First strip in NRC

Today my first strip of Marten Toonders' is published in NRC.

Beautiful words

Sometimes I get very kind reactions on my stories and books. Mostly on comic-festivals, sometimes by email. Yesterday I received one from a French fan that I'd like to share with you, because it fills me pride:

"I've just finished to read 'Jeux de mémoire' and want you to know how I loved it...The drawings fits perfectly the characters, the stories are very true (all very personnal but, in fact, everyone could recognize something he knows..)Your very film style which, with its close-up and its tight plans, strengthens the impression of intimacy with your characters.For all this, thank you...I've seen that your next book (Scherven?) is about to be published and I'm very waiting for it As I think that I'll not meet you one day, is it possible to have a drawing to put in your book, it'll be a wonderful gift...Thank you for this and, once again, congratulations..."

 

Drawing Toonders' 'Bovenbazen'

This year it's 100 years ago that Marten Toonder was born. There will be a lot of events all around the year. Last wednesday his Bommel story 'Bovenbazen' started again in NRC newspaper. 100 strips, but now drawn by 20 different artists like Dick Matena, Thé Tjong Khing, Henk Kuijpers, Erik Kriek etc... I was also asked to make 5 strips, following the story, but drawn in my own style. On the 14th of may you can see my first strip.

Nice review on 'Soldaat van Oranje'

On the Forbidden Planets' blog a very nice review on 'Soldaat van Oranje', that I made for the  'Filmfanfare' project. You can read it here.

Nomination for Jeux de mémoire

'Jeux de mémoire' is nominated for the 'Prix BD 2012. The prize is initiated by 'L'Institut Français' in Spain and meant to promote French comics in Spain. 'Jeux de mémoire' is nominated together with comics like 'Blacksad' (Guarnido/Diaz Canales), 'Ralph Azham' (Trondheim) and 'Incognito' (Brubaker/Phillips). Really something to be proud of! Of course you can vote: Prix BD 2012

For sale: 'Memory of Holland' Piezography

Now available as a Piezography: 'Memory of Holland', my visual translation of the famous Dutch poem by Hendrik Marsman. A limited edition of 35 signed copies, size: 40 x 50 cm. The price is 50,- euros.

A piezography is high qualitative print with more than 100 years color-guarantee.

Are you interested? Please send me an email: erikdegraafcomics@gmail.com

Soldaat van Oranje for Filmfanfare

Finally Filmfanfare was presented yesterday. The first copy was presented to the famous Dutch actress Willeke van Ammelrooy. Now I can show you my contribution to the book. I have made a movie poster and a comic page on 'Soldaat van Oranje', directed by Paul Verhoeven. On the poster I've used the famous scene of main character Erik (Rutger Hauer): in black tie on a motorbike.

To put a movie in one comic page is not an easy job. I have chosen to draw a combination of scenes. In the centre you can see the well known scene of the six student-friends. Around it a key-scene of every main character. All in grayish full color. In the background: 'Scheveningen' beach by night -in warm grey- when Erik lands to get in contact with a resistance group.

Filfanfare is published by Oog & Blik / de Bezige Bij.

Presentation Filmfanfare

As I mentioned before, on the 31th of march, during the Comic Art Fair in Utrecht, Filmfanfare will be presented. The book contains tributes to 50 Dutch movies by f.i. Joost Swarte, Hank Kolk, Guido van Driel and Erik Kriek. You will find movies like 'Turks Fruit', 'de Aanslag', 'de Vierde Man' and 'Soldaat van Oranje', which is my contribution. The first copy of the book will be handed to somebody well known from the movies. Who? That's still unknown. The presentation starts at 14.00 hrs. Within a few days I will show you some sketches of my work.

Comic Art Fair 2012

On saturday the 31th of march I will attend the Comic Art Fair in the the St. Jans church in Utrecht. I will bring all kind of different stuff. Also the book 'Filmfanfare' (including my contribution 'Soldaat van Oranje') will be launched. More information coming soon.

New pages Scherven sequel.

After doing some different project I've been working on the sequel to Scherven for the last months.

I've done the line artwork of more than 50 pages till now. Here are some.

Interview on Actua BD

On the French comic-website Actua BD you can find an interview made by Didier Pasamonik when I was in Nerac last october. You can find it here. (Hope you speak French...).

Filmfanfare

Last week I attended the presentation of the Filmfanfare pages. A lot of comic creators made their presence as did some movie directors and -producers. I showed my 'Soldaat van Oranje' page and poster and got positive reactions. Especially from producer Rob Houwer who made me very nice compliments.

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to show you something already, but this iconic picture plays an important role in my tribute.