Monday, July 18, 2011

Oops!!

So . . . I just finished this cover illustration for Full Cast Audio's recording of Tunnel in the Sky, by Robert A. Heinlein. I was pretty happy with the result. Certainly more pleased with it than some of the paperback covers I've seen for this title.


A few days after submitting the art to the publisher, we get this email from a fellow with the Heinlein Prize Trust, explaining that, although they are very pleased with the cover, there is one problem with it. The boy depicted, Rod, who is the book's main character, is supposed to be, wait for it. . .

black.

Well, the boy on my cover certainly is not. YIPE!

In my defense...
Heinlein never mentions in the story what Rod's race is, and the couple clues he did include were very subtle. In fact –- every other cover done for this story (and there are a lot), depicts a white boy -- or in cases where the illustrator evidently skimmed the text instead of reading the story (several), -- a white man.

I read the book. I recommend it highly!

The only real clue in the text -- and this only applies to a pre 1970's mindset -- is that the girl in the story that everyone assumes will eventually end up as Rod's girlfriend, is black. So, by 1955 YA publishing standards (when this story was written) Rod must certainly also be black.

It is entirely possible (even probable) that Heinlein specifically didn't call out Rod's race so that readers in the 50s -- naturally assuming that Rod was white because he was the main character--- would be shocked by his interest in a black girl. Or, they would be shocked by the fact that the main character was black. Either way, Heinlein makes his point about racism.

I wasn't shocked, either way. Although, I did think that it was pretty forward-thinking of Heinlein to write a black and white relationship into a 1950s novel. But then, Heinlein was a forward-thinking kind of guy.

Before I start working on sketches for a cover. . .
I read the book. I also look at other covers to see what's been done so I don't come up with something too close to an existing concept. The paperback I read showed a white boy on the cover, as did all the covers I found. So before I even started reading the story, my preconception was that Rod was white.

Damn it! I hate being so far off target, but Heilnein, you set me up!!

SO... I scurried and did some quick repainting on the cover to make Rod black, and shot it off in an email to Bruce Coville (owner of Full Cast Audio, and a pretty darned famous author to boot). Bruce loved it and forwarded it to the Heinlein Trust.

They are quite pleased with the change. We'll use the new cover on the second run. Since these are produced in short runs, there won't be too many "wrong" covers of mine floating around. Maybe they'll become collectors items!

click image for larger view

Monday, June 14, 2010

Photoshop & Wacom


Audiobook cover for Rubber Houses.


Audiobook cover for Red Planet.


Syracuse Opera Poster for Faust.

Digital Paintings using Photoshop CS2/CS3 and Wacom Intuos II graphics tablet. Sketches for these were all done traditionally--pencil on paper. Color comps and final art were done digitally (Photoshop). A "comp" (short for comprehensive) is a rough study of what the final art will look like in place, with text and other design elements. It gives the client a good idea of composition, color, type placement & design, etc.

click images for larger view

Saturday, May 29, 2010

A blast from the past




A couple ads I did for WAER Radio a zillion years ago. These were done old-school. The drawings are pen & ink & the "typesetting" was done in a "darkroom" and adhered to a "mechanical" with "wax" and "rubber cement" on a "drafting table". ("emphasis" on words marked for removal from the lexicon). The piano tie on JAZZ was my brother Jim's.

click images for larger view

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Fun with 3D - LarryBot

Modeled this a while back in Carrara -- 3Dmodeling and animation software. This is my brother Larry as a probe robot. His "neck" is articulated... simple ball joint, and the wheels turn. If I ever animate it I'll post a video.

click image for larger view

Wednesday, November 4, 2009



Study of Hamlin Marsh

Oil on canvas panel • 8 x 10
Quick oil study of Hamlin Marsh in Liverpool. Haven't done much plein air painting, and found out when I opened my paintbox, I didn't have any yellow. None. I mixed a "sort of" yellow on site using raw umber and white and filled in the blanks when I got back to my studio. It was very windy, (storm approaching) and the canvas blew off the easel a couple times. I added tape, a small bungy cord and a couple clips to my paintbox.

click image for larger view