One of the best and most influential comic book artists of all time, Jean Giraud was born in Paris France in 1938, and drew under the pen name Moebius, after the German mathematician who created the Moebius strip.
The French artist was famous in America for illustrating series such as the Silver Surfer parables published by Marvel in 1988, but he’s most appreciated for surpassing American boundaries of typical super-hero comic book genre to create stories in a universe of their own. He loved Westerns, and illustrated Blueberry from 1963-2012 (minus a 15 year break for a fight over royalties).
He is also famous for his work in the science fiction series Heavy Metal starting in 1977, and his wordless fantasy stories such as Arzak/Arzach. He used the pseudonym Moebius when drawing science fiction.
“As Moebius, he would tell stories that take our minds to a different place, beginning with something foreign outside of human experience, and then smashing it with something oddly familiar. This causes us as readers to step outside our minds and see ideas and concepts that weren’t there before. This contrast of dejavu (seen before) and jemevue (never seen before) results in a strangely euphoric catharsis.” – Shapes on a Page, by Matt & Bethany Curtis
An image from “Arzach” by Moebius
AJ Power: “He has done a few series that had no words- most notably Arzach (it’s a bit risque and too adult for a younger crowd – he is not shy about M&F nudity), but he also did a book called “40 Days in the Desert”. I tend to mention him because he was so sought after by Hollywood for concept drawings and storyboards. Here is an image from 40 days in the desert… it’s sort of a stream-of-consciousness story.”
Jean Giraud contributed concept art and storyboards for Alien, Tron, Fifth Element, Willow, and …Space Jam (it hurt me to write that last one). He also wrote the story for Little Nemo (1989). Miyazaki, William Gibson, Ridley Scott, Federico Fellini all say Giraud was influential to their work.
An image from “Arzak” by Moebius (France) A page from the manga “Nausicaa” by Hayao Miyazaki (Japan)
Here is Giraud drawing one of his most famous characters “Blueberry” in a video filmed in 2008, 4 years before his death at 73.
Interested in learning more about Moebius? There’s a ton of information about him online, and some great youtube videos.
Interested in learning how to draw from someone who has studied his fantastical illustrations mark by mark? “His drawings taught me a great deal about light/shadow, pen technique, perspective and narrative.” AJ Power’s Illustration class starts next week.
New Deadline for Submissions: January 31, 2021 The first annual Seattle Artist League Portrait Awards are aimed at encouraging artists to focus on and develop the theme of portraiture in their work. The competition is open to everyone aged sixteen and over, in recognition of the outstanding and innovative work in drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media. 1st Prize: …
I’m currently reading the The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells. I wouldn’t wish the book or the subject on anyone, were it not imperative. In Seattle, the temperature typically varies from 37°F to 79°F, and right now we’re setting unpresidented records for heat, day after day, so it’s seeming especially imperative today. “In Seattle, where …
My last post containing a list of frustrations for painters included a picture of Susan Rothenberg. She was painting from her table that was so encrusted with accumulated paint that it resembled the cascade mountains. This post with the picture of Rothenberg bounced back with a note from a League friend. She asked me if …
Are you faltering on your big goals? Did you miss yesterday’s? Don’t worry. It’s normal to skip some days when you’re starting a new habit. You don’t need to go back to finish what you missed. Start where you are with today’s! Today’s SEE & RESPOND Challenge: Finish the sculpture Media is artist’s choice. You …
Moebius
One of the best and most influential comic book artists of all time, Jean Giraud was born in Paris France in 1938, and drew under the pen name Moebius, after the German mathematician who created the Moebius strip.
The French artist was famous in America for illustrating series such as the Silver Surfer parables published by Marvel in 1988, but he’s most appreciated for surpassing American boundaries of typical super-hero comic book genre to create stories in a universe of their own. He loved Westerns, and illustrated Blueberry from 1963-2012 (minus a 15 year break for a fight over royalties).
He is also famous for his work in the science fiction series Heavy Metal starting in 1977, and his wordless fantasy stories such as Arzak/Arzach. He used the pseudonym Moebius when drawing science fiction.
“As Moebius, he would tell stories that take our minds to a different place, beginning with something foreign outside of human experience, and then smashing it with something oddly familiar. This causes us as readers to step outside our minds and see ideas and concepts that weren’t there before. This contrast of dejavu (seen before) and jemevue (never seen before) results in a strangely euphoric catharsis.” – Shapes on a Page, by Matt & Bethany Curtis
AJ Power: “He has done a few series that had no words- most notably Arzach (it’s a bit risque and too adult for a younger crowd – he is not shy about M&F nudity), but he also did a book called “40 Days in the Desert”. I tend to mention him because he was so sought after by Hollywood for concept drawings and storyboards. Here is an image from 40 days in the desert… it’s sort of a stream-of-consciousness story.”
Jean Giraud contributed concept art and storyboards for Alien, Tron, Fifth Element, Willow, and …Space Jam (it hurt me to write that last one). He also wrote the story for Little Nemo (1989). Miyazaki, William Gibson, Ridley Scott, Federico Fellini all say Giraud was influential to their work.
Here is Giraud drawing one of his most famous characters “Blueberry” in a video filmed in 2008, 4 years before his death at 73.
Interested in learning more about Moebius? There’s a ton of information about him online, and some great youtube videos.
Interested in learning how to draw from someone who has studied his fantastical illustrations mark by mark? “His drawings taught me a great deal about light/shadow, pen technique, perspective and narrative.” AJ Power’s Illustration class starts next week.
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