BEVRIJD, the comic book

This year we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the liberation and the end of World War II. Zooming in on our region there are some interesting stories to tell, which sometimes shed a different light on the big picture of war and peace. The comic book BEVRIJD by my fiends Mirtenbaum, Vonk, Jeurissen, Gouders and me, contains several short documentaries and had just been released when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. So no autograph sessions or lectures, but nevertheless we hit the charts: the TOP 13 of the comic webshop Strip Aap.

Van de kaart door Corona

In deze tijden van crisis wordt het weer duidelijk hoe belangrijk goede informatie is. Eigenlijk zouden we dit voorjaar stilstaan bij het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog, dit jaar 75 jaar geleden.* Vanaf de landing van de geallieerden op de stranden van Normandië werden de krijgshandelingen en de vorderingen van de bevrijdingslegers aan menige keukentafel bijgehouden en in schoolatlassen ingetekend. Net zoals we nu elke dag het voortschrijden van het coronavirus op kaartjes van het RIVM kunnen volgen. Zo proberen we grip te krijgen op de situatie.

We zien precies in welke gemeente de nood het roodst is en de hotspots in Noord Brabant en Limburg. Maar het is onbegrijpelijk dat op die kaartjes buiten de landsgrenzen de wereld op houdt. Alsof het virus daar niet bestaat en er geen verband zou zijn met de bestemmingen aan de andere kant van de grens. In het grootste deel van Limburg ben je overal niet verder dan 10 kilometer van een landsgrens verwijderd. En waar Limburg op z’n smalst is kan een Belg die hard hoest een Duitser 8 kilometer verder in de Selfkant aansteken. Juist nu zou er veel meer internationaal moeten worden samengewerkt en over de grenzen heen gekeken moeten worden. Of moeten we misschien weer monsters en demonen tekenen aan de randen van onze landkaart?

*Onze stripboeken Grenzenloos en Bovengronds kregen een vervolg: Bevrijd. We hadden heel wat signeersessies en lezingen gepland, nu hopen we maar dat het boek online goed verkoopt...
http://grenzenloosboek.nl/

WHITE OUT

Did you ever experience a white out? In the mountains it can be dangerous. As an artist it is killing.

Luckely together with Berend Vonk and Gady Mirtenbaum we are the Tekenkingz for whom white sheets of paper don't exist. Explainer on Monday 20th of May at 12.00 a.m. on youtube:
https://youtu.be/vrqLyE7RVHw

Those were the days...

Today I finished the final illustration for a childrensbook situated in the days of the coal mining industry around here. The book is written by Pieter Jan Rijken and will soon be published by Leon van Dorp Uitgeverij.

A year on, another comic book

Last summer we were working on the Comicbook Grenzenloos, which turned out to be a success. So this year we are doing a follow up with a comicbook about 'Heerlen after the closing of the coalmines...'.

With artists like Gady Mirtenbaum, Berend Vonk (both Tekenkingz), Jean Gouders and Marco Jeurissen it is bound to be good again.

Deadline

Today is the deadline for the comic book 'Grenzenloos' about (the borders of) the Province of Limburg. Together with the Tekenkingz and Marco Jeurissen and Jean Gouders we will be issuing this book in November of this year, 150 years after Limburg became part of the Netherlands as a province like the others.

The 'Dodendraad' ('dead line') is also on of the topics in my second comic in 'Grenzenloos'.
This electric wire of 2000 Volt was installed along the Belgium / Dutch border by the Germans to prevent the Belgiums to flee their occupied country. Many people were killed in trying to escape.
Nothing much has changed since for people fleeing a war...

House with tratched roof

Every day I pass this house with tratched roof. As a matter of fact I happen to know the owner who is looking for a piece of art by me. This might please him. But I'm wondering... I think the drawing needs a little more shading in the background. Dilemma...

Co working concept

A visualization of a concept for a co working art space in the city of Maastricht. Working space, meeting point, exhibition place and short stay accommodation for cultural institutions and individual artists, both professionals as amateurs.

1867

The Treaty of London (Mai 11th 1867)

A nice game of Risk along the royal family members of Europe.

OÙ?

@jos: do you know where and when this is? 

Grenzenloos

New project coming up: together with my friends and colleagues with whom I followed the course 'Visual Reporter' we are preparing a comic book about the frontiers of Limburg province. This book will be telling the stories of the ever changing borders of this most southern Dutch province, which is incorporated in personal union with the Kingdom of the Netherlands only since 1867 (Treaty of London). Mind you: 150 years ago!

Participating in this project: Gady Mirtenbaum, Berend Vonk, Jean Gouders, Marco Jeurissen and me. We hope to publish Grenzenloos at the end of this anniversary year.

Frontpage

Now available: BOLHAO at May 15th in the 'Grote Nederlandse Kunstkalender 2017.
I even made it to the coverpage! (Picture bottom row on the right)

You can order your copy here >

And here a short animation of the making of.

At the occasion of the conclusion of a project

This week Hans van Wageningen, who was in charge of a social project on energy saving, offered alderman Jordy Clemens this comic. It marked the end of the project. Every member of the Energy Team also got one of pictures of this comic. Hereby I present the sketch and final work.

Tekenkingz movie

The Tekenkingz celebrate their first jubilee in 2017. And as of now these illustrious band of cartoonists will conquer youtube!

Watch : Tekenkingz horrormovie

And step 3

Sometimes I think yellow green is my favorite color...

Step2

Birds eye

Sketch 1 (to be continued)

What if...?

The manifestation IBA Parkstad is a laboratory and stimulus for innovative and future-proof projects in the region. How to visualize out of the box solutions for abandoned industrial heritage?

Borderline

For a visual reporter this region offers an abundance in intriguing stories. The history of the Nieuwstraat, one of the first stoneroads in these parts, which eventually became the borderline between Germany and the Netherlands, is an example of such a fascinating narrative.

Update

I have updated my contact information and CV on my website: www.tejohaas.com
And adjusted the design a little...