Gerben Valkema began his artistic career in 1996 with contributions to fanzines like Impuls, that was edited by Reinder Dijkhuis and Kilian Hekhuis, and De Stripper. He self-published two small books called 'Grappen en Grollen' in 1996 and 1997 and was a member of Studio Jan Kruis from its creation in 1999 until its demise in 2007.
