Saturday, January 28, 2017

São Paulo-Angoulême connection

Bá and I were working this Saturday when my phoned made its noise for incoming messages. It was a video from Michele, our dear Italian editor at Bao. In fact, not only from him, but also it was from François, our dear French editor at Urban Comics. This weekend, the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée is happening in Angoulême once more, and apparently both our editors met in this cold Saturday to let us know, in our current hot summer day, that they were plotting our future at that very moment.
They were trying to confuse us. Deceive us with smiles. Their eyes betrayed them, and we knew they were up to know good. Europeans and their secrets and all that.

We replied with another video, and we smiled back, and we waved.

They're coming for us.
We know it.
We'll be ready when they come.
But we can enjoy our summer while we wait.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Masks

My art is this mask I wear.
I painted the cover of a new notebook.
A new project begins.
Something exciting.
Different.

Friday, January 13, 2017

the last page of 2016

My sketchbook holds the last drawings of 2016. Before the end of the year arrived, before the fireworks, before the champagne bursting and the bubbling in everyone's glasses in the merry toast of the new cycle, before the jumping of the waves and throwing flowers to Iemanjá, before the candles lit in a circle in the sand and the wishes each candle held, before all that I doodled in my sketchbook a few lines.

Who would have thought I would write and draw a Wonder Woman story? Not me, not before this year, not even when I was reading all those old Wonder Woman comics that now live in my childhood's memory. And yet, I'm happy that when I was invited, an idea struck me before I could say no, and I said yes, and my homage to Wonder Woman now lives inside an anniversary issue celebrating her 75th birthday.
Another incredible experience was being asked to adapt a Neil Gaiman short story, and that's why I drew Wonder Woman reading our How to Talk to Girls at Parties.

I was happy with this drawing, but I wanted to finish 2016 with a couple more images, so I kept going on the bottom part of the page.

Casanova, our crazy spy comic with writer Matt Fraction, turned 10 in 2016, and survived to keep going until his story is complete. We released three new issues this passing year, filled with guest pinups by our friends, with one variant cover reproducing the line art of the first cover of the first issue from 2006 (we felt like we were doing our own Artist's Edition, if only for the cover), and with more of the amazing back-stories Michael Chabon wrote and Bá drew. Here's to the next 10 years.

And then there's the bunny, my fertility animal, wishing for fertile grounds in the coming year. We'll need to be strong, and be fierce, and be patient. Be true to your heart's desire, and let it lead your path and direct your sword.

It has begun.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Creatures of the end of the year

Sitted by the sand, watching the casual dance of the waves as the sun sets, I sketch to mark the passing of another year, in hopes the coming cycle will bring more of what I love and crave and pursue.


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