Just in time for the new year, a package arrived with a beautiful set of stamps by the Swedish Post Office, issued in september of this year. It features art by eight contemporary Swedish cartoonists (Martin Kellerman, Charlie Christensen, Cecilia Torudd, Ulf Lundkvist, Joakim Pirinen, Lars Mortimer, Asa Ekström and Nina Hemmingsson) for a total value of 44 Kr. A nice package.
“You reap what you sow: Your girl plants the seeds, breaks her back digging the ground, and provides vegetables for your table – and YOU, what you are doing in the meantime ?”
I found this comic-like poster on Dark Roasted Blend. Again, I’m struck by the similarities between authentically vintage comic productions, and a lot of the recent, so-called alternative strips.
(Thanks, Avi)
Erik De Graaf is a Dutch art director who started doing his own strips as an antidote for client-driven, deadline-littered jobs. The subject of his first comics, which were published in 2003 and 2004, were his memories of his youth. They excelled through Erik’s style, which takes the ligne claire to the max, and infuses it with elements from commercial art and children’s books. The illustration above was lifted from these stories.
Recently, Erik has been working in a new project, called Scherven (Splinters). Although this story will be based on his family history as well, and the experiences of his family members in the Second World War, it will be a fictionalised account. This will allow Erik to broaden the themes of his story, and maintain a broader perspective. Judging from the illustrations below, which set the mood for the book, it’s going to be another great work. I can’t wait to see it.
For the moment, none of Erik’s works have been translated into English, save for a short story in the Drawn & Quarterly Showcase #2.
For more information on Erik’s projects, check out my interview with him at the Forbidden Planet Blog Log.
A couple of years ago, Flemish illustrator (and cartoonist) Jan Bosschaert drew these sketches for a supplement about presents that De Morgen published on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year. Even though Bosschaert is a very accomplished painter (as the examples in this gallery will attest), these pictures prove that sometimes the initial sketch can be even better at presenting ideas and emotions, than an well-wrought piece of art.
More examples after the click.
Two of the nicer Christmas cards we’ve seen this year – by Flemish illustrator and all-round nice guy Frank Daenen (above) and Dutch clear line cartoonist supreme Henk Kuijpers. Happy (continued) holidays !
Ephemerist reader Rex Parker (to use his alias) sent me this picture of a nice table top his wife crafted for him out of some comics he was throwing away. Even though it has a quite violent theme, he says it will do as a meditation table because “it reminds him of mortality”. Yeah, I sometimes get strange thoughts myself when I haven’t had my morning coffee yet.
Thanks, “Rex” and Sandy, and all the best for Christmas and the New Year ! Oh, and by the way, before you throw out any more Robert Crumb comics, please give me a call..
The Guardian is currently offering downloadable cartoon greeting cards by editorial cartoonist Kipper Williams. They’re quite topical – I especially liked the one above.
The cards are in PDF format – another nice way to save on expenses in these dire times !
(© Guardian News and Media Limited 2008)
What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a couple of illustrations by two of my favourite Belgian artists ?
The lovely picture above by Judith Vanistendael was lifted from her version of the Christmas Story (which she wrote together with her father, flemish poet Geert Van Istendael), in the De Morgen newspaper.
Below is a swanky illustration by Ever Meulen for the yearly subscription drive by the topical weekly Humo.
(Artwork © Judith Vanistendael and Ever Meulen, respectively)
That says it all, doesn’t it ?
Merlin Haas provided this scan from 1936. I guess they put XTC in that cake or something.
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