MOMA mia!!

// Lixard Ghen Ghen | he is mean, VERY mean…

Im so happy the book is almost finished. Well, Im lying because there´s still too much stuff to do but its going forward pretty fast. This week I will be doing just this because I want it to be out by September and take it with me to the NY Art Book Fair at MOMA!. Yes, we are going to attend the fair!, specially because CHATARRA by almighty Berto Fojo has been selected by Printed Matter to be at the store and probably at the fair. I wish we had a stand there with all of our books because by September we will have some new ones out!. We are trying to have one but we dont really know how to do it and all that. We will see!. But aint this great news!?.

// thank satan we always keep some extra copies of our releases for this things…

// Fojo at his best with a nice hoodie!

WOW! as I was writting this Silvia from Libros Mutantes confirmed that our books will be at their stand which is inside Printed Matter´s one so, YES, Watdafac Artifacts will be available at the fair! Look for them all, find us, we will be happy to tell you more about our releases. Exciting!.
And, yep! The Impregh´natek Castelée book will by out by then. Premiere at the fair!. – OH LA LÁ!

In the other hand, we are about to print Simon Hanselmann´s t-shirts for his upcoming show at the gallery. Maybe you want one, maybe not, either way, they look FANTASTIC!

// sizes S, M and L – Black on white.

note to myself

Buy pencils.

“The Impregh´natek Castelée” continues…

FINALLY! the sun hits the city! capital of the world!
The rain has its bright side anyway (even though sad and cold weather really affects my mood) because I have been isolated at the studio drawing and working on the book. Since I have focused my time and energy on this I feel like the book is going to be out sooner than I expected. I know there are 24 characters in it instead of 16 (which was the first idea) but if things go as planned and I keep on drawing this fast I guess that, by September, it will be finished and printed. AT LAST!. So that means that there will be a release party everywhere (as many cities and countries as I can because I would like to take this artifact around the world, spread the word, etc. I know this sounds lame, but…). At first, Im trying to find a place in NY so if you know someone that could help or could be interested thatd be awesome. The show will have all the originals, some prints, maps, weapons,etc.  And, of course, a very cool limited edition of the book. YAY!

// this is TROVBÉ, an oldie, but here is the re-drawn version (this is one of my favorite ones, you´ll see…)

// I even had time to do some new ones that are mentioned in the book but where missing. The intention is to do all of the names that appear in it. That would make more sense, I guess…

Things like this can be read on the book (this is a short index card draft of all the interrelated characters that appear in the book):

(…)
// TROBVÉ
· Real name: Trœé  Å.
· Alias: The Grehit.
· Place of Birth: Charcos de Miel, planet of Zaj´ah.
· Base of Operations: Nata Movediza village.
· Language: Vaporanian.
· Religion: Gœ, a mystic religion based on different gas-based gods that can
only to be found in this particular planet.
· Tribe symbol: The Lombardä.
·Occupation: Chief and Chaman.
·Group affiliation: Indios Del Vapor.
·Origin: This particular Indian race comes from Zaj´ah, a planet even
weirder than Crystalathyda since it has several balls of toxic gas and fire that orbit around it, giving it protection and warmer temperatures (withour this natural satellites this planet will explode like 500 nuclear bombs).
This special Indians are the only creatures capable to live in such a difficult planet so they are free of attacks, visitors, enemies or even any contact with other living creatures that could interfere in their genes. Tœé, as leader of the village, was sent out in search of La Pluma del Arroz, a feather only to be found in the Temple of Bombalin, a place where gods rest and take important decissions, This magical feather gives them the ability to endure such high temperatures. Without this feather, they would immediately die and burn to ashes so that is why other civilizations have tried to break into Zah´ja and steal the powers of this fascinating artifact.
This journey is repeated every 100 years and its part of an ancestral ritual named Feh Feh Rah so it is not such a risk or a dangerous event. No enemies or possible attacks during this old tradition may accur.
Only an extraordinary sense of orientation is needed since landscapes are all the same.
·Powers: Trœé, as every Indian in this planet, possesses the ability to breath
fire and lava, his body system allows him to breath in flames and toxic gases
without causing him any damage. The intelligence of Los Indios del Vapor
is admirable.
· Weapons: Trœé rides a Mokmokig Lion, half lion half eagle, similar to a
grifon that gives him the possibility to travel long distances really fast. While resting , these lions, turn into fire and mimic with the flames on the ground. This is the way they sleep and get ready for another day of a long journey.”
(…)

So, that´s it. Im going to ride my bike for an hour or so, do some exercice, take a shower and sit by the table because Im so fully charged of energy right now that if I sit and grab a pencil I would probably break it in half. Man, I cant believe this is going to happen!. Its been 3 years and a half since this book should have been printed! Insane. But, to be honest, Im happy it didnt because this version looks way cooler than the other. Well, at least it does to me, I dont know. I guess that once this is done I will have to re-write all the texts and check the stories again.
You will understand why…

Errmmm, ok, see you.

cool art and junk food

Hello, lovely Monday, how are you?
Well, Im SO EXCITED because the art of Simon Hanselmann and Html Flowers for the exhibition at Watdafac Gallery just arrived and I have to say that I havent seen anything so AWESOME in a long long time. Simon´s comics are brilliant and Flower´s drawings are such am amazing magic phenomenon!. WOW! this is going to be a BIG show, seriously! if you miss this you will regret it FOREVER! believe me…
I cant wait to start setting up everything on the walls, dios mío!.
Whenever I say this things I feel like all the artists that have been exhibiting at the gallery could feel a little bit dissapointed and I have to say that they shouldnt because EVERY SINGLE one of them has been FASCINATING and to have them here has been such a WONDERFUL experience. AND I MEAN IT! You all rock big time!

// poster for the show

I have closed my next solo exhibition today too. It will be happening at KLING! store in Madrid on June 4, 2013. I guess it will be just a little example of my recent work, mostly prints I suppose since the space is very limited. I dont know yet but I will try and make something new since Madrid is my place and friends will come (right? RIGHT?! RIGHT, MY FRIENDS!!?) and I want them to have something they havent seen before to enjoy or something. We will see…

// he will keep you posted from Little China…

I have to be honest and say that yesterday I didnt do ANYTHING!. My intention was to draw and keep on doing the book im working on but it was a sunday so all I did was watch movies, spend money on ebay, buy music, read comics and eat junk food with my good friend Hugo. That is what Sundays were created for.
So, even though is another shitty gray day in the city I have to double my drawing session and get things done. We have to be responsible with what we have to do. If not, you drawn in your own projects.

// comics in the morning

// tv and junk food in the afternoon

// late dinner at 00h15. Vegan funghi & Asparagus rice. Yummy!

I talked about how lame the new Iron Man movie is. To me this is the real one. The only one. The one.

// Yes, I am too! so what!?

Draw everyday.
Im listening to Herukrat´s Warmth record. Its pretty good. Get it or download it. I dont care.
bye.

iron and sketch

OH! MAN! What´s wrong with the weather now!. Feels like winter time. Its freezing, non stop raining, thick gray… Last week people were wearing shorts and short sleeve and right now it could snow in any moment. I HATE THIS KIND OF WEATHER. Sunny California is my place to be indeed!.

// view from the kitchen… yiacs!

I would like to apologize to Jack Kirby and the entire Bull Pen for going to the movies last night to watch Iron Man 3, probably the WORST Marvel movie of all times after Dare Devil with lame Ben Affleck. I had to do it, sorry. This movie, seriosly doesnt make any sense! Tony Stark wasnt such an asshole and a wannbe funny guy. Who was the idiot that thought that Robert Downey, Jr. was able to perform such a classic anyway. Whatever… this movie sucks and thats it. Jack must be twisting in his grave. Furious, in pain, angry, frustrated, crying… Sorry, man!. His son should sue Stan Lee for this crap.
This is what 3D is doing to the wonderful comic world. They projected a bunch of sad trailers about comics before the movie such as Thor or Superman. I dont care about Superman because he is a poser and a loser and DC sucks big time but Thor, seriously? THOR?…prf!. I like the fact that he looks so gay in comic books but in the movie he looks like a total douchebag dressed like a a futuristic gladiator attending to The Oscars with cheap cologne sprayed all over his body. Once again, Marvel today lost the path by updating superheroes costumes trying to make each of them look shiny and tough. I prefered when superheroes looked like they were on their pyjamas.

Downey and Iron Man is a no no combination.

This kind of weather makes me wanna draw, stay warm at home, with my 400 cups of coffee & cigarettes plus nice music. Earlyer, while posting this boring entry, I was lisntening to the new Iron and Wine´s record, but PLEASE dont tell anyone, I beg you… Its seems everything is about IRON today. Everytime I read or hear the name “Iron & Wine” I picture an old man drinking wine from a big glass while ironing his clothes looking very sad. Stupid and obvious I guess.

// Sketching Baghatell for the “TIC” upcoming book im working on… The project is moving forward fast and Im so excited about this.

As you might have notice this drawing has two papers taped together. That is because I wasnt happy with old Baghatell´s mode of transport. By the way,

(…) Felkilistians (Baghatell´s breed) travel on Mugghus. A spider-like creature that can walk for weeks and never gets tired. Eats once a week, drinks once every 2 weeks, can run at 130 km/h on flat ground and can lift up to 300 kg with its crab looking legs. They are half insects, half crustaceans with an
extraordinary sense of orientation. Their blood is blue and cold. Their vision
is limited (…) - Extract from The Impregk´natek Castelée´s (aka TIC) additional guide.

I know I said I wouldnt be posting anymore drawings about the book but I meant the new ones. This is a re-drawn character from an old one that can be seen all around my blog. Which looks horrible to be honest.
Ermmm, I think thats all for today. Fuck, my hands are too cold! dammit!.
Tropicalia in da haus! Go Sebastiao Tapajos and Pedro Do Santos!

Happy Saturday!

lectures and arrivals.

I know I should be drawing right now but something just arrived on the mail and I cant wait to get my hands into it. Its the first time Im doing something like this but it seems to be fun. I dont really know how it works or what I have to dot but I guess this is easy. Actually, I think that the best part will be painting it. I was thinking about doing it my own way. I mean giving it my own touch by using the colors that I find best instead of making it look like the real Star Trek character. Im not a Treki at all, in fact, I have never seen any of the movies and I dont have a clue what the series are about. I prefer Star Wars because it has Ewoks in it and specially because Warwick Davis is inside the main one (I have to say that I REALLY hate Jar Jar Binks though). Anyway, here is what I will be doing these days among some other stuff like the neverending book Im into.

// I like the fact that he is holding a drink…

// FOOM forever.

Also, I got 3 new issues of FOOM Magazine (well, when I say “new” I mean that I did not have them because they are from the mid 70s), and they are truly amazing. FOOM (Friends Of Old Marvel) was a magazine that the people from The Bull Pen released back in the 70s and 80s that was about what happened around the Marvel world. I read it now in 2013 and I wish I could order all the stuff they had for sale such as action figures, tshirts… Actually I should place my order and see what happens, right?. Maybe I get a letter from Jack Kirby who is dead now but still alive in all of our hearts.
Issues are easy to find, specially on ebay, some are really cheap and some people think that the pages are made with gold because prices are insane. I only have a few of them but my goal is to have the entire collection which I think are about 20 or 30, Im really not sure.

Yesterday was a really INTENSE day. I woke up around 6am and got ready for a pretty long day of events and meetings. First of all, I had to go to Museo ABC in Madrid and give a workshop about “characters creation” (or however you say that in english) focused on animation and video games. It was my first experience as a teacher and I liked it a lot. Its interesting when you talk about what you do and what you know and people listen, pay attention and seem to be VERY interested in what you have to say. I never thought I would end up doing this, seriously, its kind of cool.

After that I had to do a lecture in front a bunch of people about my experience as an illustrator and cartoonist and it ended up being a really nice an hour and a half talk with Nico and Dani (2 awesome artsits!). At first I thought I wouldnt be able to do it and that I would get pretty nervous but once I opened my mouth everything came down smoothly. Hope people didnt get too bored. I tried my best to make it something warm and give it an intimate tone or something where everyone could feel confortable with all my experiences and stories.
I would like to thank Lara Caterón and Museo ABC for the opportunity and I hope there will be more in a near future.

// argh!

Its friday, its cold, its raining like hell and I have a bunch of things to do. Ever since I came back from San Sebastian I havent stoped a single minute. Because I cant and because I dont want to.

Sometimes I think it would have been great to be a professional basketball player. Play on NBA, be the next white Michael Jordan. I guess Im late for that so I better sharpen my pens and get things done.

more tomorrow.

regular post

Today I will be giving a workshop to some kids at Museo ABC in Madrid about “the creation of characters” and everything is ready. Im ready to go, everything set and prepared. This is my first time being a teacher so wish me luck. Then, today at 6pm, there will be an open talk at the museum and I will be part of it too so if you are around come an join us but, please, dont make difficult questions. Questions like “who is your favorite artist?” because It will probably take me 4 weeks to make a list. I like comics and illustrators/cartoonist, thats all… Anyway, Ive already had my second coffee this morning so everything will be ok.

In the other hand, this week its being intense. Lots of work since I have been away too much and now clients and projetcs are yelling and crying for their opportunity to be done. Logos, record covers, tshirts… plus personal projects are in the “to do” list. Some have priority and some are back in the list but all of them deserve same attention and dedication so concentration is needed now.
That means that I have waking up around 5 or 6am everyday so I have enough time to do everything that has to be done. Glups!
The thing is that I want to get rid of all the graphic design work and start focusing my time and energy on The Impregk´natek Castelée book again. I have tons of new ideas and cant wait to sit by Valhalla (my drawing table) and immerse myself in this fascinating world, planet or reality. However you want to call it.
Lots of new characters have been done but wont post anymore until the book´s out. Because I want it to be kind of a surprise since this thing is taking me more than ever… It was supposed to be out in Nobrow around 2009 so right now I dont really know which direction this book will take. I hope they are still interested when finished, if not, self publishing is always welcome.

// staying up late. Working.

Simon Hanselmann´s and Grant´s books for the upcoming show at the gallery are already part of this cruel world but if you want to make it a better place you can now PRE-ORDER your copy. Of course, they are very limited hand numbered editions and are already running out fast. This time we will be putting out 2 different books in one package so that makes this release numbers 9 and 10 of our catalogue.

// Simon´s new cover

This morning I realized that Im drawning in a sea of books, zines and comics. New ones arrive almost every day and my capacity of reading aint that fast or extraordinary. This is what happens when selves are overbooked, your time for reading isnt as much as you would like and you are an obsesive compulsive collector. And I love it because everything around me is pure inspiration. And I mean LIFE, my life, not the magazine, duh?.

// Pupshaw & Pushpaw are very excited surrounded by happiness

goodbye.