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I spent all week drawing the first page of Catanova. It took a week because I felt intimidated by the project. This will be the graphic novel that puts me in the game again so it has to "pop" and stand out. Also, the publisher iswilling to make a big deal of itproduction wise as well.
But when I finally found the layout and references I pencilled and inked it in one day! Must be a good omen!

(and yes, I know the perspective of the Doge's Palace is off, but I've corrected it in the final version :)

Plus, in Dutch only so no spoilers so far, my International friends!

How I miss thee!
Isn't there any publisher out there who'd give us some money to refurbish this series into a digest sized graphic novel? I'm not that expensive!

Yeah, I admit it: I have a crush on Venice and own pretty much most of the photobooks that exists on this beautiful city.
So, here's a page from the graphic novel-in-progress Christian Beranek and I are doing

Catanova is, as the name already suggests, based on the legendary Venetian adventurer, who in this case metamorphosed into a cat. A cat that has, like his historical predecessor, more than just one life. Being the ultimate seducer, everybody sees in him what he of she wishes to see, a mirror of hidden longings, desires and passions. Catanova is everybody, so nobody at the same time, a cat without qualities, everycat. A born survivor, and always in heat.
Also the characters that surround him, combine an animal exterior with a behaviour which is human, all too human. In that way, Catanova fits into the tradition of the allegorical animal comic, like Fritz the Cat and Maus, but also in the historical and literary folk tradition in which the main character defies authority and despotism (the trickster Reynard the Fox, originally from the Low Countries) and/or schemes to make the life of his fellow animals miserable (Anansi the Spider).
The adventures of Catanova are loosely based on the lifestory of Casanova, with the inevitable differences and liberties. The accent will be less on his libertinous escapades than on his opportunism, fraudulous practices and, first and foremost, his endeavours as an alchemist - which is historically true. The background for his adventures is 18th century Venice, the depiction of which will be rougly historical, so not in every detail. A part mythical, part historical city, where fact and legend are inextricably linked and can no longer be seperated from each other.


This short story, titled "The sickness of Venice" serves as a primer into the world of Catanova.
A sort of prequel you could say where all the graphic elements and storytelling are shown off.

Gruesome, isn't it? I did this short story a while ago for Michael Furno and his ilk for his graphic novel Minions of Ka, published by Arcana.

In the Lowlands of course.
Yeah, sorry about the lack of updates but I've been working in between illnesses on some soopersecret stuff that I don't want to jinx by mentioning it.
BUT!
I can say -and show- that I've been working with the wonderfully talented Elizabeth Genco on a short story for an upcoming anthology -which I'm also not jinxing by mentioning it by name.

So as a treat, I'm showing you the three phases hof the second page I've done. Pencils first (duh), partial inks (I think I might have a chaotic mind) and finished art (duotone in photoshop, letters in Illustrator)