A Kind and Gentle Soul

A really great friend of ours passed away very recently. It was after a long illness, yet still it was a shock to actually lose him. He was the guiding force of Middle Earth Publishing, which was famous for having published fantasy art portfolios in the 1970s, showcasing the likes of Frank Frazetta, Jeffrey Jones, John Severin, Barry Smith, Howard Chaykin, Mike Ploog, and a number of others. 

This was a man who actually art directed Frank Frazetta, staying at his house for a number of days at a time, and actually served as a model for one of the portfolios. I will be producing a tribute to this man as soon as I can make time, and you'll learn more about him then. In the meantime we are greatly saddened at his passing. He was a kind and gentle soul . . . and Harlan Ellison is still pissed at him. More about that later.

Barry Smith — Conan of Cimmeria — © 1975 Gorblimey Press

A Fine Pose

Barry Smith doesn't usually draw super heroes per se, but for an ad agency commission he gave the drawing the quality of a Lou Fine pose, using brush, ink and zip-a-tone.

Barry Smith — Superhero

Battling Bones

Barry Smith probably used a whole bottle of india ink rendering this large, 24" x 27", masterful drawing of Conan battling bones. There's so much detail, it's almost hard to look at, but with masterful coloration I bet it would be . . . well . . . even more masterful.

Barry Windsor-Smith — Conan battling skeletal warriors

Last Atlantean

Of course you've seen this magnificent print by Barry Smith, and probably have it in your collection, but I'm posting it here, just 'cause I want to. Zoom in on the beautiful rendering detail.

Barry Windsor-Smith — The Last Atlantean — 1981

Flavorful

I really like Frank Thorne's later work. Besides the focus on battling babes, Thorne has a graphic design quality that is unique and flavorful. His comic book claim to fame really began with his Red Sonja treatment, moving on to Ghita and others. I'll come back to Thorne's work on a later post, but in the meantime some flavorful comic pinups:

Below, an assemblage of Sonjas. Beginning on the left with Robert E. Howard's original character, envisioned by Roy Krenkel, from a different setting than when Barry Smith (with Roy Thomas) brought her to Conan's saga—and then was fully developed (ahem!) by Frank Thorne.

Illustrator's Sensibilities

Barry Windsor-Smith brought illustrator's sensibilities to comics.

Barry Windsor-Smith — Kull the Conqueror #9 — 1985

Saga

Barry Windsor-Smith's Conan was another high-water mark for the 70s, and he only got better as time went on. His drawings for the Conan Saga covers were jewels, and of course all his other work is magnificent. You won't see his style reflected in my art, but the influence is there.

Saga