Gutsblog

Finished!

2011-11-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

Finally all the principal work on 'Het Onzienbare' (From Beyond) is finished! The book will hit the shops early next year. No english language version is planned until now, but I've gone ahead and made an english version of the cover anyway. I hope, once the book is actually here, I can get some english language publisher interested in it. Barcelona based comics-publishing house La Cupula has already announced a spanish-language edition which will probably be published at the same time as the Dutch version. I'll keep you posted here on this blog, so check back if you're interested.

The Colour out of Space

2011-07-29T02:13:00.000-07:00

Work is progressing well on what is to be my final story in the upcoming H.P. Lovecraft From Beyond and other Tales comic-book adaptation I'm currently making. Today I'm working on pencilling page 15 of what is to be a 25 pager. The book will probably be around 120 pages or so. I'm considering doing one more 10 pager. Maybe Pickman's Model or The Hound, I haven't decided yet. Cool thing about the Hound is that it is partly set in the Netherlands. Pickman's Model is more fum to draw I think. It tells the story of a queer fine artist with a weird sense of subject matter for his paintings. Anyway, I'll decide over the coming weeks. There's some well earned leisure time coming up. Spending time in the sun of southern France with my girlfriend and kid is something to look forward to! I'll leave you these finished pages of the Colour Out Of Space.

Gutsman in South Africa

2011-07-17T05:04:00.000-07:00

Having a low-profile profession like drawing pictures for a living hardly ever gets you going places. To be invited to participate in an international comics-festival, albeit a very modest one, is therefore a welcome break from the daily grind I usually find myself in working on my graphic novel project.

The comics festival in question was held in Grahamstown, South Africa, as a part of the National Arts Festival that is being held there every year.

Although my visit was short, it was quite an intense experience. I made a lot of new friends, which is always nice. I was also glad that we found the time to visit Addo Elephant Reserve, and that we actually got to see some of the magnificent animals that live there.

Garage Sale Zürich

2011-05-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in Zürich (CH) next weekend, make sure to pay us a visit at the Walcheturm gallery where we will be holding the infamous Garage Sale Exhibition. A group initiative of several artists, graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, tattooists, comic artists and affiliates, this time combining participants from both the Netherlands and Switzerland All work on display is for sale and holds something for every wallet. Prices start at € 1.00 for a simple button or sticker, so there is absolutely no excuse not to buy anything! Opening party is on friday June 3rd, at 18:00 hrs.

Check out the website for a full program.

Harry Potter

2011-05-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

These are just off the press here in the Netherlands and are hitting the shops as we speak. The 'economy' edition of the seven Potter books (in Dutch). I was responsible for the cover illustrations, under the art direction of graphic designer Rob Westendorp, whom I share a studio with, so it was an 'in-house' collaborative production, which had its advantages.

Both Rob and publisher de Harmonie wanted to steer away from the downtrodden depictions of a bespectacled boy on a broomstick and approach the imagery from a more abstract starting point. Rob and I decided to use elements from the stories as decorative structures rather than as illustrations per sé. I also was keen on using different elemental materials; rock, air, fire, water, wood in the images so as to accentuate the magical element of the books. For those who have read the books the choice of the imagery are obviously evident. For those new to the books they wil hopefully provide an evocative lure, without leading the imagination too much into one particular direction. We, Rob and I that is, are very pleased with the final result. So is the publisher. Let's hope the readers are also.

Cover suggestion

2011-03-31T02:32:00.000-07:00

My graphic novel is well underway. I have been thinking about the cover and this is what I came up with. I still have to make a version in english. All the lettering is done by hand, so it may take a while...

Shadows over my Drawing Table....

2011-01-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

Work on my Lovecraft comicbook-adaptation is well underway. The current story I'm working on, The Shadow over Innsmouth, will form the core of my 100+ pages book. I'm working on finalising page 30 as I post this, the complete story will run around 45 pages I estimate (posted here are pages 23 to page 25) It will be the longest one in the collection. Upon completion of Innsmouth I will have 70 odd pages completed. I'm thinking of doing one more 20 pager. I still haven't decided on which one to adapt, although The Colour Out Of Space has my preference. It is a stark, nihilistic science fiction tale of a strange meteor that ruins a small farming community. It might also be read as one of the first warnings in popular fiction against environmental pollution .

Zombies on my bookshelf!!

2011-01-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

I filmed my toy-zombie collection with my iPhone today, using a great new app which emulates the look of an old 8mm camera.

Plays out really authentic doesn't it?

St. Petersburg

2010-10-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend and I visited the impressive imperial city of St. Petersburg (RU) last week. We were invited to the "Boomfest" comics festival that was being held for the fourth time. A lovely, low-profile comics festival that involved small exhibits in various locations around the city centre, a boat trip on Petersburgs many canals (almost made us feel at home) as well as some lovely parties and midnight drinking sessions. We also found the time to visit the impressive grandeur of the Hermitage museum. Here's me tipping my hat to the Tsars, as well as some other views of the great city.

Andy Royd in japanese

2010-09-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

My Andy Royd comics have been made available as digital downloads for the japanese market. Togenojizo has them on their website. The japanese hardly read anything that's not japanese so I can't help feeling honored.... The cover art looks incredibly cool with the japanese lettering on it, doesn't it?

Summer edition

2010-07-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

We've just had general elections here in the Netherlands. It is also the middle of summer, so most of our opinion magazines are making up their double-holiday issues. I got asked to do one for Vrij Nederland magazine. The art director wanted a high summer holiday scene, featuring all the key players involved in the formation of government that has been going on for almost a month now...

I'm not the best of caricaturists, so I had a bit of struggle to get all the likenesses right. I specifically wanted to draw them as petulant children playing on the beach. The sandcastle being trampled is our traditional house of parliament in the Hague, the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights). It doesn't serve as parliament anymore but its still has a ceremonial as well as an iconic function.

I Love My Craft III

2010-06-29T11:49:00.001-07:00

Here's the first two pages finished: inked, toned and lettered. They are the first pages of a nine page adaptation of Lovecraft's short story From Beyond, in Dutch.

I Love My Craft II

2010-06-23T04:32:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of my adaptation of Shadow over Innsmouth, a story that's going to be the core of my 100+ pages (Cthulhu willing) graphic novel, collecting short stories of the Dark Prince of Horror in comic format. I'm having a ball I tell you! It's so much fun coming back to comics, I haven't done any serious cartooning in over four years!

I'll keep you informed as to the progress of this special project. Make sure to check back now and again!

Imagine

2010-04-25T06:16:00.000-07:00

I was asked by the "VPRO TV guide" to make a cover illustration that would tie in to the Imagine film festival that was held here in Amsterdam over the last ten days. It is a festival solely devoted to genre cinema, such as horror, Sci Fi and cultmovies. I've been coming to the festival since it was first conceived way back in 1984. This year saw the festival's 26th installment. I designed the festival-posters in 2000 and 2001 which was a thrilling experience. I would very much like to do the festival artwork again sometime.... Luckily i was given the chance to do this magazine cover at least.

I love my craft...

2010-03-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Business is a bit thin here, so I've had some time to resume work on an ambitious graphic novel project of mine, a book containing comic-adaptations of stories by H. P. Lovecraft. I'm aiming for something around a 100 pages or so. Right now I have 12 pages done and another 6 sketched out. I'm not nearly half way. But there's that sense of a journey beginning, of knowing you're working on something worthwhile that is the thrill....

Here's a sample of what's on my drawing table right now; my version of Lovecraft's 'From Beyond'...

Let it snow

2009-12-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

And suddenly..... it was winter. The snow that fell last week (and that's mostly gone now) here in Amsterdam was of the nice, sticky kind. The perfect kind for buidling a snow man! And that's exactly what I did. With a little help from my niece(l)and nephew(r).

Frolicking in Flanders

2009-12-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Turnhout (B) this weekend; I'll be signing my books on saturday at the Strip Turnhout comics festival. I'll be sitting between 4 pm and 6 pm. After that we (that is; me, my girlfriend and my Belgian fellow cartoonists) will probably be getting drunk at some local bar. I'm looking forward to a pre-Christmas break!

Houten comics convention 2009

2009-09-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

I attended the annual 'Stripdagen' comics convention in Houten last weekend. A pretty dull and sordid affair as always. I was there to congratulate my good friend Barbara Stok, who had the honour to receive the coveted 'Stripschapprijs', the number one oeuvre award for cartooning here in the Netherlands (I got it last year). Also, it is always a pleasure to hang out with my fellow cartoonists.

The central theme this year was 'Outer Space' so there were a lot of Star Wars characters walking around, as well as a lot of Trekkies. One of them was so kind to pose for me...

Yowza!

2009-09-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

A pal of mine sent me these, rather lurid, porn pics. They feature Tigra in quite a compromising pose.... Note the 70's hairdo of the guy; yukky!

I've censored the pictures somewhat as they are quite explicit! I might use them for a porn version of my comics one day (very inspiring, haha)

Back to work....

2009-08-10T05:17:00.000-07:00

Just back in from three weeks holiday in France, Switzerland and Germany. Luckily our car pulled through, we did a lot of driving! pff... Some people take a holiday to relax, but, to be honest, I can only now relax, now that I'm safely behind my desk again...

My little boy Clovis enjoyed himself immensely however. I just can't believe how much he's grown... here he is, basking in the sun of southern France.

Honky tonkin'

2009-05-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

Listening to country music while I'm working has its inevitable side effects; I find myself drawing these kinds of pictures lately...

Exhibition

2009-05-08T07:26:00.001-07:00

If you happen to chance by Rennes (France) the end of this month/early June, you could drop in on the Periscopages comix festival which is hosting, amongst a lot of other interesting exhibits, a show by yours truly. Lots of colorful prints of my work as well as original Gutsman pages will be on display.

I'll be signing books, trying to answer questions in pidgin french and shaking hands on June 6th after having spent some (hopefully) quality time on Brittany's nearby seaside. See you in Rennes then?

The Good Looking Dead

2009-04-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have this thing with zombies. I like zombies, and I like drawing them. 'Nuff said right?

Is it a bird? is it a plane? is it a good idea?

2009-04-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

Blame it on the wordlwide financial crisis, but at virtually the same time, I had two similar commissions for illustrations depicting Superman ripping open his jacket. Maybe some art directors are just stuck for ideas, or maybe there's something comforting about the Superman character, especially in these financially uncertain times....

Mythical Girls

2009-04-09T07:27:00.001-07:00

In the category 'Drawings of Girls' I have several sub-categories; "Girls from Myth" is one of them.

I have always been fascinated with the concept of half animal/half human creatures like this mermaid or the Gorgon from Greek myth. I will definitely keep adding to this ongoing series in the future. Who knows, they might make a handsome set of cards or placemats or something.

Girls and more girls

2009-04-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

Whenever I experience a lull in doing comissioned work, I sometimes find myself with nothing to do. All the hundreds of ideas that were in my head while I was busy dodging deadlines seem to evaporate and I just end up drawing more girls. I happen to like drawing girls. *sigh*

Tentacles

2009-04-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Tentacles. Don't know why, but they look good and are nice to draw.

Creekster Sneaks!!

2009-03-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

A little over one year ago I was asked to come up with some graphics to be used on a variety of sneakers by Onitsuka Tiger for their 60th anniversary. The idea was to make twelve designs throughout the year based on the Asian zodiac, which consists of twelve different animal signs.
I made three, Japanese artist Takeshi Fukui also did three. There are more designs to follow later this year.
From the twelve Zodiac signs I got to do the Rabbit, Snake and Dragon. The Rabbit shoe designs look really great. Unfortunately they're not for sale here in the Netherlands. Marketing is not my expertise, but I hope Onitsuka Holland will get a lot of requests from angry customers who don't want to travel to the U.K.!

Anyway, here's some pictures of the finalised products:

this is the dragon shoe (above) featuring some special artwork base on my designs I did for the shop as added window dressing. The yellow Rabbit sneaker (below) is closest to my original design sketches and choice of color and hence my favourite. The nose was done in black faux fur initially, which looked absolutely great, but they changed it to leather because of problems with the glue not sticking to the material.

Here's another two pics of the shopwindow of Onitsuka Tiger's flaghip store in London's Newburgh street.

Eisner #2 (cont'd)

2009-02-26T00:22:00.000-08:00

I promised you some sample pages of my H.P. Lovecraft adaptation of 'The Outsider" which features in Eisner #2, hitting the stores shortly...

Pure, unadulterated horror, from the Master of Dread....

Mini Kriek

2009-02-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

My son Clovis will be one year old in a few weeks' time. Man, how time flies... the past 11 months have been both incredibly tiring and intensely beautiful. Me and his mom just about love the little guy to death.. We'll throw the kid a birthday blast on March 14th, his very first.

Today I made him this invitation card.

Eisner #2

2009-02-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

Eisner is the name of the late comics master and creator of, among others, the Spirit. It is now also the name of a new, ambitious comics magazine here in the Netherlands. #1 has been in better bookstores for a couple of months now and the response has been quite positive. This picture shows the shop window of the Athenaeum bookstore in downtown Amsterdam, proudly adorned with Eisner #1 covers. The magazine is beautifully laid out and designed by Borinka and Shamrock . The cover illustration, a portrait of said Will Eisner, was made by yours truly.

#2 will run a six page H.P. Lovecraft adaptation drawn by me. It will hit the shelves in a couple of weeks. I will make sure to post some art at a later date.

Poster design

2009-02-16T03:48:00.000-08:00

I've just finished this poster design, announcing the monthly 'Echt Gebeurd' (Real Stories) night at Amsterdam's comedy club Toomler. I was asked to make this poster by Dutch comedians Micha Wertheim and Jan Jaap van de Wal. They told me they were long time fans of my work, which is always a tough dealclincher to resist... They basically gave me free reign in the design, specifying only their wish to see something of a lit candle in the picture. The lighting of the candle is a gimmick they use in the Echt Gebeurd show, where comedians (among others) tell the audience stories and anecdotes out of their own personal experience. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood...

An illustrator's conscience II

2008-12-22T03:44:00.000-08:00

These are the illustrations I did last year (see the post below to find out what I'm talking about)

An illustrator's conscience

2008-12-21T06:20:00.000-08:00

This was a hard one; I did a similar series of commissioned illustrations last year for the daily newspaper 'De Volkskrant' here in the Netherlands. They accompanied first-hand accounts from the Dutch troops stationed in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Now I must admit to having had some qualms accepting this kind of assignment. Personally I strongly oppose against Dutch troops being sent to Afghanistan (or anywhere else for that fact) on "humanitary" missions, but which are in fact "ordinary" fighting missions.

The fact is however that they ARE there, whether I like it or not and when I read the stories, full of doubt and insecurity, genuine fright and bewilderment I couldn't help but generate feelings of solidarity and respect for those troops, doing difficult work in ,what must be, a difficult place. Also, these stories are genuine firsthand accounts. They aren't meant as propaganda from the ministry of defense or something like that (at least that's what I'm told). That was also an important incentive for me to accept this commission.

Volkskrant's art-director wanted the illustrations to look like pages from classic war comics, such as the incomparable 'Two Fisted Tales" by Harvey Kurtzmann. I, of course, loved that idea and decided to make the snippets look like they were actually torn from a comicbook, emphasizing the raw grittiness of the soldiers' stories.

I'll try and post last years' illustrations here as well so you can see the entire series.

Yuletide is nearly upon us....

2008-12-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas comes but once a year (thank god for that) and for free lance illustrators like me, it always comes a bit earlier. This piece will adorn the christmas issue cover of Dutch opinion weekly Vrij Nederland this year. They asked me to take into account the global financial crisis we are experiencing at this moment, hence the 'For Sale' (Te Koop) sign in this, otherwise gaily bedecked, residential front yard.

Hello

2008-12-04T06:26:00.000-08:00

And welcome to my blog. Everyone I know is keeping one, so why not me eh? I'll be posting sketches, drawings and general news about my work and stuff here on a regular basis. So keep checking back!

Bye for now

PS: by the way, this particular piece was done for the VPRO tv Guide (subsequently, preliminary inked version and final clored version, done in Photoshop ) illustrating the Crossing Border festival in the Hague. A festival exploring the boundaries between literature and music. The briefing was evocative and simple (the way I prefer my briefings): 'Draw us a picture combining books and music". This is what I came up with...