2.11 am

2.11 am, the guys (sorry no girls) just had a smoke break on the balcony.

First pages of Karabo

Karabo page 1

Karabo page 2

1.38 am

It’s 1h38 now, people still drawing, some yawning, some hiding in a dark places, some full out on the couch. Some on their 12th page, some on their 4th page. And I’m left with the keys to the bar, time for a round on the house I say.

Check the first pages of Ryan, Adriano, Darren and Atang…

Ryan page 1

 

Ryan page 2

Adriano page 1

 

Adriano page 2

 

Darren page 1

Darren page 2

 

Atang page 1

 

Atang page 2

 

 

Three, Two, One… Draw!!

So we started a little late. We being the organisers The artists we’re all nice on time and amped to get going! No long speeches, just a few house and drawing rules. Three, two, one and DRAW!! In less than 2 minutes they found a place, got their stuff out and started drawing.

Here’s some pics of our artists busy drawing. So dedicated!

Atang

Adriano

Khanyiso, Sabatha, Jeremy and Craig

 

Ryan

 

24HCD live right here!

If you can’t make it to the 24HCD in Cape Town, we’ll be posting sketches and pics of the 24HCD right here!

So watch this space from Saturday 2pm until Sunday eve!

Stay with us for 24 hours and admire the work!

And yes, you can comment and we might even let you vote for the winner

24 HOUR COMICS DAY! THIS SATURDAY!

For registration and info email lieve.vanleeuw@gmail.com!

Co/MIX 2011 ‘An outstanding Highlight’

“The Co/Mix Pavillion was one of the outstanding highlights of this year’s Festival. It helped us significantly to attract a younger and more diverse audience to the Monument.” Ismail Mahomed, NAF Festival Director
After eight months of preparation and five days and nights of non-stop hanging and hammering away at the first ever comic art exhibition at the National Arts Festival, Co/Mix opened its doors on Thursday 30 June 2011. Curated and coordinated by Pete Woodbridge, Elaine Woodbridge, Lieve Vanleeuw and Andy Mason, Co/Mix consisted of an exhibition of 23 South African and 6 international comic artists, 16 workshops, 3 seminars, a gallery-shop, a graffiti mural and a Toon-a-day in the daily Cue Newspaper.

The exhibition represented a mix of established comic artists like Zapiro, Anton Kannemeyer and Rico who have developed a strong critical voice over the last few decades, and young guns like the Trantraal Brothers and Su Opperman who are fast and furiously becoming the new generation of razor sharp critique. However, the exhibition not only represented these critical voices but also a growing contingent of comic artists who are resolutely moving towards exploring different aspects of graphic narrative. Masha du Toit, Willem Samuel, Mogorosi Motshumi, Jeff Rankin and Andrew Mogridge each explored “a narrative” through a different medium: an autobiography, a short story, an installation with visuals and sound, a mini-cosmos in a glass jar. Elaine Woodbridge and Joanne Bloch delved into the dark corners of conceptual art and delivered mind-boggling works. And others added the joy of entertainment and provided a sparkle that made visitors leave with a chuckle and a chirp. Pete Woo’s fury monster was definitely the most photographed and sought after celebrity of the entire show.

JP Kalonji of  Geneva received many requests to sell his watercolour works. Unfortunately, he is saving them for the launch of his upcoming graphic novel African Suite (watch this space for more info). Erik Kriek, from Amsterdam, joined Kalonji to facilitate the hugely popular Toonlab and Masterclass aka the infamous Cartoon Boot Camp. Ephameron produced 6 small water colours during her stay in Grahamstown. Also very busy was Maia Matches from Amsterdam whose Crap* workshops where zines are made from scratch to last an eternity in the underground sewers of comic art were enthusiastically attended. The throne – literally and figuratively in the middle of the exhibition – was Joelle Flumet’s Broken Bed, understood by few, enjoyed by many.  And last but not least, the esteemed French BD maestro Jacques Loustal exhibited work from his previous travels. He was here on a South African sojourn during which he began a series of works  that will be published in South Africa next year as part of the French Embassy’s 2012 French Season.

The combination of a mixed media exhibition with practical workshops, a gallery-shop with small reproductions and commercial art, graffiti art on a wall in town – and a hardworking yet entertaining crew – was the success formula that made Co/Mix 2011 “one of the outstanding highlights of this year’s National Arts Festival”.

The CCIBA, Words & Images and Woomen wish to thank our participating artists, the workshop participants, the NAF crew and especially Adriano Giovanelli , Pro Helvetia, The Flemish Community, The Flemish Fund for Literature, IFAS, the Dutch Fund for Visual Art, Design and architecture and everyone else for their enthusiasm and contribution to the success of Co/Mix 2011.

For more pics check the CCIBA website or CCIBA Facebook page

 

Comic warriors break their robotic ways

A cool article by Tracey Turner

check out the Link

http://cue.ru.ac.za/visual-arts/2011/comic-warriors-break-their-robotic-ways.html#disqus_thread

Grahamstown diary

How’s it, all?
Here’s a selection from the sketch diary I kept during the Grahamstown National Arts Festival 2011 – in a next post I’ll show you the watercolours I made  for the CO/MIX exhibition during my residency. Aweh.

Also, thank you so much to everyone I met in Grahamstown for all the good times! It’s been a great experience and I’m so stoked to have been a part of it… Lieve, Andy, Pete, Elaine, Joëlle, Maia, Daniel, Atang, Mogorosi, Stephanie, Wayne, Gert Jan, Erik, JP, Joseph, Mookie, Jonathan, Luca, Dane, Dieter, Rachel, Benjamin, Byron, Gugu, Thabo, Tine, Hayley, Nick,… Lovely hanging out with all of you. And an extra thanks to the Flemish Fund for Literature and the Belgian Embassy in South Africa for supporting my travels, and to the CO/MIX team for believing in us, shot!

 

Painting the town

Blank Toy Workshops

Come to one of our Blank Toy Workshops and create your very own plush character from a blank. The workshops are run by Pete and Elaine Woodbridge of Woo-men Plush Toys. These two designers just love to create new characters and experiment with materials and they will help you to get the creative juices flowing. You’ll be able to choose a stuffed toy from various shapes and colours and then set about customizing it. As you go you’ll be wondering just who or what is coming to life in your hands. By the end your character will have a name, and a whole set of characteristics (including some bad habits) that will be completely unique, all thanks to you – the maker!

From some of our previous workshops:

Here we have Miss Muffy with Yellow Bollock Boy (some markers, bits of old fabric, fur scraps, crayons and an old kitchen glove plus lots of artistic flair helped to create this fine pair):

 

‘Free of Duties‘ was created entirely out of those free things they give you on airplanes (well, except for the eyes) such as socks and a swizzle stick, as well as meal tray stickers.

From one of our previous workshops with young adults:

Rosela the Princess who loves Roast Chicken and lives in the centre of a galaxy. She’s one of my favourites because she is so messed up.

And here we have Sophie who, although she lives in a castle, loves to eat snails and raw fish like a real wild woman.

At our Blank Toy workshops you will be able to use paint, markers, fur, glue and a whole range of haberdashery goody-gaffs and knickknacks all provided by us. Implements such as needles and scissors will be available and you’ll be free to customise your toy as gently or as madly as you like. It will be the most absorbing three hours you ever spent at the Festival and you will be able to take your toy home afterwards. Our workshops are for all ages, men and ladies alike.