Review Jeux de mémoire

On the website wmaker David Fournol has written a very nice review on Jeux de mémoire.

Okay, it's in French, but since I can understand the language I can read that he is quite positive about the book. The most beautiful compliment (translated) for me:

"You have the same dream as Muis (=maincharacter) when he wants his grandmother to make him a Batman suit. You feel the same fear when Muis is hunted by a dog at a car-graveyard. You laugh together with Muis when he discovers his granddad's miracle-product to get muscles is a joke".

For those who like to read the complete review in French, click here.

Angouleme 2011

The last four days I was at the Comic-festival of Angouleme, invited by my Canadian editor La Pasteque. I arrived on thursday-night and joined dinner with the guys of La Pasteque, Martin and Fréderic, and the artists Liniers and Yves Pelletier.

The welcome was very friendly and after dinner we went for a drink at 'Le chat noir' where we met some artists from all over Europe.

The next morning I did my first book signing at the La Pasteque booth. As I it was my first visit to the festival, I could see now the enormous popularity of comics in France: what a lot of books, what a lot of people! I signed a good number of books and got friendly compliments from visitors.

In the afternoon I went to the Baru-exhibition, I saw the work of Dominique Goblet and looked for some new books at the store of the museum. That night -after a reception at the Belgium booth- I was invited for dinner by Hansje and Mara of Oog & Blik together with Joost Swarte and Willem (what a company!). We had a good meal, a lot of fun and I was informed about the interest for my books by foreign editors (I will let you know more soon!).

On Saturday I also had a signing-session and I experienced that the town was even more crowded than the days before. I also took some time to get a better look at some of the booths, but as I said, there was so much to see that it was hard to make a choice. In the evening we had dinner with the people of La Pasteque again, including the artists Liniers, Pascal Girard, Michel Rabagliati and Yves Pelletier. It was a good evening and we had a lot of fun and interesting discussions.

On the next day (sunday) I did an early signing session. La Pasteque was happy with number of my books they had sold. Around noon I went to the train station together with Liniers. He had to take a train to the airport to get a plane to Buenos Aires and I traveled back to Rotterdam.

It were great days and I found it a tremendous experience. Being in Angouleme made me feel that comics really matter, at least in France.

To the Angouleme festival!

This thursday I will leave for the comic-festival of Angouleme. My Canadian editor La Pasteque has invited me to join them at the biggest comic-festival of Europe to sign my newest French book 'Jeux de mémoire'. It came out in France two weeks ago. I've never been at the festival and I'm really looking forward to it. Both artists Michel Rabagliati and Pascal Girard from La Pasteque will also be there.

I will be signing 'Jeux de mémoire' on friday from 11 to 13 hrs, on saturday from 12 to 14 hrs and on sunday from 10 to 12 hrs. The venue is 'Le nouveau monde'.

For those who are curious about my French book, you can take a look here:

I've also found a first French review (and it's rather positive!) for those who can read French.

In a next post I will tell (and hopefully show) you more about my days in Angouleme.

Small interview on Strip Turnhout

On the nice and interesting website of Strip Turnhout you can find a small article abou my recent activities. Click here.

Scherven will be translated!

Provisory cover

After my 'Memories'-trilogy has been translated in French by the Canadian editor La Pasteque as 'Jeux de mémoire', they have also decided to publish 'Scherven' in the same language. And again I'm very proud! La Pasteque has planned the book to appear early 2012. I will keep you posted.

Exhibition 'Mooi is dat!'

Since the 13th of november the pages of 'Mooi is dat!' are exhibited in the Amsterdam Library.

The exhibition also includes original work and sketches of the artists and will last till the 16th of january 2011. After it will start a journey which begins at the Stripmuseum in Brussels, Belgium.

Memory of Holland

As I've written before my contribution to 'Mooi is dat!' is my visual interpretation of the beautiful poem 'Memory of Holland' by Hendrik Marsman. It was written in 1936 and describes the beauty but also the threat of the Dutch landscape and nature. The poem was chosen as the most popular one of the 20th century.

Memory of Holland

Thinking of Holland

I see wide-flowing rivers

slowly traversing

infinite plains,

inconceivably

rarefied poplars

like lofty plumes

on the skyline in lanes;

and submerged in the vastness

of unbounded spaces

the farmhouses

strewn over the land,

tree clumps, villages,

truncated towers,

churches and elm trees -

all wondrously planned.

the sky hangs low

and slowly the sun by

mists of all colours

is stifled and greyed

and in all the regions

the voice of the water

with its endless disasters

is feared and obeyed.

When I read the poem I could recognize the wideness and beauty of the Dutch landscape, but I also felt the threat in Marsman's words, growing and growing with every strophe. I have tried to translate that feeling in the imagery and colours of my artwork.

In the last strophe Marsman describes the danger of the water that is everywhere. There it became even more interesting for me. Because Marsman and his wife fled from France by boat at the beginning of the Second Worldwar. But their ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat and Marsman died, swallowed by... the water.

That's why I have drawn a small story in the margin where you can see Marsman's last minutes. Finally the two stories come together 'in water'.

If you're interested in a signed print of this work (size 28,5 x 40,0 cm), prize 20,- euro's (shipping costs not included), please send me an email: erikdegraafcomics@gmail.com

Utrecht, 6th of november

Last saturday I was at 'de Kunststripbeurs' in Utrecht with my books, prints, postcards and other stuff. This happening in the 'Janskerk' is a very nice way for comicartists to meet a new public.

For the visitors there was a lot to discover: well known artists like Joost Swarte, Hanco Kolk and Maaike Hartjes, but also upcoming talents like Aimé de Jong and Martijn van Santen.

The doors opened at ten o'clock but the start was quite slow. Around one o'clock more people came in and I had a busy afternoon signing and selling my stuff.

At two o'clock 'Mooi is dat!' was presented and after that I could also sell signed prints of my contribution to the book. I got very positive reactions on it.

But my moment of the day was meeting Javier Mariscal who gave me beautiful compliments about my work. He made my day!

Impression Comic Artfair Utrecht!

Journalist Michael Minneboo made a nice (movie) impression of the 'Kunststripbeurs' of last saturday in Utrecht.

Take a look here!

Next sturday, don't forget: Comics-art fair in Utrecht

I just want to remind you that this saturday, 6th of november, I will be at the 'Kunststripbeurs' at the Janskerk in Utrecht. Doors open at 10 o'clock. I will bring all my books, and sign them personally for you if you like, postcards and several colorprints.

After the presentation of 'Mooi is dat' at 2 o'clock I will also sell signed prints of my contribution to the book: 'Denkend aan Holland'.

Hope to see you there!

Presentation 'Mooi is dat!'

On the 'Kunststripbeurs' in the Janskerk in Utrecht next saturday (6th of november), 'Mooi is dat!' will be presented. I've written about it before. It's a book with more than fifty highlights from Dutch literature, translated in a one page-comic.

Editor Gert Jan Pos also asked me to contribute and I made my interpretation of the poem 'Denkend aan Holland' from Hendrik Marsman.

Yesterday there was already a praising article in NRC Handelsblad in which my contribution -together with other ones- was described and -partly- shown.

I can also show you the cover, beautifully designed by Ruben Steeman (who did the complete book).

What I have seen of the book is really great, a kaleidoscope of styles of the invited Dutch and Belgian artists.

After the 'Kunststripbeurs' I will show my complete contribution on this blog.

Comic-art Fair, 6th of november, Janskerk, Utrecht

On saturday the 6th of november I will be at the 'Kunststripbeurs, Janskerk, Janskerkhof 26, Utrecht. It is a fair where comic-artists will sell their work, like books, prints, original artwork etc.... I will bring all of my books. 'Verbleekte Herinneringen', 'Gekleurd Geheugen', 'Gevonden Verleden' and 'Ingelijste Herinneringen' will be reasonably priced.

I will also sell 'Verzamelde Herinneringen' and 'Scherven'. And of course your book will be signed personally. Apart from my books you can find sets of postcards and various signed full colour prints, also fairly priced.

The doors of the church will open at ten o'clock and close at five o'clock. I hope to meet you there!