(Dough)Nuts and Bolts

Detail of Rocket Surfer by Eric Joyner

The vintage tin toy robots of the 1950s have a sense of optimism, an exuberance, that promises a bright future of technological miracles. Unlike the mechanized monsters that became more common in subsequent dystopian views of the future, the "atomic age" robots are the manifestations of enlightening science, the mark of humanity's transcendent genius.

In Eric Joyner's exhibition, "It's a Jungle Out There", on view at the Corey Helford Gallery, these icons of progress are shown undertaking a series of adventures, from being attacked by pythons or robot-eating plants to surfing both upon the primordial waves and across the starry void, scenes that could have come from the imagination of a child playing out stories from the pulp adventures of science fiction magazines or comic books.

It's a playful display of pop surrealism mixed with uplifting nostalgia. And donuts. ;-)

Detail of All Wrapped Up by Eric Joyner

In terms of technique, the paintings are impressive, rich with detail and vibrant colors. There is a visceral sense of place, evocative of classic jungle adventures from pulp fiction, such as the Tarzan stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Frazetta and the Martian Princess

". . . Nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her figure!"


My earlier post focused on colored artworks, but some of my favorite illustrations of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series are Frank Frazetta's pen and ink interior illustrations. Here are two from Princess of Mars. Good stuff!!!



"Scarcely had his hideous laugh rung out when I was upon him. . ."



Music or Mars?

John Carter of Mars and Dejah Thoris (2009) by Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo


Since I'm in a bit of a rush today, we'll compress the celebration of Edgar Rice Burroughs' birth date (1875) and Johann Pachelbel's (1653) into one post. This may become the model for future days when I'm torn between two inspirations. Since Burroughs has plenty of illustrations to depict his work, but few quality videos, he'll have the front page. Meanwhile, Pachelbel has virtually no interesting images but many, many vids. So he'll come after the jump.

Today we'll focus on images of Burroughs' Barsoom. Why? Well, there is a John Carter of Mars movie coming out later this year. Second, Dejah Thoris, princess of the Martian city-state of Helium, is the original interplanetary super-hottie. Many an illustrator has been inspired by this Martian muse. ;-)


Cover art to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Princess of Mars by Frank Frazetta (1970)


If it's Tarzan or images of the Hollow Earth land of Pellucidar that you desire, then wait until next year or so.



Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium (2010) by Frank Cho


As regards Barsoom, Princess of Mars was published as a serial in 1912 and republished as a novel in 1917. The series spans 11 books. The success of this series created the Planetary Romance subgenre of Science Fiction.