Graphic novel part 1

For some time now I am working on a graphic novel. The graphic novel is about the human quest for extraterrestrial life. Since it is a very extensive work it will take some time before it will be published. In this blog I will occasionally give an insight into the graphic novel; elaborated pages, sketches, etc. Below are some pages from the graphic novel where you see a comic in the graphic novel. It is a Science Fiction comic that is read by one of the main characters (Tom).

Illustrations for an English commercial

I often make storyboards that are used to create commercials or animations. In recent weeks I have worked on a number of drawings that will be used for a commercial for a British bread supplier. This time I worked in a more realistic style, as seen in the samples.

Toni Cannelloni

A project that I started years ago, is a comic about Toni Cannelloni. Toni's father, Marco is desperately trying to get a job at the Mafia family the Gambino's. Marco is a tradtional Italian American for whom the honor of the family weighs heavily. However, Marco shortcoming is that he is so clumsy he destroys everything he does. Even the most simple 'job' is for him completely out of hand.
Like a good son Toni tries to help his father in many ways to become a full member of the family. Unfortunately without success.
Over the years I finished several pages of Toni Cannelloni, many sketches and a 3D figure. Here is the result. I hope one day I can pick up this comic again.

Gnome in barbed wire

On some drawings I can work for hours and hours. Here is an sample. The idea was that a boy finds a gnome fixedly get stuck in barbed wire.

The illustration has a lot of details as you can see.

It all starts with an idea and then I start sketching. First I had a whole different gnome in mind, and there were initially two gnomes.

After sketching I put in some color.

Then I put in some light and start giving more detail, change colors, etc., as long until it is finished.

Bear on an island

A few months ago I wrote a short story about a bear on an island. So far I only finished one drawing and a few sketches. Perhaps one day I will work on it again, but probably it will stay one of these unfinished stories I wrote... check out the illustration and the sketches.

Benoit Peeters in Den Haag

Last night (Thursday, October 17th) I attended a lecture by Benoit Peeters at Stroom Den Haag. Benoit Peeters (Paris, 1956), is the writer of 'De duistere steden' (the obscure cities). Francois Schuiten (Brussels, 1956) is the illustrator of this comic serie.
Peeters and Schuiten belong to the greatest comic authors of today. Often Hergé and Franquin are seen as the two biggest names for the European comics, and that's true. But Peeters and Schuiten are to me in the same category as Edgar P. Jacobs (Blake and Mortimer), Uderzo (Asterix) and Morris (Lucky Luke). So it was a bit strange to notice that there were just about twenty people at the lecture... nevertheless it was great to see this legend talk about his comic.

Cowboys and pirates

I made this illustration a while ago (April 2013).

The original idea was very different with three pirates...

... I gave the pirates some color and made a sketch of their ship in the background.

At some point the pirates and their ship landed in the desert.

But it didn't work. I decided to maintain only the ship and draw a cowboy on a hill. To his surprise he sees a ship sailing through the desert. Check out the illustrations and details.