Approtis is returning back for Cyprus Comic Con 2019 Artists’ Alley!

Approtis is a collaboration between Fares Zoghlami (artist) and Nicholas O’Callaghan (social media promoter).

Fares Zoghlami is a 21-year-old half Tunisian, half British artist and illustrator. He has worked on numerous projects over the past five years, including album designs for the bands The Two Thieves and The Fusion Project, and Illustration and cover design for the books The Titans of Norway and Reiben the Se.

He is currently trying to break into the comic industry and has presented his work in the second issue of the Little Heroes Comics Charity Anthology, and the upcoming Monster Mashup Anthology. He has also attended the local Cyprus Comic Convention as a participant in the artist alley, where he sold his artwork since 2015 and has also displayed his work at multiple small exhibitions.

In the meantime, he watches films to pass the time and to build up an extensive knowledge of mistakes to avoid while writing a story, yet also working on ways to make his stories more enjoyable and distinct. For example, more creative meet-cutes, and less bombs being deactivated at the last second. He also plays basketball on occasion but is a disgrace to the game, as he is 6’5 and still can’t dunk (It’s been three years of practice people, he just clearly can’t do it).

He has been drawing since a very young age, with the help of his architect dad and because of his ever-present influence, he has adopted a unique appreciation towards incredibly detailed line work. Now that he has access to more professional digital supplies however, his work load has increased, and has slowly shifted from the ever-detailed line work, to a more panelised colouring technique, which he feels he is more suited for. He hasn’t given up on his old ways though, no. He has just found a way to find a harmony with his traditional and digital techniques.

To see more of Fares’ amazing artwork, make sure to check his Facebook and Instagram.

He has also slowly creeped his way into freelance comic projects and found them to be quite exciting. He feels like a child again when first being taught how to draw, learning about panel structure and bubble placements. It has definitely been an experience, and he can’t wait to keep working on it in the near future. Having attended Cyprus Comic Con as an artist, Fares says they were some of the best days of his artistic adventure, meeting new people and making friends, as well as getting critical input on his art from other attendees and visitors, and he can’t wait to see them all again this year.