The Incredible Machines

Ruud Hendrikx makes illustrations for various internet publications, magazines, books and papers. In numerous sketchbooks, Ruud brought ‘The Knight and the Hobbyhorse’ to life and scribbled the beginnings of Animal. Since 2012 the iron heroes, The Incredible Machines, have been taking form via the digital sketch programs on his I-pad. Nowadays his workroom is the world: spacious, light and crammed full of inspiration to enable him to become intensely happy. His I-pad encases calligraphy pens, pencils, brushes, goose feathers, watercolour paint in all colours, ink-pots, and an unlimited supply of (digital) paper. “I never know exactly what this pen is going to do” says Ruud as he selects a pen and chooses one of the countless colours. “That makes it all the more exciting”. He sets his pen to fine-liner and adds a new layer over the sketch he had already made. The opaque setting ensures that the sketch still shines through the new layer. It looks like Ruud creates his drawing with a few random strokes, but in reality he is building the spontaneity very carefully. The pen glides over the screen; first the head, then the eyes and finally the transmitter-like tentacles. In utmost concentration, Ruud draws a robot and mutters “It’s a new world”. For colouring in the final drawing, he uses all the tools the program has to offer (and that’s a lot!). Ruud follows the lines from his first sketch but this is not just tracing: “I keep the parts I am happy with and adjust the lines I am not satisfied with”. Sometimes it takes several attempts and sometimes the first sketch hits the mark straight away. “You are not always aware of what you are actually looking for “. “Does something like ‘illustrators block’ exist? “ I ask, “that nothing works?”. Ruud draws further, undisturbed. “Sometimes, yes. I can work the whole day and nothing comes to life in my lines. So I just try again the next day”. In the meantime the promised world takes shape and a train station appears where robots patiently wait for their train.