NIKLAS ASKER

Aung San Suu Kyi

2012-01-04T03:05:00.000-08:00

A little tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League For Democracy party in Burma.

Pictures from Greece

2011-12-29T05:51:00.001-08:00

Here's some pics from the exhibition in Athens with my painting Mother and Daughter in the second shot. Couldn't attend the opening myself but they seem to have had a good time don't they?

The updates are rare I know, but hey, it's the holidays...

New illustration/comics page

2011-12-19T05:01:00.001-08:00

Video from Italy

2011-12-05T04:50:00.000-08:00

Another video from Treviso Comic Book Festival:

http://vimeo.com/33142247

This was my first night and a great one as you can see although I once again managed to escape the camera.

Party like an Italian

2011-11-29T05:54:00.001-08:00

http://vimeo.com/32814874

This is a very nice video from one night at the Treviso Comic Book Festival. I managed to keep away from the camera most of the night and only show up in the background here and there, but you can feast your eyes on Swedish artist Knut Larsson and Max Andersson, not to mention a sea of gorgeous Italians. It was a great night!

The Ark

2011-11-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday me and some friends took the train over the bridge to Denmark and visited Arken (The Ark), a museum for contemporary art outside of Copenhagen. It was pouring outside and the authorities had issued a storm warning and told people to stay inside but we figured if the world is ending and there is going to be a flood, what better place to spend the day than in an ark.

It's a very nice museum and the combo Basquiat/Warhol (their collaborations), Damien Hirst and Olafur Eliasson left little to complain about. I love Eliassons work and his "Din Blinde Passager" (the blind passenger) was amazing. A 100 meter long tunnel filled with smoke and light.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend watching the documentary "Space is Process", where you get to follow Eliasson working on his "NYC Waterfalls" project among other things.

2011-11-25T05:39:00.000-08:00

2 group shows in the next two months

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm one of twelve Swedish artists that will be represented at the Absolut Svenskt 2 show at Gallery Genesis in Athens this december. My paintings Mother & daughter and Qualia will be on show.

More info HERE.

Mother & Daughter, oil on linen, 110x70 cm

Qualia, oil on linen, 116x81 cm

Liljevalchs in Stockholm has for the second year in a row decided to include me among the artists in their Spring Salon. Opening is january 27. My painting Prayers will be on Show.

More info HERE.

Prayers, oil on linen, 200x100 cm

Only two weeks left on the book!

2011-11-23T04:05:00.001-08:00

Page 99

2011-11-16T04:31:00.001-08:00

Page 99 from The city go Ember. More sneaks to come!

The Deer

2011-11-10T03:22:00.001-08:00

This is an illustration I did recently for my NYC agent, Richard Solomon.

(click images for larger version)

Italy and other news...

2011-11-08T03:55:00.000-08:00

Time for a post here huh? Yeah, it's been a while.

Thought I'd post some pics from my Italy trip in september and tell you about what's going on right now.

Me and my assistant Bo Ashi is working hard on the last chapters of The City of Ember graphic novel for Random House and the deadline is December 9. Unfortunately you'll have to wait a whole year (or 10 months at least) until you'll be able to hold it in your hand. But when we're finished (i.e. when I have more time) I'll post a ton of material from the 144 page full color graphic novel. Sketches, inks, colors etc. Keep a look out for that.

So what the hell am I going to do after this book is done? I'll tell ya! In December I'm having two paintings at a show called Absolut Svenskt 2 (Yes, it's sponsored by Absolut Vodka) at Gallery Genesis in Athens, Greece. I have three solo shows (painting) booked for 2012. April 7 my show at Rönnquist & Rönnquist in Malmö opens. Then in July I have another show at the Falsterbo Museum of Art (Falsterbo Konsthall) and last but no least a show at Nils Åberg gallery in Gothenburg in december.

And I'm writing a script for a new graphic novel.

And I'll be working a lot with my agent Richard Solomon in New York.

So I'll be busy, don't you worry.

Below are some pics from one of the best trips yet. If you go to Venice guys, take a day and jump on the train to Treviso (about 30 mins), it's worth it. Beautiful town and the food is amazing!

I want to thank Alberto Corrado for inviting us and curating a beautiful show with some of the best stuff the Swedish comics scene has to offer. Also thanks to Nicola Ferrarese, Alberto Alpo Polita, Giovanni Donadini and Sebastiano and Ilaria. And to my Swedish colleagues Knut Larsson, Max Andersson and Olle Berg. I know I'l forgetting people here but thank you everyone, you really took care of us!

(click images to view larger version)

Leaving Kastrup, Kopenhagen

I never tire of flying...

or seeing the alps from above. Reference photographing like a madman.

Alberto welcoming us to Treviso (he may look like a satanist in this picture, but he's awfully nice)

View from mine and Knut Larssons room.

First night was Toy Night! We painted vinyl toys and drank beer while being filmed and photographed by media and fans. Here's Olle just getting started.

The crowd outside of Toy Night

I did a self portrait.

Max Andersson working on his doll.

Knut Larsson.

What a lineup.

Nicola, president of the festival, approved of the result.

Me and myself.

Some shots from my corner of the exhibition Svezia Laboratorio d'europa

Yeah, that's a large version of Andrew from Second Thoughts.

Visitors looking at Olle Bergs work.

Max reading about himself.

The toys displayed at the design store.

Max and I having an espresso at the hotel bar. Beautiful place (Hotel Continental).

Wherever we went people fed us with Spritz, parmesan...

and all kinds of delicious Italian food you can imagine. You could tell the theme for this years festival was food. Yum.

Knut Larsson, happy to be in Venice.

Grand Canale.

Shopping for masks.

Last night in Treviso. Had the best pizza I've ever tasted and said goodbye to these wonderful people.

One more night by myself in venice and this was my bedroom. Felt like a prince.

Cafe Florian.

Interesting statue at the Guggenheim.

said goodbye to San Marco one last time and got on the boat to the airport. But I'll be back.

That's all for now. Much love.

New Painting

2011-09-28T04:06:00.000-07:00

Recently finished this commission. It's kind of a portrait.

Just got back from Italy. Had a blast and will post pictures from that this week!

The work with Ember continues

2011-09-16T04:47:00.001-07:00

The work with The City Of Ember graphic novel continues. I'm happy to have teamed up with Bo Ashi who's helping me with the coloring. Deadline is early december and we're on full steam. It's fun but a lot of work so sometimes I feel like Lina (image) getting out of bed in the morning.

I promise you more sneak peaks in the future so check back.

More Treviso News

2011-09-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

Not much comics stuff on the blog lately, but here's an image of Andrew from Second Thoughts I made this morning. It'll be printed (big), cut out and mounted on board for the exhibition in Treviso. The opening is saturday night (september 24). I'll also be attending "Toy Night" on friday to paint an art toy created by Italian toymaker Atomhouse. Looking forward to it!

More info here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41707700473

Poster for the Swedish exhibition in Treviso.

Italy!

2011-09-13T05:58:00.000-07:00

I'll be attending the Treviso Comics Festival september 22 - 25. There will be an exhibition with Swedish artists; me, Max Andersson, Kim W. Andersson, Olle Berg, Fabian Göranson, Joanna Hellgren, Johan Jergner-Ekervik, Knut Larsson and Marcus Nyblom. Plus I'll be signing the Italian version of Second Thoughts; Il giorno in cui non ci siamo incontrati.

Also, It's really close to Venice, so I'm hoping for a boat ride...

See you there?

INSPIRATION

2011-09-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

This guy is brilliant!

http://www.mattrotasart.com

The exhibition at Galleri Eklund

2011-09-02T06:08:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone that came to the preview and the opening at Galleri Eklund last weekend!

I'm really happy the gallery chose to have a two day preview show at SO Stockholm in beautiful Kungsträdgården, the heart of Stockholm. On saturday we moved the exhibition out to the Gallery in Djursholm and had the real opening.

For those of you that couldn't come, and for those who want another look, heres all the paintings and some photos from the opening. Thanks to Kalle Thyselius for the pictures.

For availability and prices, please contact Margareta Eklund at margareta@gallerieklund.se or me directly at niklas@niklasasker.com.

The paintings (click images for larger version)

Prayers, 200 x 100 cm

Qualia, 116 x 81 cm

Bloom, 122 x 82 cm

Projections 1, 73 x 100 cm

Projections 2, 73 x 100 cm

Young man, 71 x 105 cm

Room (inner/outer), 146 x 50 cm (diptyk)

Clouded 1, 70 x 70 cm

Clouded 2, 70 x 70 cm

Vacation, 50 x 50 cm

Hands, 50 x 50 cm

Simon, 40 x 40 cm

We also have two prints for sale for this exhibition.

Boys, 63 x 42 cm, edition of 15, signed and numbered

Gulliver Resting, 63 x 42 cm, edition of 15, signed and numbered

Vellinge Tunnel Painting

2011-08-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the south wall and me looking sinister. many thanks to photographer Jeff Richt.

Pictures from my opening in Stockholm and all the paintings coming soon!

/n

Exhibition at Galleri Eklund, Stockholm

2011-08-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Niklas Asker, painting

QUALIA

August 25 - September 17, 2011

(Qualia is a philosophical term referring to
the experiential properties of sensation)

Welcome to a preview of the exhibition at SO Stockholm, Kungsträdgården
Opening thursday august 25, 5 pm - 9 pm
Also open friday august 26, 11 am - 2 pm

Welcome to the opening at Galleri Eklund in Djursholm
Saturday august 27, 12 pm - 4 pm

Some sneak peaks from the studio:

I'll post photos of all the paintings here after the opening, so check back.
For more info: www.gallerieklund.se

Hope to see you there!

/n

Mus, Mouse, Maus

2011-07-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

So working day and night to finish my exhibition. Took a break from the large paintings the other day and made this for the exhibition Mus, Mouse, Maus, a kind of tribute exhibition for the great graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman. Organized by the Swedish Comics Association.

More on my august exhibition soon

/n

2011-06-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

More inspiration, this time from Rojo.

/n

2011-06-07T04:33:00.000-07:00

Am juggling illustration work, graphic novel and painting this week so not much blogging.

Instead, here's a link to a great illustrator named Jillian Tamaki. If you don't know her, check her out. Hot damn!

/n

have a nice weekend!

2011-06-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

This week has been all about this:

Looking forward to the weekend and some quality time with this:

And dad of course...

/n

Illustration

2011-05-30T01:53:00.000-07:00

Haven't done a lot of illustrations lately but got this made over the weekend. I enjoyed inking and playing around in Photoshop again. Here's the whole process, from rough sketch to finish.

/n

New Studio and wall painting.

2011-05-25T01:57:00.000-07:00

Been busy moving into my new painting studio, which is just across the street from my drawing studio and office in Mazettihuset, Malmö. Very happy with my new home and working away on my upcoming exhibition in Stockholm in August. More on that soon..

Also, the huge commissioned work I did for Vellinge City is done! The opening ceremony was yesterday. Here's some pics.

Painter Paul Rengbo putting the finishing touches to "Ängaskogen".

That's all for now. I'll keep posting progress pics from the studio so check back.

/n

What's going on in the studio?

2011-05-05T03:08:00.000-07:00

A lot...

2011-05-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

I did this portrait of my friend Hansson Sjöberg for hit 40th birthday.

Painting, big and small

2011-05-03T01:48:00.001-07:00

When not working on the Graphic novel The City of Ember for Random House I try to paint as much as I can. I have two solo shows and a group show booked this autumn (more info on that soon) and there's a lot to do.

Also, the huge wall painting I designed for the city of Vellinge is about two weeks from completion. Here's a sneak peak.

/n

2011-03-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Drawing all day and painting all night, that's my days right now. Fun but exhausting. I'm early in the process of a number of new paintings and I'll be sure to show you when I'm a little further down the road.

Until then, here's some prints of the huge wall decoration I designed for Vellinge Kommun. They start working on it tomorrow. Can't wait to get out there and see how they're doing.

/n

Riot

2011-03-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

The more pages I finish for this book the more the citizens of Ember start to stir. Do I smell a riot against the lazy and corrupted mayor?

/n

Everybody loves colored pencils

2011-03-11T03:28:00.000-08:00

Running back and forth between the drawing studio/office and the painting studio. Doing some serious work on Ember now and it feel good to be back on track. Here's Lina, the main character, getting all exited about some colored pencils and forgetting to look after her little sister.

More soon

/n

2011-03-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

Did this one night last week. It's commissioned by CBK for the new issue of C'est Bon Anthology. Check them out.

Oil on canvas, 30x30 cm.

/n

Art

2011-02-22T07:29:00.001-08:00

Working on a book (no, two really), a design for a tunnel decoration and my next solo show in August. Full steam ahead.

Got a question from Arianna Malacrida, Italy. She runs a blog where she interviews comics creators and she sent me a tricky question a few days back. I guess she'll publish the answer in Italian so I'll go ahead and publish it in English here. Below is the question and the answer:

Q:
In Second thoughts, Jess, the main charachter, is writing a book and she takes inspiration from stories and people part of her real life. When I was reading the book I wasn't sure whether I was in the main story or in Jess's story. Your narration unfolds so smoothly that you never really know which story you're in: if it's the main story or Jess's book. That's very intriguing and engaging. In your life, do you ever feel like you could be part of someone else's book or that the people you know could be written or painted in your works? Did you take inspiration from people you know for this graphic novel?

A:
I think art is essential to our lives. We use it as a mirror and it helps us distance ourselves from our own lives. I don't imagine myself as being a part of someone else's story, but that might be because I hate the idea of being controlled by someone else. I do however, think that reality (whatever that is) and fiction (whatever that is) melt together all the time. Everything we experience is, after all, impressions. Who's to say what is real and not. A book might affect me more than a person and vice versa. I encounter someone or something in my life that inspires me to write or paint. In this sense everyone I know is included in my work in one way or another. Reality inspires fiction. Then someone reads what I've written or looks at a painting and hopefully it makes them think about their own lives, maybe even inspires them to change something. Fiction inspires reality. This cycle is what I call art.

Second Thoughts is a work of fiction. I've never dated a rock star in London while working as a photographer, and my name is not Andrew or John. On the other hand, the story is inevitably a mix of things I've experienced, a kind of essential remix of the hardships of love I've seen in my life. So in that sense it's very much real and I am in fact a character in my own story.

2011-02-16T01:18:00.000-08:00

Went to see the William Ford exhibition at Louisiana museum of modern art in Denmark. His watercolors are truly incredible, super detailed and intelligent, showing all the animals in 1:1 scale.
It's there three more weeks, so anyone in the area should check it out!

The tunnel decoration is coming along well. Wall 1, almost there...

2011-02-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

Med Nya Ojne (Danish version of Second Thoughts) got good reviews in Denmark. Here in the big newspaper Politiken.

The tunnel decoration images has gone digital. Time for some color. Can't wait to see it on the walls of the 40 meter long tunnel.

2011-02-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

inking the 4 meter wide sketch (1 of 2) for the decoration of a tunnel in Vellinge. This thing is going to look great when it's 10 times as big, painted and lit in that tunnel. They start painting in a month.

back...

2011-02-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

in the painting studio. Check back for updates on new works soon.

/n

2011-02-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

All sketched out. Time for ink and color.

2011-02-03T01:15:00.001-08:00

Back in the studio and working on my largest sketch ever for a decoration of a 40 meter long tunnel in Vellinge, Sweden. Working in a 1:10 scale, so the sketch is 4 meters wide!

I'll give you guys a closer look later on.

/n

Traveling again.

2011-01-26T04:06:00.000-08:00

Heading up to Stockholm tonight for the big Liljevalchs party tomorrow. Friday the Spring Salon opens for the public. Check it out.

I'm contributing with two larger oil paintings.

I'll be back at work monday. Until then, here's a new spread from The City of Ember.

/n

2011-01-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

Finally been able to take some time (evenings and weekends) to work on my new book. I'm pretty early in the process but getting there. It's a great feeling.
Working with a complex story makes it hard to keep everything in your head. Every project has its techniques. I'm trying post-its this time. Working ok so far.

/n

Ember cover

2011-01-07T06:13:00.000-08:00

I recently finished the cover illustration for The City of Ember.

Back in the studio after the Christmas holidays now and slowly sketching my way through the book. I'll be sure to post sketches more frequently here. Heres a recent one.

/n

Joan of Arc

2010-12-30T02:14:00.000-08:00

I did this 2 page story for Ramaa Mosley, an up and coming LA filmmaker. Together with other stories from some great creators it is meant to give a glimpse of the history of the Brass Teapot, a mysterious historical object and also the center of the movie Ramaa is working on. So keep a look out for the Brass Teapot and please visit brassteapot.com, thebrassteapot.com and ramaamosley.com for more info.

/n

joan of arc

2010-12-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

Real slow with the updates, sorry about that.
Just a quick one today. Working with filmmaker Ramaa Mosley on a secret project. Here's a sneak peek.

n

Coloring's a tricky business.

2010-11-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

Working on the color of the first 16 pages of The City of Ember. I've had to learn coloring all over again for this project. I've done a lot of full color illustrations but only a few pages of colored comics before this and it's a lot to keep track on coloring a 150 page book. Plus I have to keep a pace of two pages a day minimum.
But it's a great feeling when you get into it. The pages come out better and faster. Learning can be real fun.

/n

Liljevalchs group show

2010-11-16T23:58:00.000-08:00

I'll be perticipating in the big spring group show at Liljevalchs in january. My paintings Boys and Gulliver Resting will be on display there from january 28 to march 27.

/n

coloring comics like crazy

2010-11-12T06:29:00.001-08:00

Phone blogging

2010-11-10T02:07:00.001-08:00

in an attempt to increase my blogging I'm trying out blogging with my phone for the first time.

this is what's on my drawing table at the moment. Detail of cover sketch for the City Of Ember graphic novel.

/n

Danish interview

2010-11-09T02:08:00.000-08:00

Hey there!

I'm real sorry I've been away for so long. Time just seem to slip out of my hands easily. Working on The City of Ember with my American colleagues. I'll give you guys a treat. A colored (maybe finished) page from the first chapter.

Also, Med nye øjne, the Danish version of Second Thoughts are due to hit the stores any day now. The Danish comics site Nummer 9 made an interview with me here:
http://nummer9.dk/artikler/1904/

/n

2010-09-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the Gothenburg Book Fair where Optimal Press released Sätt Att Se, the Swedish version of Second Thoughts. I dived right into work with the Ember book when I got back. I'll give you a better update on what's going on next week.

The paintings

2010-09-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

The show was a riot. Lots of people, old and new. Thank you everyone who came!
I'm posting all of the paintings here. They and much more can be viewed on my new site! Check it out:

www.niklasasker.com

I just realized it's not up yet but will be in an hour or so.
I also had some prints and drawings. I'll try to post them soon as well.

Enjoy

/n

The finish line

2010-09-08T13:54:00.001-07:00

At last the last painting is all done and now I'm just framing some sketches.

If you're in Stockholm this Friday please stop by Carina Björck gallery in Gamla Stan and say hello.

Alright, one last sneak peak.

Detail from the last finished painting

Doing some last minute changes and painting the edges of the canvases white.

Not everyone made it...

Alright, that's it. I'll post the whole shebang after the opening.

See you friday! Over and out.

/n

mother and daughter

2010-09-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

portraits

2010-08-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

The show is less than two weeks away now. I don't want to spoil the fun too much by showing more finished pieces so here's some process pics for your viewing pleasure.

Hope to see you next week!

/n

2010-08-25T02:26:00.000-07:00

This is where I paint, a collective studio at Norbergsgatan in one of the old industrial parts of Malmö. Really nice place and recently I've had the place to myself a lot (I guess everyone isn't working at 2 in the morning).

A new, smaller piece in an early stage.

This is actually my first go at oils. It takes some getting used to but I love it. And it keeps me from working all the way into the opening day as I did with my last exhibition. I'm using water mixable Artisan oil color from Winsor & Newton. Not the best out there but it does the job and dryes faster than normal oil, which I'm thankful for.

So, little over two weeks to go. I'll keep posting updates here and I hope to see you at the show.

/n

2010-08-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sneak peak

2010-08-21T07:43:00.001-07:00

Some snapshots from the studio.

/n

Sätt Att Se

2010-08-18T02:02:00.000-07:00

Sätt Att Se, the Swedish version of Second Thoughts, arrived in the mail yesterday! New colors and logo for the cover, hardcover and beautiful printing. Love it. Thank you Ingemar and the others at Optimal! And Johan for making the beautiful font from my hand lettering.

Please forgive the crappy iPhone pics. I promise to get a new camera soon...

Best blurb ever from Patrik Svensson (Sydsvenskan). Click images for larger version.

And the Second Thoughts family so far. Now we're just waiting for the Italian version and the family will be complete (although I wouldn't say no to a French cousin showing up late...)

From now on there will be a lot of blogging about my solo show at Carina Björck Gallery, opening September 10. So check back soon.

/n

2010-08-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Started a new painting today. The show in Stockholm is drawing close and I'm only panicking a little.

More of everything soon.

/n

Italian cover

2010-07-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

I just sent this illustration to my publisher Elliot Edizione for the Italian cover of Second Thoughts, or Il giorno in cui non ci siamo incontrati, which is the Italian title.

Looking forward to seeing the finished design.

/n

Started a new painting yesterday...

2010-07-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

...but I ran out of cerulean blue so had to stop. Back on the horse today.

Studio time

2010-07-20T02:11:00.000-07:00

Off to the painting studio for a week to start preparing for my September exhibition at Carina Björck Gallery in Stockholm. I'll be sure to post some process pics here.

/n

Ember rough sketches

2010-07-18T02:22:00.001-07:00

So this is what the book looks like in it's first stage. I'll sit down and read the script, which is written pretty much as a movie script, and then I'll brake down the story into pages and panels. This way we'll know how many pages the book will need and it helps me immensely when drawing the fine sketches, which is the next step. I'll start with those in a couple of weeks and I'll be sure to post some here.

/n

Translation in progress.

2010-06-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

Just received a font I ordered from Johan Cedmar Brandstedt based on my hand lettering. Since I wrote the book in English I'm now translating it into Swedish. It's weird to finally read it in my first language.

The rest of the time I'm working hard on the rough sketches for The City Of Ember. I'm up to about 100 pages now and I'll be sure to post some here this week.

/n

Twittering for P3 Kultur

2010-06-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

I was asked to send a twitter about anything I wanted to P3 Kultur while I was in Holland.

twitter.com/p3kultur

/n

Haarlem + Amsterdam

2010-06-13T03:21:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the late update. I've been in bed sick since I got back.
So here's a small report of the trip:

Flew to Amsterdam where I got on a bus and went straight to Haarlem, only about 40 minutes away. Met up with Mat, Peter and Bert from Sherpa and the other invited artists; Frederik Peeters, Mezzo and Pirus. Went for some food at a nice little restaurant.

Haarlem is breathtakingly beautiful. 16-17th century (more or less) preserved buildings, giant church smack in the middle of the big cobble stone market square, canals, the works...

and the weather didn't fail us either. The comics market was going on all over town.

At night there were lots of small and big bars and coffee shops to choose from if you wanted a drink. You can make out the STRIPDAGEN sign in the distance here, on top of the Philharmonie building, where a lot of the festival was taking place.

Haarlem train station.

Once in Amsterdam I went straight to my hotel and slept for 10 hours. Then, after a great breakfast I realised my hotel was just next to the zoo. So...

My hotel.

Rembrants pigments.

Canals, coffee, bikerides, writing in my sketchbook, inspiration, disgust, fascination. Thanks Amsterdam.

And then it was time to go home.

/n

Off to Haarlem

2010-06-04T02:16:00.000-07:00

I'm on the train to Copenhagen and then it's on to Amsterdam by plane, then a short bus trip to Haarlem from there. I've been invited by my Dutch publisher to promote the release of Bijgedachten, the Dutch version of Second Thoughts. I've heard a lot about this festival through the years but never had the opportunity to go there myself so I'm certainly looking forward to this trip. And to spending a couple of days in Amsterdam after the festival. I'll be back Wednesday with a juicy update.

/n

Rostrum live painting

2010-06-02T03:51:00.000-07:00

Here's how it went down.

Painted and sold in three hours. Thank you Camilla, Pete, Stephanie, Karolina and Ola for a great evening! Good work!

/n

Live painting!

2010-05-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Me (or it could be someone else, who spells their name with a c...) and some other art geeks will be making some art live at Rostrum gallery on tuesday. Please stop by. See y'all there!

/n

Color!

2010-05-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

Crazy days. Doing a roughly sketched out print size version of the whole Ember book (about 130 pages) right now. I'll show you some samples soon as I can. Until then, here's the color versions of the main characters.

/n

another watercolor in the park

2010-05-19T02:59:00.000-07:00

I know I should get a watercolor moleskin but I kind of like how the paper gets all rumpled.

sketchbook april 2010

2010-05-18T06:34:00.001-07:00

Here are some doodles from my trip to New York/Boston. It's all done with a Pentel Pocket Brush. Love that pen. I like how the papers are so thin you can see through to the next page. Makes some nice random shapes. The last image is from a sunny day in Malmö. A first stumbling attempt on watercolor. Got on of those pocket size watercolor kits. I love it! More of that to come.

/n

US agent

2010-05-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

While I was signing books at the MoCCA fair in New York a man who introduced himself as Richard approached me. He said he was looking for interesting Scandinavian artists to represent in the US and internationally. I was so busy and didn't think much about it until I got an e-mail from him about two weeks ago. And after some phone calls and skype talks we have decided to start working together. The man is Richard Solomon and you should check out his sites at:

www.richardsolomon.com
www.artonagrandscale.com

Also visit the blog (now featuring a story of how we met) at:

confab.richardsolomon.com

I've thought about getting a US agent for a while so this was perfect timing and it'll be very interesting to see what the future holds.

Check back soon for some sketchbook goodies. Until then...

/n

2010-05-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

Sätt Att Se, the Swedish version of Second Thoughts, is being released by Optimal Press this autumn, just in time for the Gothenburg Book Fair.

Bijgedachten, the Duch version, will be released by Sherpa at the Haarlem comics festival in june. I will be there to sign books.

The Italian version (title not set) is being released by Elliot Edizioni this autumn.

all my graf writers

2010-05-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

Went out yesterday with my friends...

Michel...

and Camilla to paint the town. It was our first time on the streets and I'm pretty happy with the result considering none of us has used spray paint much. We enjoyed the hell out of it and we'll be back out there real soon!

In other news I got a new studio space out at Singsang Studios! I'll still have my spot at the Mazetti house for my comics and illustration work though. This baby is all about the painting!

another day at the office

2010-05-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

Ember character sketches

2010-04-30T05:05:00.001-07:00

Before starting the work on The City of Ember we wanted to make sure we had the main characters right so I did something I've never done before, i.e. character studies. I've tried doing this before and always hated it. This time however I really enjoyed it. It felt like I was getting to know the characters before our journey begun.

More sketches to come.

/n

Second Thoughts won Silver at KOLLA

2010-04-28T02:22:00.000-07:00

My graphic novel Second Thoughts just won silver at the Swedish KOLLA illustrations award.
Judges motivation (translated):

A cinematic, beautiful, quiet book. An update of a familiar genre. A graphic novel in the truest sense.

Thank you to the KOLLA jury! You made my day.

/n

Tiger style!

2010-04-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

Just put the finishing touches on this bad boy (or girl?) for a conference in Shanghai. It's the year of the tiger after all.

New York part 2

2010-04-26T03:42:00.001-07:00

I'm back from the promised land. Miss New York already but very happy to be back with loved ones and back at work in the studio. At last I can start working on The City of Ember. I'll post some sketches here in the next few days!

Here's some NYC pics. Enjoy.

/n

Late night subway

Cherry blossoms

Cousin

Blossom cloud

Buck Hunter

Matrix

Metropololitan Museum of Art

John Singer Sargent

Shepard Fairey

Drinks at Surf Bar

Fairey piece done

Russian dolls and Empire state building

Subway art

Panther

Street art

6th avenue

Doves

Leaving. I'll see you soon NYC.

New York + KOLLA nomination

2010-04-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

I'm back in New York. This weekend was MoCCA weekend. I was signing books at the Top Shelf table all day next to Kolbeinn Karlsson, Mats Jonsson and Simon Gärdenfors, all three with new books hot of the presses.

In other news Second Thoughts has been nominated best Swedish graphic novel and is up for a KOLLA award, a Swedish illustrators award. Awesome.

Here's some pics from New York. More to come. Enjoy.

/n

Berlin

2010-04-06T07:51:00.001-07:00

Easter in Berlin was great. Home today to do some laundry. Tomorrow it's off to New York. Meeting with Random House and also I'll be at the Top Shelf table at the MoCCA festival. Hope to see you there!

/n

Secret Wars

2010-03-28T11:06:00.001-07:00

Secret Wars, cozy as always.

Camilla Eklund ruled the show.

The Bristol team. Good, but not good enough. Sweden won!

almost ready...

2010-03-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

Put a couple of hours into this thing tonight. Soon it's off to secret wars to see some live painting!

/n

Tiger style!

2010-03-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

tuesday night in the studio

2010-03-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

I'll show you some finished sketches as soon as they're approved.
Goodnight!

/n

character sketches

2010-03-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

I always hated to do this. Drawing people just standing straight from different angles without background or context always felt weird. But this time it's actually pretty fun. It's like I'm getting to know the characters I'll be spending a year of my life with.

It's that time of the year...

2010-03-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

After hours and hours of paperwork I'm finally back at the drawing table and ready to get started on the City of Ember book. Hope to have some sketches for you guys soon.

/n

Started a new painting today

2010-03-07T08:36:00.001-08:00

This one is commissioned. Big and very strange format. Fun times!

/n

Sunday night in the studio

2010-02-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

Big kitty

2010-02-26T05:53:00.001-08:00

Never drew tigers before. Or cats... it's really hard!

Progress

2010-02-24T10:29:00.001-08:00

Had time to put an hour or so into the portrait today. Can't wait for the weekend when I have more time.

/n

Morning sun...

2010-02-24T01:42:00.000-08:00

Guess what my next illustration job is about...

/n

Making progress...

2010-02-21T12:46:00.001-08:00

afternoon

2010-02-18T06:35:00.001-08:00

process pics...

2010-02-18T03:31:00.001-08:00

Time for lunch...

Started a new painting today...

2010-02-17T08:04:00.001-08:00

All blue right now. Just working out the light... more to come.

keeping busy...

2010-02-14T04:14:00.000-08:00

and I have nothing to show right now so I'll give you this inspirational tip instead:

http://www.petercallesen.com

This guy does the most amazing things with paper...

/n

Pages in progress

2010-02-05T08:16:00.001-08:00