Tinus Horn Caricaturist Portraitist Cartoonist and Illustrator

Hard Times, High Hopes

When he's not painting, drawing or sleeping -
which isn't often - Tinus Horn battles gamely
to complete his second novel.

The first, Droster won him some critical acclaim
but left him flat broke. His second book, Hemel op
Aarde (Heaven on Earth), was South Africa's first
full-length graphic novel. It was going to be the
big money spinner. A co-production with comic
maestro Alastair Findlay, Hemel op Aarde relates
the tragic story of Vincent van Gogh, but is set
in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, circa 1992.

The critics raved. Adoring virgins* flung their
bodies at the authors. New-age prophets

brandishing crystals and fragrant oils stopped
Horn and Findlay in the street for a hug. Sales?
Sales were dismal.

Still, Horn soldiers on. So, by Samuel Johnson's
famous decree, he's a blockhead. Findlay, who has
collaborated with Horn on several fine-art
projects as well, won't deny that this is the case:
“Well,” he says, “he's been on the verge of a
breakthrough for the past 20 years. My advice
is this: Stick around.
You want to be there when it happens.”

*Poetic licence applies. They weren't really virgins.
They were called Brandy and Lips.
They hadn't even heard of the book.



	TINUS HORN
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	Hard Times, High Hopes When he's not painting, drawing or sleeping - which isn't often - Tinus Horn battles gamely to complete his second novel. The first, Droster won him some critical acclaim but left him flat broke. His second book, Hemel op Aarde (Heaven on Earth), was South Africa's first full-length graphic novel. It was going to be the big money spinner. A co-production with comic maestro Alastair Findlay, Hemel op Aarde relates the tragic story of Vincent van Gogh, but is set in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, circa 1992. The critics raved. Adoring virgins* flung their bodies at the authors. New-age prophets brandishing crystals and fragrant oils stopped Horn and Findlay in the street for a hug. Sales? Sales were dismal. Still, Horn soldiers on. So, by Samuel Johnson's famous decree, he's a blockhead. Findlay, who has collaborated with Horn on several fine-art projects as well, won't deny that this is the case: “Well,” he says, “he's been on the verge of a breakthrough for the past 20 years. My advice is this: Stick around. You want to be there when it happens.” *Poetic licence applies. They weren't really virgins. They were called Brandy and Lips. They hadn't even heard of the book.

TINUS HORN