Posts Tagged ‘art’
Wednesday, February 20th, 2019
Only in reading the February Ansible did I learn that artist GAK died mid-January. His real name was evidently Gregg Kanefsky (edited to add: probably not; that seems to be a different GAK), though I also knew him as Glenn Denny Gak (the name he used on Facebook), and an obituary linked from his Facebook page referenced Glenn A. Klinger. He was obviously a man of many mysteries.
Back when I edited Nova Express, GAK became my go-to guy for cover art. His spikey style seemed a good fit for what I wanted to publish. Among his best covers was the one for the Tim Powers issue:
As well as the one for the Neil Gaiman issue, the original artwork for which I have matted and hanging in my house above a copy of the issue:
After Nova Express, he went on to illustrate a number of horor works, including the Dead Cat Bounce series.
I only met GAK once, at the 2002 World Fantasy Convention in Minneapolis, where I had dinner with him and Nova contributor Hank Wagner. I had no idea he was sick until I read that he had died.
Here’s his ISFDB listing.
One more for the road:
Tags:art, GAK, Horror, Nova Express, Obituary, Science Fiction
Posted in Horror, Science Fiction | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018
Here’s two unusual Robert E. Howard-related items I picked up off eBay relatively cheaply. I think both of these were originally freebie giveaways to promote fancy illustrated editions of Howard’s work:
(Howard, Robert E.) Gianni, Gary. Robert E. Howard’s Conan of Cimmeria: Drawings & Sketches by Gary Gianni. Wandering Star, no date (but 2003, as per the ISFDB). A Fine copy, signed by Gianni. Bought off eBay for $9.95.
Howard, Robert E. (Gianni, Gary, illustrator). Solomon Kane’s Homecoming. Wandering Star, no date (but 1997). A Fine copy, signed by Gianni. Four-page illustrated Howard poem, given away as a promotional item. This was also available in Gianni’s A Solomon Kane Sketchbook, but this 8 1/2″ x 11″ stand-alone item is a larger trim size. Not (yet) in ISFDB, and I only see one other reference to it online. Bought off eBay for $15.50.
Tags:art, book, chapbooks, Fantasy, Gary Gianni, Robert E. Howard
Posted in Books, Fantasy | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018
Two signed Ray Bradbury firsts, thought a little off-beam from most of my Bradbury:
Bradbury, Ray (text). The Art of Playboy. Alfred van der Marck Editions, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight blunting to points and slight wear along bottom boards. Signed by Bradbury. Collection of art that appeared in Playboy magazine, something of who’s who of modern magazine illustration, including all the tasteful female nudes you’d expect, and the expected Vargas, Nagel, Olivia, etc., but also Frank Frazetta, Salvador Dali, Kinuko Craft, and a multitude of others. Bought off eBay for $38.77 plus shipping.
Bradbury, Ray (etc.). The Ray Bradbury Chronicles Volume 7. NMB/Byron Priess, 1993. First edition hardback, #304 of 100 numbered copies signed by Bradbury and several illustrators, etc., a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Graphic novel adaptation of several Bradbury short stories. Bought off eBay for $31.50 plus shipping.
Tags:art, Books, graphic novel, Playboy, Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction
Posted in Books | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017
A limited edition SF art book I picked up relatively cheap:
Freas, Frank Kelly. The Art of Science Fiction. Donning, 1977. First edition hardback, #234 of 1,000 copies with a signature plate signed by Freas pasted inside the front cover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $50 off eBay.
This appears to be the very first SF book published by either Donning or Donning/Starblaze, the latter of which was quite an active imprint until tapering off in the late 1980s.
Tags:art, Books, Donning, Frank Kelly Freas, Science Fiction, signatures
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | 1 Comment »
Thursday, May 18th, 2017
Another odd Jack-Vance related item:
Fabian, Stephen. Crystal of a Hundred Dreams: A Portfolio by Stephen E. Fabian. Underwood/Miller, 1979. First edition oversized softbound art portfolio, one of 550 sets produced, a Fine copy, still in shrinkwrap. Illustrations from the U/M Jack Vance books The Eyes of the Overworld, The Seventeen Virgins and The Bagful of Dreams. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 431 (where they note it’s “Uncommon,” most sets having been broken up and framed). Bought for $55 from a fellow Jack Vance collector.
Hard to get a good pick, since it’s too big for the scanner and I kept getting light bounce from the shrinkwrap….
Tags:art, Books, Fantasy, Jack Vance, Science Fiction, Stephen Fabian, Underwood/Miller
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014
Three more items from L. W. Currey’s $10 sale, all art books (for certain values of the word “book”):
Fabian, Stephen. Women & Wonders. Charles F. Miller, 1995. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap.
Finlay, Virgil. An Astrology Sketch Book. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Oddly enough, $10 is the actual cover price…
Finlay, Virgil. Finlay’s Illustrations for Weird Tales. Showcase Art Productions, 1976. First edition art portfolio of 9 illustrations (one in color) in a cardstock cover, a Fine copy.
Tags:art, Books, Fantasy, First Edition, Science Fiction, Virgil Finlay
Posted in Books, Fantasy, pics, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 13th, 2014
Pioneering artist H. R, Giger has died at age 74. Few other 20th century artists produced work so technically accomplished, pioneering, and disturbing (all at the same time) as his biomechanical paintings, which were mostly produced by airbrush. Even if Giger had never done the design for Alien, his work would still have been hugely influential. And few artists are able to open successful museums of their own work in their own lifetimes.
Tags:Alien, art, H.R. Giger, Horror, Obituary, Science Fiction
Posted in Movies, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Sunday, January 5th, 2014
This came in the day before Christmas, and I haven’t had a chance to blog it until now. It isn’t quite a book, but close enough:
Picacio, John. John Picacio 2014 Calendar. Lone Boy, 2013. First edition, Fine, signed by the artist, with Kickstarter specials, including six oversized loteria cards, a sketcbook, and a signed pencil. Click to embiggen.
Tags:art, Calendar, Fantasy, John Picacio, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Sunday, November 17th, 2013
I don’t back that many Kickstarters, but this one is tempting, especially since I do like the iconic work of Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, and appreciate the conniptions he induces in the Art Police.
The problem is, I’ve never played Magic: The Gathering. But I bet there are enough people out there who have to make this Kickstarter, which is currently 30% away from their $1,000 goal.
(Hat tip: Moe Lane.)
Tags:art, Fantasy, Games, Kickstarter
Posted in Fantasy, Kickstarter | No Comments »
