From sketchbook 89

 

Totem animal

One of the ideas I am working on for a story is how characters should find their totem animal. The earlier on the evolutionary scale, the better. It seems logical for teenagers to have an amphibious totem animal, like frogs or salamanders.
Pola has a leatherback seaturtle as a helper, as shown in this flashback scene that takes place right after book numer 2 POLA ends. The turtle pops up when she is coming of age, so an aquatic reptile makes sense.
In theory, it would be posibble to have a human for a totem animal - but then you are a real idiot. (in the literal sense the ancient Greeks meant it) Well, it is a bit dificult humour so I will have it in the background only.

 

Dancefloor cringe

 

Diskomodo

My good friend Daniele Murtas sent me a copy of his hilarious underground comic Diskomodo with a dedication featuring  a couple of my characters. I got a real kick out of that! Some time ago, I had borrowed his 'son' for an illustration for Murv/Murf magazine after a documentary by Werner Herzog, The White Diamond. Diskomodo is a grumpy techno DJ in Berlin of Komodo descent, always getting into trouble for his bad attitude. Highly recommended. You can order a copy by reaching out to https://www.instagram.com/nervomurtas/ 
 

Friterie

 

The Wheel of Evolution

 

Phrenologists

 

The Black Square

A new exploratory drawing inspired by Félix Vallotton. L'Argent ('money') is probably the most daring one in his Interiors series. Note that its date, 1897, precedes that of Kazimir Malevich's Black Square (1915). 

 

SuperrrWürms

From my sketchbooks. One of the ideas floating around is an afrodisiac called Wurms, with hardly any side effects.

 

Cruquius

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaas_Kruik

 

Bad dream

Cyril Strapatsky is a character with women issues. Here he is having a bad dream. This is done after Matisse obviously. (NOT a personal favorite)

 

1913 Cityscape

Obviously I used photo reference here (of pre-war Rotterdam) but manipulated beyond recognition. Otherwise, why not just trace or worse, use filtered photos? 

Working on a new storyline involving the role of chance. 

 

Good morning

 

Fast Lane

 

The alegory of the convenant between bourgeoisie and working class

 

The Sniff

 

Staatsbier

'Staatsbier'. Remember, in my version of the year 1913, there has been a sweetwater communist takeover. As a side note, I often refer to Heineken as state's beer for its ubiquitousness.

The first version of this (bottom) is from one of my sketchbooks. I added a few elements to achieve a narrative. It won't feature in my upcoming graphic novel The Twin Paradox however. It's just a possible situation.

 

Field trip

The Smut Critics Union on a field trip to Arcadia. (After Poussin)

Go for a ride

Sketchbook #77

A new sketchbook cover. Number 77. Mostly white ink on black paper.