Interview on Stripster

On the nice website Stripster you can find an interview I did recently. Click here and you can find it under articles.

10th of december at Strip Turnhout

On saturday the 10th of december I will attend 'Stripfestival Turnhout'. A very sympathetic festival in Belgium at which the UK is this year's country of honour. Of course I will be there to sign my books personally and... enjoy the festival.

Portfolio Scherven

As I made a portfolio with 'Memories'-illustrations, I've also made one of 'Scherven'. It also consists of 13 signed pieces. You can see here which ones. If you're interested in nit, please send an email to: erikdegraafcomics@gmail.com

Scherven illustrations

A series of 13 illustrations belonging to Scherven

Tribute to Yves Chaland 3

Muis to Le Jeune Albert: "I still miss him everyday too".

A weekend in Nérac

The scenic Nérac

Last weekend I was in Nérac (France) on the Rencontres Chaland' festival together with other artists and Yves Chaland and Klare Lijn fans. Here's a short verbal and visual diary.

Friday.

After a flight from Amsterdam to Bordeaux Yves Chalands sister, the very kind Odile, drove Zep and me to Nérac by car. She had thought of everything: sandwiches, grapes and drinks were brought to enlighten our ride. After arrival in Nérac and meeting some of the artists there was a tour through the village with schoolchildren, during which the kids were learned some drawing skills.

Dominique Corbasson drawing with the children of Nérac

During the tour we also saw the beautiful drawings of François Avril, presented on the wall of the village.

'Carnet de Nérac' by François Avril

Around 8 that evening, the festival was officially opened with a cocktail party. There old friends met again and new ones were made. After this a concert started in front of the castle. Several (BD)artists came on stage to show their musical talent in a vibrant rockshow. What is it with comics and music?

Zep rocks!

Charles Berberian: comics and music

Saturday

Saturday started with an early signing-session. At ten o'clock the fans were there to buy their favorite books and get a 'dédidace' of the artist.

Saturday signing

I experienced that this was a very friendly festival with a high 'family-feel'. Not only fans were there, but also well-known artists like f.i. Serge Clerc, Charles Berberian and Stanislas.

Serge Clerc

Charles Berberian with Jeux de mémoire

(photo: Didier Pasamonik)

During the rest of the day I visited some exhibitions and at the end of the afternoon there was another signing session. The day ended with dinner which the artists and several fans enjoyed together.

'Highstreet' in Nérac

Sunday

A day filled with more signing, more exhibitions, readings and lunch. A lot to do and to see: a discussion about comics and music, a Tillieux-exhibition, a Chaland exhibition etc...

Antonio Lapone and Cleet Boris

Outside lunch: Didier Pasamonik, Antonio Lapone and Virginie Vertonghen

Sunday evening we remained with a small group after a lot of people already had left. We had our final dinner at a nice restaurant to celebrate the fantastic weekend we had together. I hope to go back one day!

Tribute to Zep

Zep, worldfamous in France with his character Titeuf, is this years guest of honor at 'Rencontres Chaland'. This is my tribute to him.

Portfolio Memories

A while ago some of my 'fans' asked me if I could make them a portfolio with prints of illustrations I've made. It seemed interesting to me so I made one by hand that consists 13 signed pieces related to my 'Memories-trilogy'. The material I used fits nicely to the atmosphere of the drawings and of course the portfolio is finished with a personal signed drawing. If you click here you can see which illustrations are in. And if you're also interested, please send me an email: erikdegraafcomics@gmail.com

Finally!

After pencilling the first fifty pages of the sequel on 'Scherven', I've just done the line-art of the first page!

Rencontres Chaland 2011

I'm very proud that I can tell you that I'm invited to attend Rencontres Chaland at Nerac, France.

This festival is a tribute to my big inspirator Yves Chaland, who sadly died in 1990. Nerac is his place of birth and his widow Isabelle Chaland organises the festival -together with friends- for the fourth time this year. I'm really excited that I will be there from the 7th to 10th of october with great artists like François Avril, Ted Benoit, Charles Berberian, Serge Clerc, Andre Juillard, Antonio Lapone and many others. This years guest of hounour is Zep. I will keep you posted!

Comic-art Fair, 10th of september, Design museum, Breda

Coming saturday I will attend The Comic-artfair Breda (at the Designmuseum). I will bring all kind of different stuff: my books, which I will sign personally for you. All kind of signed prints, framed prints and sets of postcards. Hope to see you there!

Tribute to Yves Chaland 2

I discovered Yves Chaland through his detective-story Bob Fish. A good looking guy dressed like a real P.I. Also two of his other characters: Le Jeune Albert, a sometimes mean little boy from Brussels and Adolphus Claar, the scientist. This is my tribute to them and their creator.