Catching Up...

Since my last posting, I am happy to report, I managed to get my hands on a copy of the new book about Alex Raymond 

and it was sufficiently impressive, that I bought it!

Alex Raymond: An Artistic Journey,

is well worth the money and anyone with an interest in seeing the artwork, at or near, the size it was actually drawn, will love this volume.

I didn't find the text, written by Ron Goulart, to be anywhere near as in depth, as the detailed life story in,

"Alex Raymond, His Life and Art"

by Tom Roberts.  Which I highly recommend.

But, then again, the intent of the books is slightly different too.

This week, we get to see, Comic Book Creator #11 and Illustration Magazine #51.  I have been buying both publications since they began and so far, they have both impressed me.

Comic Book Creator #11, from the TwoMorrows publishing empire, is a look back at the life and times of Gil Kane.  It should be an interesting read, since Gil was one of the workhorses of the industry and he had a lot of opinions about it too.  One of the earliest interviews with him, in my collection, is in Roy Thomas' Alter Ego #10, from 1969, which is still worth seeking out for any fan of the medium.

For those who would like to read the interview, I have just found this Link to it, on the Hooded Utilitarian Blog:

http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2010/07/the-interview-as-criticism-gil-kane/

Illustration Magazine, is a fine publication and their latest issue, #51, promises to dazzle us with a look at the, "spectacular art of John Gannam".  Gannam is a particular favourite of mine, one of many, I freely admit, but special none the less.

For some reason, perhaps because it is a whole lot more striking than the familial scene that they used, by John Gannam, during the planning stage, the published cover will be the one above.

It is by Ted Coconis, who was a spectacular movie poster artist, responsible for the iconic images of Hair, Dorian Gray and Labyrinth, among many others.

If anyone from the art book community is reading this, a volume, dedicated to the life and art of John Gannam, would be greatly appreciated!

One other item that has caught my attention, among the other 'coming attractions', is

Samantha Youseff's Movement & Form.

Art instruction books are my weakness and this one appears to be right up my alley.

 This is a photograph of the lovely Samantha and I love the animator's desk that she is sitting at.

I actually have an animator's disc,

it was given to me, many years ago, by a friend, who was passionately interested in animation.

One of these days, I will have to get off my ass and make a desk for it, not to mention some of the other bits that it is missing.

I am not an animator, but it would be an interesting lightbox if nothing else.

The Labyrinth, on Bloor Street West in Toronto, is a great place to shop for these kinds of books and I buy most of mine from them.  So if you are looking for somewhere that stocks unusual art books, I can recommend them wholeheartedly.