This is how we roll.

Once a group of polish graphic novel artists get together, they tend to get a bit drunk. And then they like to draw comics together. One way to do it is a comic battle on an easel in front of a cheering audience (well, more screaming from the top of their lungs then cheering). On this photo easels pictured, afterwards, partly destroyed because there was no way to make a decent photo during the event – too crowdy:

On the next picture you can see Bartosz Sztybor, well known polish story writer, the only person to win two awards at the International Comic Festival in Lodz in one year (that record was set last year, as he won in two different categories with different short graphic novels) as he attempts to draw something, because the word spread the he’s not only great story teller but graphic designer as well. See for yourself:

I’m not too convinced. You can’t be THAT good at everything, mate.

So as far as the battle is concerned, there could be only one winner:

That’s Jaszczu, and yeah, you can see that killer instinct in his eyes, which is neccesary to slay all other contestants. Just look at this happy care bear:

that’s Krl, the runner up. He did not stand any chance whatsoever against that killing machine above. You might ask yourself how did I do in that battle? Well I was wise enough not to take part in it. This way I’m covered in full extent. Once the battle was over and dust settled, we thought it would be a good idea to draw each other. So:

That’s me drawn twice by this dude:

and this is him:

drawn by me. The resemblance is in deed striking, you must admit:

And once again me:

drawn by no other than forementioned Bartosz Sztybor:

So maybe he DOES have a good drawing hand. Because I look exactly like that. EXACTLY.

The third and final way to release your drawing force fueled by some alcohol is to take part in a freestyle jam, which is a comic story made up in real time by different artists, based on what-did-the-person-before-you-do rule. Basically lots of profanity ensued. But there were some hilarious moments of utter genius in that work. Something worth a good laugh. Unfortunately I don’t have that comic, it went home with the sketchbook owner as I imagine. But here are the geniuses hard at work:

And there – three ways to run a nerd party at a comicon. I can’t really say anything more about the comicon itself, because I didn’t participate in any way, but I heard it was good.

or is it?…

Today a rewolucje sketch with a little twist. I was sitting at my computer trying to improve diversity of the rewolucje characters, and came up with this drawing. As for a graphic novel series created fully in watercolours such a digital sketch can be a small oddity worth showing. So here it is.

sketches for “Rewolucje6: Na morzu” comic album:

Viva la Vida (2004)

Watercolour paintings I created back in fall of 2004 for the spectacle of the Occasional Theatre from Sopot entitled Viva la Vida, based on the life and works of Frida Kahlo. I made 5 drawings which took part in the stage set up.

more info about Viva la Vida spectacle:

• Idea and direction: Joanna Czajkowska, Jacek Krawczyk
• Choreography and dancers: Joanna Czajkowska; Iwona Strupiechowska; Jacek Krawczyk;
• Scenery and costumes: Teatr Okazjonalny
• Contemporary work out of Frida Kahlo paintings: Mateusz Skutnik
• Music direction: Andrzej Pawłowski
• Lights direction: Bartosz Cybowski
• Premiere: 4 December 2004, 19.00 Sopocka Scena Off the Bicz;

„Viva la vida” – the title of last painting of Frida Kahlo. Performance is an inspiration from her artistic work, it is not the story about Kahlo life, but the attempt at finding universal truth in her extremely personl art. Originally it is a contemporary dialogue with Frida’s atistic work, hence the idea for inviting Mateusz Skutnik to spectacle – the graphic and cartoon artist from Gdańsk. Scenery and choreography relate to these trains performed in art of Mexican painter, which in our opinion, often tell about bad fortune of human being in really forcible way, about his suffering and attempts to survive, about complicated relationships, and first and foremost about this, and in spite of this, and maybe because of this we still want to live, create and love. So…Long live the life!

review:

The artistic work of Frida Kahlo might be liked or not, but it is impossible to have your eyes revited to her visionary , colourful paintings. The dancers of the Occasion Dance Theatre created the spectacle matching to its beauty and power effect. […] They managed to avoid a trap of illustration of biographical trains and copy of her paintings. Emotions lying in Frida’s paintings they transferred to body language of gestures. They look at her artistic work through their own experiences and sensitivity. […]. It was a great idea the artistic draw up of paintings was entrusted to Mateusz Skutnik. In watercolours he came off the literal meaning and colouring. […] On his pictures we cannot see the characteristic face of artist. There is a girl with dark hair, with slightly marked facial features. Each of us can see what she/he wants, that what is painful and pinch in her/his own corset. And the dancers in five consistent and well-though-out choreographies expressed the sadness, fight with pain and constant appetite for life.

Mirella Wąsiewicz, Gazeta Wyborcza Tri – city, Monday 6.12.04

photos: