Ah, the good old days! On these days, Valencia has a lot of nostalgia. I mean, the Valencia Club de Fútbol. 20 years ago, there was a great football team at the city of Valencia. A man called Rafael Benítez (a short experienced trainer) built a strong football team. They had to compete agains Los Galácticos (Real Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo) and many other teams. The players of that Valencia were almost unknown: Mista, Vicente, Curro Torres and many others. But, at the season 2001-02, they won La Liga against all odds. That’s why I say Nostalgia from Valencia. An illustrated chronicle.

20 years later, my friends from “Odio el fútbol moderno” (against modern football) decided to make a nostalgic book of that Valencia CF team. They (Carlos Roberto and Miquel Sanchis) hired Sergi Aljilés (for the text) and me (for the illustrations). As a result, we made a great nostalgia book called “Memorias de una Liga. 20 años de una liga galáctica”. It’s a chronicle of that magic team. We remember the most important matches and players of Valencia CF.

The first sketches. The chronicle.

When the project was created, I had to make illustrations for every chapter (16) and for the cover. For me, it’s very important to relate the illustrations with the content of the text, as a result, they become one piece. It’s not about make them nice but to make them related to the content. My edge is that I enjoyed that Valencia CF and I watched many matches that season. While reading Segi’s text I remembered that time. Then it was like magic. I made illustrations with mixed techniques (Procreate App, pencils, watercolors,…) to create different sensations and moods. Before drawing, I took many notes and I made a lot of sketches. There was a lot of players to illustrate, some easy to draw (Miguel Ángel Angulo, Cañizares, Baraja) and some not so easy (Mista, Curro Torres, Fabio Aurelio). But I had a lot of fun participating on this project.

I’d like to share with you the work process of this Valencia nostalgia chronicle. From the first notes to the final book. I hope you enjoy it!

Some notes and sketches.
Some notes and sketches.
The players. I made them with pencils and later at Vectornator for iPad.
The players. I made them with pencils and later at Vectornator for iPad.
Amedeo Carboni's sketch.
Amedeo Carboni’s sketch.
Santi Cañizares, first sketch.
Santi Cañizares, first sketch.
Kily González as Oliver and Benji.
Kily González as Oliver and Benji.
The book.
The book.

Here you can buy the book. Worldwide shipping. Also you can contact me if you want a dedicated book!

The illustrated chronicle.

Book cover.
Book cover.
Jorge Valdano against Valencia. Vicente is watching.
Chapter 1. Jorge Valdano against Valencia. Vicente is watching.
David Albelda, a pop idol from Valencia.
Chapter 2. David Albelda, a pop idol from Valencia.
Carlos Marchena, defender.
Chapter 3. Carlos Marchena, defender.
Kily Gonzalez, left winger.
Chapter 4. Kily Gonzalez, left winger.
Rafa Benítez over a barrel (in spanish: con el agua al cuello).
Chapter 5. Rafa Benítez over a barrel (in spanish: con el agua al cuello).
Rufete, a symbol of that Valencia CF.
Chapter 6. Rufete, a symbol of that Valencia CF.
President Jaime Ortí against Real Madrid and the referees.
Chapter 7. President Jaime Ortí against Real Madrid and the referees.
Cañizares, a legend.
Chapter 8. Cañizares, a legend.
Pablo Aimar, small but useful.
Chapter 9. Pablo Aimar, small but useful.
Juan Sánchez, an Ace up Valencia's sleeve.
Chapter 10. Juan Sánchez, an Ace up Valencia’s sleeve.
The balls of Santi Cañizares.
Chapter 11. The balls of Santi Cañizares.
Pipo Baraja, an explosive midfielder.
Chapter 12. Pipo Baraja, an explosive midfielder.
Manolo el del Bombo, iconic character from the city of Valencia.
Chapter 13. Manolo el del Bombo, iconic character from the city of Valencia.
Carboni's nudge. A hard player.
Chapter 14. Carboni’s nudge.
Españeta, Valencia's kit man. A loyal man.
Chapter 15. Españeta, Valencia’s kit man.
Rafa Benítez with La Liga trophy
End of book. Rafa Benítez with the trophy.

Comentarios

[…] The way I create illustrations (especially for characters) is to create an atmosphere after being informed about him or her. I don’t like making just «portraits» or panini stickers. So I asked Pau and Emilio to have a short bio about every character. That helped a lot when I make the illustration. I tell a visual story. […]

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