Thijs creates images through movement
Thijs Mooij studies Comic Design at ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Zwolle. Yet he does not see himself solely as a comic artist. Painting, drawing and experimenting with images are essential parts of his creative process. These different disciplines help him create stories that go beyond the graphic narrative.
Move first, think later
Many artists start with an idea. Thijs starts by making. He prefers working on a large scale, with painting playing an important role in his process.
'I start differently from most visual artists. By moving and painting, something emerges that I can respond to. That’s when the ball starts rolling.'
By not planning everything in advance, he creates space for unexpected developments. The image itself guides him towards new forms, scenes and stories.
'I’m not a visual thinker, so I have to start from movement.'
More than Comic Design
For Thijs, the process does not stop with comics. 'I see myself as a visual artist. That’s why disciplines outside Comic Design are important to my work.'
Painting, drawing and other forms of visual research feed into the comics he creates. His personal experiences also play a role. 'You can’t avoid that as an artist. In the end, it’s all made by the same person.'
The combination of image-making, experimentation and personal experience gives Thijs’s work its distinctive character.
Want to see for yourself whether Thijs is BLOEDSERIEUS? His graduation work will be on display in Zwolle during ArtEZ finals, from 3 to 6 July.
'A comic is like a painting: you can stand in front of it and feel yourself entering that world for a moment.'
