June 2006 Archives

How appropriate. I had no internet connection while doing this illustration, which meant I could not update my weblog. And instead, I drew a diary. I was hoping my text would be illegible, but I am afraid my handwriting is even better than I thought. I wrote as small as I possibly could, but still... Is it legible in the paper paper? The article is about four authors, but I was told it was going to be three. I would have happily added Koos van Zomeren, had I known he'd be featured. Bigger version, click.

I rescued a mother with five children from drowning today. They were sheltering from the storm under the overhanging roof of the church door, which gave them hardly any protection at all. So I waved them over, and offered them my porch. They were soaked, especially the mother in all her islamic textiles, but they did not want to come into the house. Otger came running home with two friends. "Are they yours?" the wet mother asked me. Heavens, three of these guys, one of them Chinese. The Chinese boy lives down the street, in a house like ours. But on the main floor only. Other families on the other floors. Otger came home quite shocked after the first time he visited there. No living room, beds everywhere. Wall paper hanging from the walls, wrecked floor, everything old and worn. But the best computer ever! I love this street full of culture shocks.

My own daughter won the first-photo-of-a-bookstore contest. Congratulations Piffin! Do you really want me to send you an autographed copy? Guess not. Oh dear, I was cut of from the internet for three full days, quelle misère. Now there's a new modem, a new router, a new network card, works like a zonnetje. You missed the whole development of another NRC drawing, too bad. I really feel like I've been away, crazy. Oh and I joined a life drawing class, I'll show you after some classes. It's been too long, I suck. Exhausted now, see you in the morning.

Wendy noticed it. She saw the pic on the left side of this page, and said so in yesterday's comments. And it's true, my new Little Golden Book arrived yesterday, hurray! I had planned to do a contest like last year, with Tim's Bed. To send a signed copy to the first person who finds my book in a bookstore. But I received my copies so late, that it's already in the bookstores! Willem told me that Praamstra in Deventer had a whole pile of them. So the competition is off, sorry. We could of course do first photo in a bookstore, couldn't we? Okay. I promise a signed copy for a beautiful picture like this one, with the new book! I am quite happy with the way it turned out, though I don't like the way they tore apart the picture above one bit. Probably my fault, I probably was a page short. Water under the bridge.

Holy mother of newspapers, the spot colour is PINK!!! I'm going to keep it red in my portfolio, that's for sure. It's a big article this time, because it's about the complete works of Bas van Putten. And call me ignorant, but I had never heard of him. Which of course complicates the drawing process. I prefer drawing authors that already exist in my little universe, authors I can picture in my mind, without looking at photo's. Bas van Putten was especially hard, because he co-hosts a tv program in the Netherlands. A horrible horrible program IMHO, and as a host Bas comes across very pedantic. And knowing nothing of his books, the character I drew started to look more and more like the tv show host. But what a relief now that I read the article: "Bas van Putten is working on a versatile but consistent oevre in which one identical prototype keeps recurring: the man who is a stranger to humbleness."

It's pride week in Toronto, and Piffin is missing it. But I am certainly proud of her. "This year's theme is Fearless! Fearless is about how far we've come and how far we've to go; it’s about being bold, proud and true; it's about the courage to be open about who you are, and to celebrate people in our past and present who make it increasingly possible to live without fear." What language, I can't get used to it. Why does e v e r y t h i n g in North America have to sound so motivational? Anyway, Piffin is certainly not afraid of getting her hands dirty, but I'm sure that's not the fearlessness with a capital letter the pride week website talks about. Oh, and by the way, naturally my first thought when I saw this picture was that she was administring enema's to opa. But my little darling was gardening.

Strange, but this was the first time in my career I was asked to do a drawing with a spot colour. Interesting. I didn't even know how to prepare it so it can be properly printed. That's where the illustrator's mailing list comes in handy. Only of course, as always, the best explanation came after the facts. Thank you anyway, Mirjam! Oh and oh, I also did a column drawing today. And I went to Betty's to see the Dutch play 0-0 against Argentina. Which was great fun, the bar was completely packed. With elderly ladies ("didn't those goals use to look different in the old days?" "Yes, they changed them in 1972") and young and loud enthousiasts ("hondenlul doesn't translate well").

I found out why my new Little Golden Book is taking for ever. It'll be in the book stores before it's in my mail box. The publisher sent it to our old address. We moved a year and a half ago, it's not as if they didn't send me anything else all this time! The idea that this could have happened came to me last night. Our old landlady called. She more than ever regrets we moved out. A dangerous idiot is living in the house. Not letting anybody in, not answering phone calls. He has never forwarded any mail. A neighbour takes care of the garden. The idiot doesn't have the nerve to chase the neighbour away, it's a very intimidating looking neighbour, with a German Shephard. The garage was full of old pizza boxes and other filth, so the neighbour cleaned it out and took care of the rats. And my publisher has sent me a new package of books today.

A hot and sticky but relaxed day at home with Otger. He got taunted into some physicalness with a girl. Of course the girl had nothing to do with anything, hence the suspension. Girls always get away with everything, don't they? She had merely asked him why he was crying. I don't think it takes a conceptual universe to imagine the tone of voice in which the girl posed the innocent question that caused Otger to attack her. But zero tolerance is zero tolerance, even if one may wonder what the kids learn from this. Anyway, Otger enjoyed a well spent day at home. He finished a book, and did some programming way beyond my understanding. Which is probably more than he would have done in school.

We are seriously thinking about putting up a webcam on neigbour Paul's house, filming the porch life across the street. In other words, us. Statler & Waldorf. We have to start watching our step though, we are far to Dutch to ever really adapt to Canadian social values. We are Statler & Waldorf. Commenting on everything passing on our sidewalk. Question is, who is the entertainment, us on our porch, or them on the sidewalk. Before long, people will make detours to avoid us. That would be another good thing about the porch cam, before people would go out jogging or walking their dog, they could check if the coast was clear. And for people in the homeland we would easily provide better entertainment than a tunnel in Norway. Best thing today was when a Chinese guy in a truck wanted to park, and a Chinese guy in a car was somehow upset about that. He swore and cursed at the guy in the truck, at least it sounded like that. And then the guy in the truck shouted back:"...(Chinese word), fuck, ...(Chinese word)!!" He got out of his truck and saw us laughing. And explained the whole incident to us in broken English. But we assured him we had already understood the Chinese version.

All the time I am hoping to be able to post my new Little Golden Book. My publisher tells me it's in the mail, but boy, is that taking a long time. So you get to see City TV filming the crazy Dutch at Betty's after the Ivory Coast game. Everybody calls it Côte d'Ivoire here, I wonder why. Great bar, Betty's. I wanted to pay for my Coke, and was told to forget about it. The commentary on Rogers TV was very much in favour of the Ivory Coast team, I found. But I also sympathized with them. I read this article yesterday, and almost wanted the Dutch to loose. And I have to admit I was quite taken by all those black torso's shining through wet white T-shirts.

Another magazine sketch. But it's weekend, because the art director doesn't work Fridays. And she has to approve the sketches. I am listening to the German music again, lovely lovely. Try it. Very suitable to play very loud on the porch, when the horrible rock band is practicing in the church. And Michiel is not there, so. He went to see Sketches of Frank Gehry, invitees only, dammit.

It didn't even rain. Two and a half drops maybe. It must have emerged because I was watering the front yard. I am starting to love my front yard. Gardening is completely idiot proof in Canada, weeding, trimming and watering, that's about all you have to do. Everything grows and grows and grows and grows. Clematis, poppies, pionies, cana lilies, dahlia's, roses, a sea of flowers. An ocean. Even my lawn is thick and green, my lawn, me. The person who is known for killing plants by looking at them. The person who did nothing but freaking housekeeping today. But we can see the floor of the spare room again. Took me the best part of the day. For months everybody had been using the spare room as a dumping ground. We are a family of animals, I tell you. In case you wonder about the church, click.

Sketch for another magazine drawing. I filmed myself in the mirror for this one. Otger went to Ottawa today, four day field trip to parliament. He already went there two years ago, with his previous school, but he insisted on going again. As long as he is not going to be a soccer player. That, Canadian readers, is a Dutch song title. But right now I am listening to German song titles. Which I just have to recommend. The history of The German Schlager in four hours. Good thing Michiel is hiding in the kitchen. He is not coming out before I turn off this music I'm afraid. My Limburgian genes are having a ball. My aunt Truus always listened to German schlagers, she even had a speaker in the kitchen, which was extremely high tech in those days. And the tv was tuned to the "Pruus".

Wilfred Scholten! Why did you cut my Michiel from your Netwerk item! Shame on you. But... tatatatata! You had no idea you put in one of my daughter's best friends! The girl on the right is Farah Sandu, a ravishing beauty anchoring her school's tv show. Farah is wild, but sweet. With a hint of danger. The rest of Wilfred's item was bullshit, mainly. In between every scene agitating intermezzo's about the alleged terrorists that were caught in Toronto last week. Shame on you again, Wilfred. They were hardly terrorists, and you know it. They were a bunch of punks, and the police were on to them from day one. There was never any danger. Even the farmer of the land they were training their terrorism on called the police on them, but was told to let them be. Their explosives were no explosives, but a harmless substance delivered to them by undercover police. You said they had explosives, Wilfred. You lie. Do you also rant about drugs seizings, when all that is seized is detergent?

I finally joined Illustration Mundo. I had been planning to do so for the longest time, I don't know why it took me until today. Busy busy busy, probably. But now I did, and you can go there, and you can even vote for me. And it's compliments week it seems. First Kees Verheul, now it's Nate Williams:

Hey Eliane, Your work is suppppppper great and you have been chosen as an EDITOR'S CHOICE. Your contribution can now be viewed online on the front page of Illustrationmundo.com!

De Gouden Strop, anual best Dutch thriller award. Gert Jan de Vries lashes out to the jury in no uncertain terms. Xenophobic and sexist, Gert Jan is really upset. It is not yet known who of the five nominees will win. But who cares, with the questionable importance of an award out of the hands of this jury, says Gert Jan. And that is why my tree is a question mark, and my loop so old and threadbare. The nominees from left to right: Willem Asman, Felix Thijssen, Elvin Post, Charles den Tex, Tomas Ross. Bigger version, click.

"Ever since late April I have been following your work in the newspaper with joyful consent". I received a real letter today. From an author I portrayed last April. Now isn't that just fantastic? He sent it to the editorial desk, and they forwarded it to me. I will try and find a fountain pen myself tomorrow, and write back. In a less ornate style I'm afraid.
And then for some domestic announcements. Netwerk tomorrow is about fish oil. I don't know, I am starting to think they sent a whole crew to Canada for nothing at all. And with tax payer's money. Secondly. I get more and more Google visitors trying to find out where the Dutch can watch the world cup in Toronto. So I'll tell you: We're at Betty's, King East. 8:30 AM Sunday morning. They do want you to announce your presence, mail me (or comment) and I'll give you the details.

I did finally finish this week's author drawing, but I won't bore you with yet another phase, you'll see the result this Friday. I love the speed of newspapers. I do a drawing, send it off, paper is there two days later, and that same day in the paper bin. Now magazines are a different story. I did these drawings in April! Glad to see them back in print though. Even more so because I am starting two illustrations for the next issue. I have a much better idea now of what's expected from me. Here and here you can see the drawings in my portfolio.
I guess you figured out that we were not on Netwerk as I said yesterday. Maybe tomorrow.

We can't find the picture we took on the cell phone, so the work in progress will have to do. If you're in Holland, make sure you watch Netwerk tonight, which is tomorrow night now for me. It's still yesterday here, as I write this. Michiel had a chat with Rita, and managed to completely ignore the camera on his face and the microphone on his mouth. I saw the journalist jump for joy with some of the things Michiel said, so I'm quite sure he'll survive the editing. I had a word with the journalist, the camera man and the minister's spokesman afterwards, the camera and the microphone and Rita out of the way. I told them that my biggest concern about the evening had been that it would become one of Rita's famous warm baths. She always claims that she is only criticized in The Hague, and that among the people, she feels like she is in a warm bath. So I had been worried about that. But Wilfred assured me Michiel had been a cold shower.

A whole day of sketching for nothing. I had an idea but it just didn't work out, looked plain bad. Back to the drawing board tomorrow. Had my head checked out as well, today. Funny thing, a cat scan machine, reminded me of a car wash. Everything spins around and you can't get out.

Group portrait this week, so I started early and I think the hard part is done. Some of these authors extremely obscure, especially the bottom left guy is basically guess work. And I have some nice news from Toronto, to compensate for all the new punk that's suddenly going on here:
Yesterday, the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation revealed the winner of its Waterfront Innovation Competition. West 8's (from Rotterdam!) clear, simple and disarmingly competent proposal will start construction later this year. By late next year, the first $20-million or so in improvements will be in place.
Read al about it over at Reading Toronto.

It's a pity Janet Luis doesn't mention the title of the first story in Nelleke Noordervliet's book: Miss Blanche. I drew Nelleke as Miss Blanche, I wonder whether anybody will notice that. The story is about a cigar store owner, and Miss Blanche is a very old brand of cigerettes. I quickly made the link with Nelleke Noordevliet's hair, completely white since a couple of years. She always used to be a brunette. But I guess I must be a more visual thinker than Janet Luis is.
Big version.

This handsome guy is my children's great grandfather. Or Michiel's grandfather. I was using his book for reference, I did another column drawing today. About kicking and fighting children again, as if there never is anything nice to say about children. And so funny, (Merel, proof!) Willem was telling me just this afternoon that he was going to watch tv after he'd be back from his chess club tonight, because there was something on about Max Schmeling. He had no idea I was drawing from the family boxing book. Willem used to box in his then-father-in-law-to-be Karel de Jager's boxing school, back in prehistoric times.