Corné van Esterik: “Comics make big topics very small and discussable”
Even though he never really read comics as a child or did a lot of drawing, one thing was clear to Corné: he wanted to study at an art academy. “I knew pretty quickly that it had to be ArtEZ Zwolle,” he says. “The atmosphere, the teaching method; I can’t really put my finger on it, but the academy just appealed to me.” A Study Try Out cemented that feeling. “It proved to be the right choice, I had a great time here.”
Eager to learn
Is there anything that he has gotten a lot better at after four years of Comic Design? “Asking myself what is really important to me,” Corné explains. “In addition to drawing comics, the course paid equal attention to the personal aspect. You learn to tell stories from your personal perspective and your own place in the world. Quite a tricky process, but very good for your individual development.” Every semester, he learned new things he didn’t know he had in him. “And the nice thing is,” says Corné, “that all the elements from previous years come together in the last year in the form of projects.” He now claims to have a broader view of things and has developed a kind of eagerness to learn that he did not know about himself. “I took an extra year to complete the course, which means I now really feel like I am ready to take steps forward.”
Corné’s final work, depicting two boys sharing a friendship
Textless comics
While the course felt fun and informal in the first year, the students were gradually asked to become more professional. “But that fun element was always allowed to be there,” says Corné. He believes it is an essential part of the creative process. How has he developed artistically in the last few years? “I was already adept at drawing. So ArtEZ was more of a personal development for me, in parallel with the artistic process.” At the moment, he is creating a lot of work about being young and the topics that arise during that phase. Such as friendships that suddenly end after a row. Corné almost always draws his comics without text. “The composition, someone’s expression; I try to convey all the emotions that come up using only images,” he explains. “I often draw first with text added, and then I cross it out later. It’s a nice puzzle.”
Forging your own path
According to Corné, the Comic Design course prepares you well for life after ArtEZ. “Whether you choose an applied course of study or see yourself more as an autonomous artist, in both cases you will be given enough space to develop yourself. Focusing on what you yourself want runs like a thread through the entire course curriculum. I see that as a strong point for ArtEZ.”
With comics you can tell much more in a visual way than just with words, and you can make big subjects very small and more discussable”
What impact can he and his classmates make with their work? Corné: “I think you can have more impact as a group than you can on your own. We are currently working on a number of projects in which we have put a lot of passion and fun. Looking at the callous world we’re living in, I find this kind of counter-energy quite important.” He thinks that comics are very relatable. “You can tell much more with images than just with words, and you can make big subjects very small and more discussable. This has a positive impact on understanding and processing all the information that comes our way these days.”
Work by Corné: Swimming in a lake
Storyboard artist
Corné has numerous ideas he hopes to pursue after graduation: “Within comics, I especially enjoy tackling great projects with friends. And one day I want to publish my own comic book, but that’s for later.” Because you also learn to draw well during the course, Corné also sees a future in animation. “For instance as a storyboard artist,” he explains. “Creating a visual representation of a script. I think that would be awesome. And certainly possible considering everything I learned during the course.”
Learn more about the bachelor Comic Design
