Visions and Vagaries

This time of year is haunted with visions and vagaries of unholy life and moldy death, and what better image than this phantasmagoria to portray that.

This pulp illustration by Lawrence Stern Stevens is for the Ray Bradbury story Homecoming, from Famous Fantastic Mysteries, December of 1952, and is one of my favorites. The sky-clad witch is a vision unto herself.

Stevens and Virgil Finlay published side by side in these kinds of pulps. Each was unique in style and yet blended together, issue after issue, for a homogenous portrayal of the incredible. Finlay's visions went out among the stars, but Stevens were usually earth-bound phantasies.

Autumn

Well, today it's snowing. But—YESterday it looked just like these two images . . . I'm telling ya . . . well at least in my little world it did.

I'm tellin' ya, my little world is a GOOD little world.

Bridging Styles

Just two more John Austen drawings for now. Both of them sort of bridging between his old and his later styles. The color image is luscious for its use of dark, yet bold, palette.

A Lady of the Court

From Perrault's Fairy Tales—BlueBeard

Filigree

The 'filigree' of ornament is fascinating to study in this depiction of Scheherezade by John Austen.

At His Best

John Austen was at his best with Hamlet in 1922.

Here is Act IV Scene 7.

Sort of astounding imagery for the time and the medium.

Another Austen

Another fabulous pen and ink graphic by John Austen for the 1922 Hamlet, featuring (you guessed it) Ophelia!

Grand Style

John Austen had a grand style when he illustrated a bee-youtiful edition of Hamlet, from 1922. His style was influenced by Beardsley and was akin to Harry Clarke. Later, his style and technique evolved into something less ornate and more caricaturized.

This pen drawing is from Hamlet, Act III Scene 2. And then I just had to zoom in on details.

Truly Thirsty

Vampires are more popular than ever this year, in all formats of pop culture. For me, none rivals the persona of Count Dracula, as characterized by Bela Lugosi. This is how he looked in the stage production of 1927, when he truly was handsome, suave, debonair and thirsty.

Bird Thou Never Wert, Bert

Yes, no, I did not forget. Here is the Pogo Sunday strip that posted, I mean printed, 45 years ago 2day. Cuz this is Sunday. Kelly Sunday. Dude.

Just a reminder that a brand new 'blog dedicated to Walt Kelly will be premiering soon at a monitor near you. When that happens, you will hear of it right here, on this stage, a really big shew (Ed Sullivan was really big 45 years ago 2day 2. Youngsters, go google him).

See how nice it is when not every panel background is yellow?

Air Combat 1

WWII air combat missions have not been portrayed more beautifully or crisply realistic as by Nicolas Trudgian. His work should be an inspiration for other genres of painting, as well.

Air Combat 2

Unhistory

George Barr. Frontispiece for Adventures in Unhistory by Avram Davidson. 1990.

Comus 1

Milton's (The Masque of) Comus, a 17th century story of virtue and grace, was the last book to be illustrated by Edmund Dulac, and was published a year after his death. This book obviously demonstrates the last stage of the evolution of his art style. The intent was for Dulac to create a total of ten illustrations for the book, but he died after only finishing six.

Edmund Dulac—one of the greats of the 20th century.

Comus 2

Header Image

By request, here is the original usage of this 'blog's current header image by Willy Pogany from way back in 1916. And below that, another lively fantasy by Pogany, one of my all-time favorite illustrators.

Irresistible

Hey there. I'm back in the studio.

Here's a portion of irresistible perfume ad illustrations by Fred Packer from the 1920s. His style is very seductive, so it's a shame that I see no evidence that he ever illustrated books like his other contemporaries with comparable styles.

Gonna Toot Li'l' Morvin

Another week has flown by, being Sunday, Kelly Sunday again. It almost wasn't, as my super duper computer of the last 5 years bit the dust with horrible optical/visual impairments, just like that, over night. Fortunately I was able to get an even more super duper replacement, but the reinstallation and transfer issues were a bit rough. But I made it in time to get this Pogo strip from 45 years ago today posted for your Kelly habit.

There will be no new posts for a couple of days, but I'll be back with some cool stuff midweekish. Ta.

My Favorite Virgo by Virgil

Late in his career, Virgil Finlay did a lot of illustrations for astrological magazines, some of it mediocre, but some of it superlative. This is my favorite of his astrology designs.

Virgo

Preliminary drawing for Virgo

A beautiful rendering of a variation of Virgo

Character Spots

I think these character spot illustrations by Virgil Finlay for Galaxy are pretty neat, from later in his huge body of work. See, he did draw more than just pretty women covered with sparkles and bubbles and stars.

The Cautious Amorist-2