The Curator: a graphic novel
The Curator is an adventure/mystery for young adults, written and illustrated by me. It began as a two-page application to an animation course at RMIT but evolved into a longer story and after a $20k Creative Victoria grant, was developed as a graphic novel. It will be published by Perentie Press next year.
Synopsis
Artists are going missing.
Mimi, a struggling art student, isn’t concerned. “I'm not a real artist yet!” she informs her best friend Nahal. They both work behind the information desk at the National Gallery of Victoria. But despite Mimi’s nonchalance, strange events ensue. The Curator of a Master Portraits exhibition shows an intense interest in Mimi. The exhibition itself has a curious effect on her, a cat appears in the Gallery at odd times, and an unexplained flood has Mimi questioning her sanity.
The National Gallery of Victoria
This story is set at the NGV, one of my favourite spaces in Melbourne. I'm particularly fond of the arch and water wall and I've taken heaps of photos for reference. Here are a few.
The process
It started with a script and some scribbles. Then I created a rough layout of the whole story, dividing the pages into panels. Each panel on a page is a different illustration.
The images below show progress from the first rough sketch to final image. As I'm building up the sketch I play with the typography to make sure all the dialogue flows and fits. The last stage is colouring and setting the type.
I made a font.
I couldn't find the font that matched my illustration style, so I made one.
It's called 'Gosh bubble' and I'm happy to share it. Contact me if you'd like a copy.
It's called 'Gosh bubble' and I'm happy to share it. Contact me if you'd like a copy.
This graphic novel is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
