

Before I started drawing Scherven I had made portraits of all main characters. Not traditional portaits, but drawings combined with all kind of elements that tell something about each person. In the portraits I also have tried to bring in the atmosphere of the forties.

Victor

Esther

Chris

Corné

Maas

Vrouw Maas

Krijn

Dingeman

Pieter

Meester Rozenberg

Geert

Daams

My inspiration map

Last week I saw something really nice on Forbidden Planet's weblog. An artist had made his Inspiration Map, in which he showed the artists that had had influence on his work. It inspired me to make mine.

For me it all started when I studied at the Academy of Arts in Rotterdam in the 80's. A fellow student made me discover artists like Joost Swarte (1) and Ever Meulen (2). Exponents of the underground comics in the Lowlands at that time. I was really impressed by both their 'Klare Lijn' style. After that I discovered more and more artists I started to admire. Especially 'Atomic style' artists like Daniël Torres (4), Floc'h,(5), Serge Clerc (6) and Yves Chaland (3). When I saw his work, something started to grow inside of me: one day I wanted to make my own comics, preferably in a style like Chaland. He still is my greatest example with his elegant and flowing style. I still find it a great loss that he lost his life at the 'periferique' of Paris at the 18th of july, 1990.

In the nineties I got to know artists like Seth (7), Chris Ware (8), Michel Rabagliati (9) and Adrian Tomine (10).All with their own characteristics and qualities. I admire the atmoshere and refinement of Seths work, the innovative and detailed style of Ware, the very acessible and sympathetic artwork of Michel Rabagliati and the strong stories and drawings of Adrian Tomine.

All named artists named inspired and influenced me in a way. It started in the Lowlands, moved more to the south (France and Spain) and then ended on the other side of the ocean (Unites States and Canada). Of course I'm also inspired by other work, but for me these ten comic artists are the most important inspirators that made and make me do what I do now. Hopefully one day I will come a little bit closer to their level.

Proud to present...

Last week I received the first printed copies of 'Jeux de mémoire' edited by La Pasteque. I'm very proud of it, it looks marvelous. A hardcover edition, 148 pages, beautifully designed by the people of La Pasteque.

'Jeux de mémoire' will appear first in Quebec (Canada) next october and after that in France, january next year.

I'm also invited by La Pasteque to attend the Angouleme-festival to sign my debut in France. I'm really looking forward to it!

Mooi is dat!

One reason I was so busy during the last weeks: a project called 'Mooi is dat!'. It's an idea from Gert Jan Pos (Hollands Comics-promotor), a book with the fifty higlights of Dutch literature, but then translated in images by fifty Dutch and Flemish artists. And I will be one of them, which I think is an honour. Some other artists are: Joost Swarte, Erik Kriek, Guido van Driel, Pieter de Poortere, Randall C. etc...

Every artist has chosen his favorite piece. Mine is the poem 'Denkend aan Holland' by Hendrik Marsman. A legendary poem which describes in a beautiful, but also threatening way the Dutch landscape. 'Denkend aan Holland' was chosen as the favorite poem of the 20th century. Really an honour for me to draw it... in one page.

My page is finished, but I can't show it be fore the book is published. 'Mooi is dat!' will be presented beginning of november and there will be a (travelling) expo that starts in the Library of Amsterdam.

Reactions on Scherven

It's a while ago that I posted something. I have been busy (see next post) and have had my holidays. But here I am again. More than 2 months ago I was on the Haarlem Comic-festival to sign 'Scherven'. It's always nice to be there. I was quite busy signing books and got compliments from people who already had read it. I also must say that there was quite a lot of publicity around the book.

There has been written about it in Dutch and Belgian newspapers, in Comic magazines in both countries and on several websites. I have also done some interviews for magazines and radio. The reviews were mainly positive to very positive, and I am -off course- very happy with that. But I also enjoy reactions of readers I got, like: "I felt sorry the book ended" and "When will Book Two appear?" Great!

If you want to read some quotes read this post. I hope I can bring you some more news about 'Scherven' within a few weeks...

5th and 6th of june: Stripdagen Haarlem

Next saturday and sunday, on the 5th and 6th of june, you can visit the 'Stripdagen Haarlem'. Always a nice festival with national and international (f.i. Chris Ware and Charles Burns) artists.

I will be there both saturday and sunday to sign my book Scherven. You can find me at the Oog & Blik | De Bezige Bij stand in the Philharmonie, Lange Begijnstraat 11. I hope to see you there!

The press about Scherven

The press has payed a lot of attention to Scherven already. Here are some quotes:

Nederlandse schrijvende pers

"Een prachtig via flashbacks verteld verhaal, dat bovendien van prachtige

tekeningen is voorzien" - Metro

"Bij Scherven ging vooral veel tijd zitten in het ingenieuze scenario" - Het Parool

"De Graafs tekeningen roepen door hun eenvoud de sfeer van toen goed op" - Algemeen Dagblad

"De Graaf besteedt veel aandacht aan de esthetiek van zijn beelden, waardoor hij sfeervolle inkleuringen gebruikt en met een mooie rafelige toets werkt" - De Volkskrant

"Geslaagde combinatie van tekeningen, collages, familiefoto's en dagboekaantekeningen" - Esta

Nederlandse radio

"Zo tover je uit dat soort hele kleine dingen, alledaagse dingen een heel mooi verhaal tevoorschijn" - VPRO's De Avonden, Radio 6

"'t Zijn prachtige tekeningen en je hebt de sfeer van de tijd weten te pakken" -

Chris natuurlijk, Radio Rijnmond

Belgische schrijvende pers

"Over deze chaotische meidagen maakte Erik de Graaf (48) een boeiend album: Scherven" -De Standaard

"Uit de verhalen van zijn grootouders distilleerde Erik de Graaf een boeiend verslag over de begindagen van de Tweede Wereldoorlog" - Nieuwsblad.be

"De aanblik van een pagina van de Graaf is volstrekt uniek en herkenbaar, wat hem bijvoorbeeld al een publicatie bij de prestigieuze Canadese uitgever Drawn and Quarterly opleverde" - Focus Knack

Nederlandse en Belgische strip-pers

"Wie aan deze vertelling begint met het idee dat het zoveelste verhaal over de Tweede Wereldoorlog nauwelijks nog boeiend kan zijn, heeft het mis. Met ogenschijnlijk simpele tekeningen, goed gekozen scenes en een sober maar efficiënt gekozen kleurpalet trekt Erik de Graaf je het verhaal in en weet hij je aandacht vast te houden tot aan het einde van het eerste deel..." - ZozoLala

"Het mooie trage tempo waarin het verhaal zich ontvouwt versterkt de verstilde onderkoeling van zijn tekenstijl, waardoor hij juist dieper onder de huid komt. De nachtmerrie is voelbaar" - Zone 5300

"Het voorlopige resultaat van deze expeditie in de tijd, die met veelvuldige flashbacks niettemin een soms bedrieglijke rust lijkt uit te stralen, mag zeker geslaagd worden genoemd-en doet uitzien naar meer" - Stripschrift

"Fraai boek en zeer passend in deze meidagen" - Het Stripschap

"Deze strip mag nu al tot één van de klassiekers gerekend worden..." - Stripinfo.be

Nederlandse en Belgische websites en webmagazines

"Een erg mooi vormgegeven boek en een prachtig tijdsdocument" - 8weekly

"Scherven bewijst dat de vele beloftes na zijn eerste albums niet zonder gevolgen zijn gebleven. Het album behoort nu al tot de toppers van 2010" - Goddeau.com

"Scherven is een prachtige beeldroman over het verliezen van liefde en vriendschap tijdens Wereldoorlog Twee" - CJP.be

Book presentation at Yendor well visited

Yesterday afternoon my new book Scherven was presented at Yendor in Rotterdam. After a very kind welcome-speech of Mara of Oog & Blik/De Bezige Bij I presented the first two copies to my cousins Dick and Johan. Their fathers fought at my grandparents village at the beginning of the Second Worldwar. I used parts of their story in Scherven.

My cousin Dick also had beautiful words about my grandmother, grandfather and mother and how his father Cor felt very much at home at their little house in those frightening days.

After that I started signing my books for a couple of hours in a very nice atmosphere. There were a lot of people and I ended the afternoon at almost fifty signed books.

I enjoyed the presentation very much and I'm happy with all the kind words about my work and my new book!

Interview at Radio Rijnmond

Yesterday at the 1st of may I was interviewed at Radio Rijnmond about Scherven by the kind Chris Vemer. You can download the podcast here if you want to listen to it.

The making of Scherven part 4

In this last part on Stripspeciaalzaak I explain and show how the cover of Scherven was created.

If you want to read and see it, go to Stripspeciaalzaak.be and enjoy!

Interview on Radio 6

Last saturday I had a very nice interview on Radio 6 with Wim Brand in his programm 'De Avonden'. If you want to listen click here and go to the website of 'De Avonden'.

On Radio 6

Tomorrow morning (24th of april) between 11 and 12 o'clock I will be on Radio 6 to talk about Scherven. It's a live program called 'De Avonden, de zaterdageditie'. If you want to listen you can tune in on Radio 6's website.