Roman Koeller Illustration

Christmas Illustration

2011-12-19T16:11:00.001-08:00

Final cover illustration for the Christmas issue of Frankfurter Rundschau.

Printed front page:

Caption:

Initial approved sketch:

Christmas Card Kultur123 Stadt Rüsselsheim

2011-12-05T02:42:00.000-08:00

This is my illustration for this year's Christmas- and New-Year's-Greeting Card of the city of Rüsselsheim. The location depicted is the plaza situation of Kultur123: Volkshochschule, Theater and Musikschule circelling around the central fountain.

advend calendar

2011-11-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

My cover illustration for today's culture-section of Frankfurter Rundschau.

blind on the (far) right

2011-11-15T00:32:00.000-08:00

My title illustration for today's cover topic in the i-Pad newspaper of Frankfurter Rundschau: Germany's self-made blindness to terror from the far right.
Thanks to art direction by Torsten Deutzmann and Kai Kämpfer.

Flyer Stadtmuseum Rüsselsheim

2011-09-20T02:39:00.000-07:00

Illustrated map and layout design for a publication of the Rüsselsheim Museum. The bird's-eye view shows the Festung Rüsselsheim in a toy-like drawing. The images are designed to help kids learn about historical facts about the fortification in guided and self-exploring tours on the site.

Eldorado Rüsselsheim Printing Workshop

2011-09-13T00:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I gave a workshop at the Eldorado Theater Festival in Rüsselsheim. I brought all necessary materials to set up a studio for silkscreen printing. We printed on hardboards that the workshop participants later placed in town. According to the motto of the festival everyone created images interpreting his or her idea of good luck and happyness

My mobile silkscreen studio.

Illustrations for a Health Publication

2011-09-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Illustrations for a publication of the Frankfurt Health Office. Concept and brochure design in collaboration with Claudia Stiefel.

Editorial Illustrations for the Newspaper

2011-09-07T13:16:00.001-07:00

Frankfurter Rundschau, Monday, August 28th

Frankfurter Rundschau, Monday, September 5th

Zertifikate Finanzmarkt

2011-08-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Illustration für die Frankfurter Rundschau.

Speeddating Illustration

2011-08-26T18:09:00.001-07:00

Editorial illustrations for Frankfurter Rundschau. The newspaper company asked me to design the title page of the culture-section. The title story explains one woman's experiences with speed dating. For each date there are 7 minutes time to find out if guy and girl like each other or just move on to the next candidate.

Published on August 27/28, 2011.

Spot illustrations with characters and quotes from her dates.

Offenbach heart logo

2011-08-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

This logo is an answer to the manyfold variations of a heart including the letters "OF" that circulate around this city on stickers, graffiti etc. In my icon, the flow of Offenbach's adjacent river "Main" gets paired with the edgy qualities as a city in social and digital transition.

bike on

2011-08-06T03:09:00.000-07:00

Bike on - Rock on. In reality, rocks aren't necessarily inner tube's best friends. Here they get along with each other quite ok.

Map Illustration

2011-07-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

Map in sketch mode for a health-and-nutrition project in Offenbach. The map features André Turm, Isenburger Schloss and Alessa Chemie on the riverside.

bicycler tshirt print

2011-05-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

young students

2011-05-21T18:27:00.001-07:00

Illustration for an article about exceptional high school students taking classes at university.
Read the article by author Yvonne Globert here.

In today's Newspaper

2011-05-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

nobody sees the snake

2011-04-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

ladies' soccer event in Frankfurt

2011-04-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

Final illustration for the activities day. It will be used for the poster and flyer.

Recycling Logo

2011-03-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

My logo draft for a recycling campaign in Quemchi, Chile.

And a modification of the design.

Crossing the Frankfurt River

2011-03-30T06:00:00.001-07:00

2011-03-30T04:50:00.000-07:00

I heart NY, Courtesy of Milton Glaser.

New Typeface on its Way

2011-03-27T15:43:00.001-07:00

Some early stages of my new semi-serif typeface. This design will be used for October 2nd, 2012 of the 365-Typeface-Calender. (http://typodarium2012.magmabranddesign.de/)

Same City but Different Place

2011-03-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

Frankfort, Kentucky
Credit: http://www.bargain-properties.com/vacation-rentals-images/frankfort.jpg

Frankfurt, Germany
Credit: Rolf-Dieter Grundig, http://lh6.ggpht.com/_whwds73jymU/S-2CbSCfTII/AAAAAAAAW5Q/B4ueIH_sjL4/SDC11954.JPG

Nosepicking

2011-03-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

Entenfüttern

2011-03-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

Feeding Ducks

Selbstständigkeit im Alter

2011-03-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

Self-Sufficiency at Old Age.

Der Brandstifter

2011-03-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

The Arsonist.
Click on the image for larger view.

Soccergirl Poster

2011-03-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

Work in Progress

... Working on it

Autos in Weimar

2011-03-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

Deer

2011-03-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

As seen in Völklinger Hütte.

Achoo in the Deep Blue

2011-03-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

An illustration for a children's book. The type went in the empty space on the whale's belly. The story tells about a little seahorse that claims to sneeze the loudest. But- there sure are others who sneeze louder. Mr. Whale just blows them all away. This piece is from a little while ago and I stumbled over it in my archive. I still like the drawing.

Messing with Faces

2011-03-02T03:13:00.001-08:00

Cover Illustration for a Laughing Seminar-Guide for Seniors.

Biking Vikings

2011-02-28T11:43:00.001-08:00

screenprint, colored in pencil

Daily Fresh

2011-02-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

Me, delivering fresh editorial illustrations. Screenprint

Schadenfreude

2011-02-23T13:08:00.001-08:00

Malicious Joy, Spot Illustration

Berlusconi and Gaddafi hiding

2011-02-22T08:36:00.000-08:00

For Frankfurter Rundschau. Art Direction by Torsten Deutzmann.

Process work

Schlechte Zeiten für Eintracht Frankfurt

2011-02-22T04:20:00.000-08:00

Illustration for Frankfurter Rundschau. Art Direction by Ben Wenz.

New Linocut on its Way

2011-02-21T14:47:00.001-08:00

portraits

2011-02-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

Linocut: Claudia

Goache: Marleen

Screenprint: Christina

portraits: Michael Skibbe and Ioannis Amanatidis

2011-02-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

For the sports section of Frankfurter Rundschau (link to online article).

portrait 1

2011-02-03T05:33:00.000-08:00

Celebrities and their favorite films

2011-01-30T16:19:00.000-08:00

Concept sketches for a new series in the newspaper.

Verschnitt

2011-01-27T17:50:00.001-08:00

daydreaming

2011-01-27T17:16:00.001-08:00

At Night

2011-01-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

Running Mouth animation sketch

2011-01-24T17:08:00.000-08:00

people selling cars

2011-01-24T03:05:00.000-08:00

:)

2011-01-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hochwasser in Offenbach Bürgel

2011-01-16T11:21:00.001-08:00

observed today near the damm

Resting Bratwurst

2011-01-12T15:34:00.001-08:00

Offenbach am Main

2011-01-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

Living near the Main river allows for ever-changing views from my window.

top left: carnival in summer 2008
top right: fleamarket on April 17th, 2010
bottom left: snow on Christmas 2010
bottom right: flood due to melted snow along the river, photographed today

new screenprint

2011-01-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

22 x 16cm

live doodle

2011-01-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

kid's museum logo

2011-01-04T15:12:00.000-08:00

I am currently working on a raven mascot figure. This is some process work. The bird is supposed to wear a mercenary's helmet and a halberd.

Rosinenverteilung

2011-01-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

test17

2011-01-01T06:49:00.001-08:00

Dinner for One

2010-12-30T01:22:00.000-08:00

Cover Illustration for a section cover in Frankfurter Rundschau.
Click here for the online version.

collective work

2010-12-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

At home with my family we did this piece in our guest book together.
Cut paper on tempera paint.

Happy Donguri Year

2010-12-26T13:13:00.000-08:00

"Merry Christmas"

2010-12-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

final front page and preliminary sketches:

donguri 1

2010-12-20T04:07:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2010-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

click on the calender numbers below:

comic class

2010-12-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

The kids from my small Comic class.

screenprinting documentation

2010-12-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

On the left side is the concept sketch for the print. I am tracing the final outlines on one piece of vellum paper.

Because I am using sticky plastic foil as stencil material, I can just flip over the vellum and rub the pencil onto the sticky foil. I will get the mirrored outlines that I cut with a sharp knife. Here is the grey stencil foil for the second-color-layer. In this image, you see the white holes of the stencil where I have taken out the parts that will print.

On the left the stencil for the third/black layer. I usually cut shapes with the x-acto knife. Thus, it takes two parallel cuts in order to make one line. I found out that you can create lines in one single stroke using woodcut tools like the above.

I am preparing the printing table and mixing the ink. I usually use acrylic or goache paint mixed with a screenprinting paste that serves as a drying retarder. It's really tricky to keep your screen from encrusting when working with water-based inks. They tend to dry quickly. Goache, however, is water soluble and can be removed even if it is dry.

Because the first/peach layer is rather simple, I skipped printing it - I just painted the shape with a paintbrush.

I peal off the sticky foil from the transfer paper and stick it onto my screen from the bottom side. That mirrors the image again so that it is in the right position now. The screen in this photo is self-made. I used regular wooden bars that I sealed up with latex paint. That keeps the wood to suck water and bend during the washing process. For the mesh, I used a cheap nylon curtain and a power stapler to attach.

One paper card brought into positi0n using registration marks.

Applying the grey ink...

Spreading the ink evenly over all printing parts...

The good thing about quick-drying ink is that you can soon print the next color.

Here, I am getting ready to print the black layer. I roughly set up the screen frame...

and lay the stencil foil on the working surface, sticky side up.

If I now move down the screen, the stencil will stick to the target area of the screen.

Apart from registration marks, another method for easy registration is a sheet of acetate:

You tape it to the working top on one side and print on it one time. Now, the paper can be brought into position underneath the acetate. Before printing, just turn over the acetate to the left.

One more color to go...

Done! The final print with four colors.

For cleaning the screen, I am using a garden sprayer. It has a handle to pump. The pressure is enough to wash out the mesh. The water is cought in a tub.

Because there are no chemicals involved, dirt water can be disposed of easily and the air stays fresh.

Here are some resources about self-made screenprinting:
Mark from expert village
morethanfunctional.org
screenprintingguy.com

cora ambigram

2010-12-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here an article about Ambigrams/Typographic Doppelgängers by John Langdon.

book review

2010-12-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

Spot illustration for a book review series.

Grass + Irving

2010-12-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

illustration for a Christmas series in the newspaper

2010-12-01T03:05:00.000-08:00

Figur und Sockel

2010-11-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

DAX

2010-10-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

The German stock index has now recovered from the Lehman-crisis.
Click on the image for the full course of events.

women and career

2010-10-19T06:37:00.001-07:00

Woman and man organize their career ambitions and housework duties in different ratios. Illustration for an interview in Frankfurter Rundschau.

Illustration Show

2010-10-18T14:53:00.001-07:00

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the city of Rüsselsheim are launching the third edition of the illust_ratio exhibit. They are presenting work of 18 editorial illustrators.

Opening
October 22nd, 2010, 9 pm
Exhibition
October 23rd - November 20th 2010
Opening Hours
Monday through Friday 4 pm - 7 pm
Saturday 11 am -3 pm
Sunday 3 pm - 6 pm
Location
Werkshalle A1, right next to Rüsselsheim S-Bahn station

The work of these illustrators will be on display:
Heinz Edelmann, Valentine Edelmann, Bengt Fosshag,
Thilo Rothacker, Wilhelm Schlote, David Smith,
Alfons Holtgreve, Bernd Mölck-Tassel and Dieter Böge,
Robert Bochennek, Paul Hornschemeier, Jan Bazing,
Kat Menschik, Isabel Klett, Mart Klein and
Miriam Migliazzi, Jan Rieckhoff, Simon Schwartz,
Tobias Wandres, Andreas Weishaupt

illustration green buildings

2010-10-17T02:47:00.000-07:00

Deutsche Bank soon opens the "green towers" in Frankfurt. Here is an illustration by me featured in an article about ecological architecture.

Click on the image for more details.

in today's newspaper

2010-10-05T02:22:00.001-07:00

This is a variation of the drawing I did for Literatur.Magazin that I posted earlier. They decided to feature the supplement on the cover. Since Argentina is the special guest at the book fair this year, the color of the illustration is blue :)

cover design cultural section

2010-10-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

I designed this recent cover page of the cultural section in Frankfurter Rundschau. Unlike other times, I did not use photographs but my own drawing to illustrate the article. Luckily, I found some time to sneak away from my regular layout desk in the office to make the piece.

new cover art

2010-10-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

This magazine will be available during Frankfurt book fair. It is a supplement in a few Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne based newspapers.

2010-10-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

Duisburg

Limburg

spot illustrations book fair

2010-09-24T06:23:00.001-07:00

Sonification

2010-09-24T02:33:00.000-07:00

Here is some recent work for Frankfurter Rundschau.
The image illustrates a text about a research group for sonification. Contrary to the visualisation of information, they want to make information percievable through the human ear.

some swans and one dog

2010-06-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Loch Ness in Offenbach

2010-06-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

Nessy in Offenbach am Main:

Today I spottet this huge sheatfish in the river in front of my house.

Carried by the current, it came close to the shore...

...people pulled it out of the water.

I believe this guy was cut by a ship's propeller.

2,5m großer Waller im Offenbacher Main.

Comic Salon Erlangen 2010

2010-06-03T15:39:00.001-07:00

Wallpapers at one exhibit codirected by the art schools HfG Offenbach and Burg Giebichenstein Halle.

HfG Offenbach booth selling students' books and magazines at the Erlangen comic fair.

Between posters at Gummi Wörner exhibition site.

Penguins don't like it hot.

jolly bed jumper

2010-06-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

twin faces

2010-06-01T11:57:00.001-07:00

spikes and oaks

2010-05-31T16:28:00.000-07:00

outside party

2010-05-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

I took this photo at the 5th anniversary party of galeria pequena, Frankfurt. The band played in the tiny backyard behind the house.

masked horse

2010-05-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

If Batman had a horse, it would look like this one that I saw in Frankfurt Hoechst today:

line work

2010-05-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

It occured to me that I should post more drawings from my sketch journal.

milky view on Frankfurt

2010-05-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

Frankfurt seen from Goetheturm on a rainy day.

just for fun

2010-05-22T04:07:00.000-07:00

Street vendor offering helium balloons on Kaiserstraße, Friedberg.

Balloon vendor on Zeil in Frankfurt.

Carneval ground at night at Mainufer, Offenbach.

Birds in a cage at Höxberg, Beckum.

Canary bird at Zeche Zollverein, Essen. / Two ducks on the water surrounding Schloss Crassenstein in Diestedde.

Statue in front of Isenburger Schloss, Offenbach.

Girl crossing the plaza in front of Isenburger Schloss, Offenbach.

Buildings scraping the clouds in Frankfurt.

Skizzenbuch Treff - Sketchbook Gathering

2010-05-11T10:29:00.001-07:00

Mittwoch, den 12.05. um 18 Uhr findet der erste Skizzenbuch Treff statt
Meeting friends and fellow illustrators to check out each other's sketchbooks

Sein eigenes Skizzenbuch kennt man - klaro. Die Bücher der anderen bekommt man nicht so oft zu sehen. Man ist neugierig, wie und was sie zeichnen. Außerdem ist das Blättern in diesen Unikatbüchern ein Genuss. Wenn jeder seins mitbringt kommen sicher viele verschiedene Arten zusammen.

Das Treffen soll dazu motivieren, regelmäßig zu skizzieren und Ideen und Situationen in zeichnerischen Notizen festzuhalten.

Bringe also dein aktuelles und evtl. gefülltes Buch mit. Schöne illustrierte Bücher oder Comics sind natürlich auch interessant.

Bei schönem Wetter sitzen wir draußen im Garten vor der Gallerie. Um Getränke kümmere ich mich. Wir treffen uns um 18 Uhr in der Galerie am Hauptbahnhof OF, Bismarckstr. 146. Wer gestern die Eröffnung dieser Ausstellung verpasst hat, kann sich die Sachen dort also ansehen.

Positionen der Zeichnung

2010-05-11T08:26:00.001-07:00

Einladung zur Ausstellung

es nehmen teil:
Mitchelle Andrade Betancourt
Eugen El
Kerstin Göhlich
Patrick Haller
Norman Hildebrandt
Miriam Hilker
Roman Köller
Xenia Lesniewski
Christine Mederer
Achim Schauffele
Martin Schmidt

Vernissage
Montag, 10. Mai, 19 Uhr

Ausstellungsraum im Offenbacher Hauptbahnhof
Bismarckstraße 146, rechter Gebäudeflügel

Öffnungszeiten
Mittwoch, 12. Mai, 16-20 Uhr
Donnerstag, 13. Mai, 16-20 Uhr

Finissage
Freitag, 14. Mai, 19 Uhr

Fotos von der Vernissage am 10.05.2010

im Hintergrund Arbeiten von Achim Schauffele, vorne rechts Roman Köller

im Hintergrund eine Arbeit von Xenia Lesniewski

hinten links eine Arbeit von Martin Schmidt, hinten rechts Norman Hildebrandt

im Hintergrund Arbeiten von Kerstin Göhlich

vorne links Arbeiten von Martin Schmidt, Hintergrund links oben nach rechts unten: Achim Schauffele, Roman Köller, Christine Mederer

Click here for the video opening made by Xenia Lesniewski.

teenage comic classes

2010-05-05T16:33:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching comic classes to teenagers soon. It's going to be fun, I think, I hope.

graphic variations silkscreened on a zig zag wall

2010-05-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Upon request, some more photos from my project from late last year. I screenprinted my graphic illustrations on textile that was inserted into this frame construction. The designs are following different principles of variation.

It was important for me to consume space (opposed to hanging the pictures flat on the wall) because I wanted to allow for a non-linear expansion of the variation series. Variation gets started with the few pieces of one series and continues in the mind of the beholder.

Click here to find more documentation about this silkscreen printed object.

Doppelhelix in Offenbach

2010-04-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

Offenbach has its new landmark. Tonight was the inauguration of this huge sculpture measuring 20 meters in hight and over 300 meters in length. Artist Frank Flaskämper turned the remnants of old railroad tracks into a double helix. The implications concerning the old and the new (technology) may occupy the beholder for a little while...

The artist expressing his gratitude for the manyfold support.

Professor Manfred Stumpf speaking about the social dimension of this piece of art, calling it a social sculpture.

I find this a real nice example of intervening art: taking something that's already there and simply giving it a new "twist".

Another lesson to be learned: "Think big!"

Find more pictures of the set up of the Doppelhelix on Offenbach Post.

typographic Buenos Aires

2010-04-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

unique places in Frankfurt

2010-04-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

top: MyZeil shopping center
bottom: neuer Börneplatz with its various historic names

light art in Frankfurt, Offenbach

2010-04-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Permanent installation by Wiebke Grösch and Frank Metzger from 2008 in tribute to a former Offenbach movie theater named "Universum". The location of this piece is rather odd: it proclaims its galactic title in the midst of a deserted industrial harbor.

Animated light installation ontop of the structure of an old coal crane. Temporary installation for Luminale 2010 by Reinhard Dienes, Sebastian Herkner, Peter Eckart.

Typographic railing for the Lili temple in Offenbach, designed by Fabian Thiele and Markus Bernatzky. The texts written by J. W. v. Goethe are telling about his love for Lili, whom he met in this place. The illumination from the inside appears in waves.

I especially enjoy the typographic dimension of the object. No wonder - it's just a few footsteps away from Klingspor-Museum , museum for bookarts and typedesign. The letters are presumably lasercut from huge starfoam sheets. I'm afraid, it's not a permanent installation.

The piece Here/Now was done by Valerie Sietzy using reflecting batches that she turned into something like a pixel image on the columns of a highway bridge. Passing through here at night on your bike, the dark and scary concrete structure gains transcendental meaning through this work. I really like it because it's simple and beautiful.

Frankfurt's banks seen from across the river at night. In the front you see the arches of an illuminated railroad bridge.

street art in Frankfurt

2010-04-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

I found these pieces in various spots in Frankfurt. I really like the "early bird" relief on the bridge column. It was positioned rather high, so most people don't notice it. I have no idea, what material was used or how he made it..

toll ffm is bringing art to the street - thus promoting street art in a way. It is the smallest gallery in Frankfurt. A huge flower bucket made from concrete was used for this matter. At the moment, the exhibitions features drawings.

I heart Vera poster in Frankfurt Sachsenhausen.

Graffiti piece near Frankfurt Hoechst.

stagedesigns for Quemchi, Chile

2010-04-12T13:09:00.002-07:00

...post under construction...

Early this year, I went to the town of Quemchi on Chiloe Island, Chile, spending four weeks sketching and crafting stage designs with local teenagers. The project was initiated by Jica-volunteer and textile designer Minori Honda.
Our mission was to provide sets for three consecutive events, the first one being the "Festival Communal del Salmon, Quemchi". We decided to establish a townscape where things could be added for the second and third event. We chose iconic houses from this town to combine in a collage.

#2: firestation/ Bomberos de Quemchi; #4: church/ iglesia de Quemchi
Materials used were masonite for the structures, recycled cardboard for the tiles and paint for the finish.

After combining all the pieces and putting them up on different layers, it looked like this:

With the lighting set up and the title of the festival included, the set looked like this:

Here are some impressions from the various performances on stage:

For the second event "La Coronacion Reina de Quemchi", we prepared three gigantic chandaliers and a royal chair for the girl who would win the Miss Quemchi election.

Here's the throne under construction.

Pictures from the concert and the Miss event:

coming soon......

For the third event, we created a huge fishsnakeperson that curved over the stage toward the audience.

We also painted signs announcing the events.

Thank you to everyone working and having a good time with us!

#1: Carla, #2: Manuel y Rodrigo, #3: Adolfo

#1: Daniel, #2: ..., #3: Jabiel