Boombakaboomker by Koldo Barroso, 2008.

It’s a great pleasure for me to introduce you to my new book in work: “Portraits from the Dreamlands” (A Guide to Creatures from the Dream World). This is just a working title so far. It’s all about a compilation and cataloging of different kinds of creatures from the world of dreams and it’s different dimensions, including the most mysterious and scary beings as well as charming creatures and benefactor spirits. One by one, they are being carefully portrayed and described for this book which will include numerous drawings and paintings about each creature plus a description and their personal stories. The book is oriented towards 12+ years old kids, teenagers and adults and it will offer equal doses of mystery, spirituality, humor and a bit of nonsense.

For the last few months, I’ve been working in a new set of illustrations for my new portfolio. Having in mind to complete at least another six new illustrations for the portfolio, I thought it would be more interesting to kill two birds with one stone and start working on a real project that I had in mind instead of producing a set of spare illustrations. So I will be using some of the works from to post in the portfolio anyway. Some of my former illustrations which you can see in my portfolio, such as “The Mesmerizer” and “The Blue Cow’s Nightmare”, will be included in the book to with extended material.

I will be working on this project during the next three months at least, coinciding with my forthcoming move to the U.S. where I expect to publish it as soon as it’s completed and I find the best choice for it. This will be in fact the first time I will be publishing a book of my own. I believe it will be a beautiful experience sharing this with you.

During the next few weeks I will be pretty much absorbed with this book and I will be updating the blog every once in a while with a brief selection of illustrations and some sketches. Also I’ll be talking a little about how the project is developing in general. Probably I won’t be posting a lot because between the work and the removal, I’m really busy now, but I’ll do my best to keep it updated in relationship with this book.

Sketches of different types of Boombakaboomkers by Koldo Barroso.

The Boombakaboomkers are creatures who run and play their drums all along the dream lands to find anything you want that you once lost. They take shapes from the spirits of different animals and always come to help you when they’re called.