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Dec

9

Coching Cover Restoration

Filed Under Filipino Artists, Philippine Comics | 13 Comments

This Friday, December 11, 2009, “The Life and Art of Francisco Coching”, a full color coffeetable book on Coching will be launched at the National Library. The book is published by the Vibal Foundation, the same foundation that published EL INDIO.

It had been decided that the book will have a wraparound cover based on one of Coching’s illustrations. I actually asked if I could work on the cover, as I was already working on the EL INDIO cover restoration. Vibal sent me the black and white file (below) to work from. At the time, we were as yet unaware that it was the artwork used for the cover of an issue of “Hiwaga Komiks”, depicting a scene from “Ang Limbas at Ang Lawin”. (above) Thanks to Erwin Cruz for providing us with this cover!

The black and white file was probably the best copy that the Coching family have in their possession. Like many of Coching’s originals, the original to this particular artwork was most likely destroyed a long time ago. The copy was far from ideal, as many of the finer lines are graying and fading.

The first thing to do was to strengthen and solidify the black linework. This could be more accurately done after the artwork was boosted to 600dpi. Fading lines were treated to a variety of burning, curving, leveling and contrasting to bring them out. Sometimes, some lines had to be recreated, based on existing lines.

Once the black and line artwork was strengthened, the resolution was brought down to 400dpi, ready for coloring. Since I haven’t seen the original cover (top), I made the decision of which colors to use. After seeing many of Coching’s colored covers, I based my color choices and shading choices on those.

Click for Larger Image
Click for Larger Image

I’ve had to continue coloring an inch or so beyond the original boundaries of the drawing just to give Vibal a certain amount of contingency in laying out the cover.

I’m excited to finally see this cover in print. I wish I could go to the launch and right now I’m really aiming to. But I’m still recovering from the exhausting Comics Festival week. The day after the festival I had to go to Manila and when I came back home I was literally reduced to a throbbing painful mass of a bag of flesh and bones.

Comments

13 Responses to “Coching Cover Restoration”

  1. Oscar Gailan, Jr. on December 10th, 2009 1:26 am

    Oh my lord! Fascinating work of art it is.
    Sir Gerry, what time is the book launching?
    How much is the book?
    This another work of art / event that should not be ignored.
    wapax na wapax!!

  2. Oscar Gailan, Jr. on December 10th, 2009 1:34 am

    pahabol:
    I love collecting sequential artworks and komiks (w/ the “k”). It would have been better if they would have a print copy of Mr Coching’s work and artist alike. It would be an added marketing melieu. I guess other komiks hunter would agree on that.

  3. Jose Mari Lee on December 10th, 2009 1:35 am

    “The day after the festival I had to go to Manila and when I came back home I was literally reduced to a throbbing painful mass of a bag of flesh and bones.”

    No way! You’re a spring chicken (my apologies to Elmer). You shouldn’t be feeling that way.

    Maybe it’s time to reinvent your daily activities. Maybe you should include ENOUGH EXERCISE in your daily routine. Perhaps, a jog around the lake would be really good. Take Ilyn and the two cute dogs with you when you run. They will inspire you more. Start with a leisurely 20-minute run. Then let it progress from there daily. If you can swim with the right stroke (and this is important to sustain your laps), make it daily as well. Perhaps, after jogging, go to the pool and do your laps. You’d feel the difference, believe me.

    Also, take a look at what you eat daily. Do you consume carbohydrates more than you shouldn’t? This may give you an instant energy but can be detrimental to your system. Make sure to have at least 10 fruits and the same equal amount of veggies daily. I guarantee you you’d feel more energetic and stronger than usual.

    Maybe you should try it for a week and see whether you feel better.

    The future is now, my friend. You want to feel healthier now so that you’ll be healthier while age continuously progresses. This is the melodramatic part of our life, you see. Our body ages, but if we don’t do something drastic earlier, it might later be too late to recover the strength one needs later in life.

    That, being said, the Coching restoration is an awesome piece of work, by the way.

    - your self-proclaimed Health Guru.
    :)

  4. Gerry Alanguilan on December 10th, 2009 7:51 am

    Hello Oscar! The launching is at 6:30pm. Check out more details at this post:
    http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/2194

  5. Pinoy Comics USA on December 10th, 2009 9:33 am

    Gerry,
    As you probably know JM is a champion swimmer, a health nut and knows what he’s talking about, am I right JM. Didn’t you go to Canada as a member of the Philipine swimming team?
    Anyway, Gerry, that is an amazing restoration job. I can’t wait to get my hands on El Indio (my son got the very last copy at a bookstore in Manila), he’s flying back to L.A. tomorrow. Then maybe I can critique the restoration, hahaha, once I actually see it. The way El Indio is selling, hopefully Sabas, Ang Barbaro will soon be on the way to restoration and publication. But my favorite among Coching’s early work is Ang Kaluluwa ni Dante. I think he’s work there was the best, and paved the way for excellence in his later work.
    Rod

  6. Jose Mari Lee on December 10th, 2009 10:48 am

    Rod & Gerry:

    Pasensiya na kung nagbigay ako ng unsolicited advice. I’m just sincerely concerned when one of our colleague komikeros feel weak or very tired.

    Gusto ko lang talagang makatulong sa health issues ng mga talented people na tulad ng ating mga kasamahan sa mundo ng komiks. Ang dami kasing nagkamali noong kabataan nila sa mga nakita kong komikeros noong 1970s. Kasi naman, lagi tayong nakaupo sa harap ng drawing table, kaya kailangang may reminder palagi para huwag makalimot. I know Gerry is already doing his part to live healthier, nabanggit ko lang uli para tiyaking A-okay ang pakiramdam niya.

    Gerry, I hope you didn’t find my comment as an intrusion to your private life. Dahil kung hindi tayo magmamalasakit sa ating colleagues, who will? I am just sincerely concerned. If you think I crossed that boundary where I shouldn’t have done so, then I apologize and never again will I offer any reminders. Peks man. Cross my heart.

  7. Gerry Alanguilan on December 10th, 2009 11:03 am

    No problem JM! I do appreciate the concern. Rest assured my personal health is a top priority for me.

  8. dexterwee on December 10th, 2009 3:32 pm

    Wow!
    Thanks for sharing this Gerry!
    This is absolutely beautiful!!!
    Congrats!

    Are there more restoration projects coming? ;)

  9. Rommel Joson on December 10th, 2009 5:25 pm

    wow! coching’s work never looked so good :D

  10. Ferres on December 11th, 2009 2:08 am

    There is that dilemma of wanting to be healthy but not really wanting to live too long. :P

  11. benj on December 11th, 2009 4:21 pm

    love the restoration and color work gerry! nice to see modern coloring that doesn’t overuse gradients :) well good health on you sir. meanwhile i’ll be getting my copy at the launch later haha

  12. erwin on December 14th, 2009 11:46 am

    Gerry, the original of this cover still exist and included in the on going exhibit of Coching and Botong. Katabi sya ng Lapu Lapu drawing.

  13. er tamblot on December 28th, 2009 11:56 pm

    gerry…hindi ko alam kung huli na itong comment ko. walang depht ang illustration matapos kulayan. Ang kulay ay hindi naman kailangan na maging kapareho ng natural..na berde ang damo, asul ang langit, etc. Ito ay depende sa mood ng scene, kahit pa nga out-of this-world na kulay pero magbibigay ng dynamism sa drawing ay mas dapat ipakita. Walang batas na magkukulong sa artist pagdating sa art. Limitless tayo…kahit sa colorings. Sa cover na ito ni Coching, madali lang lapatan ng angkop na treatment.