Illustrators #34 (magazine review).

This latest issue of ‘Illustrators’ focuses on the Latin artists who gained fame with work outside of their own country. Top of this list is Jesús Blasco (1919-1995) and holds a rather unusual distinction in never drawn or painting nudes. When you consider much of his work appeared in junior and teens British comics, he probably never had a need. Oddly, I suspect I might have seen a lot of his early work in ‘Playhour’ and ‘Teddy Bear’ and then with ‘The Steel Claw’ in ‘Lion’. His range from serious to comedy shows he no bounds other than that.

Prolific Argentinean-born artist Francisco Solano López (1928-2011) has worked literally across the world. For the UK, he did ‘Kelly’s Eye’ for ‘Valiant’ and later, for ‘Smash!’, escapologist Jonas Stark, who also had some life in France as well. Obviously, you again need to be of a certain age to know these stories, you also have to wonder why they haven’t been reprinted, more so as some of his other work has. To be fair, ‘Jonas Stark’ has been reprinted in France but have been neglected in the UK. Seeing the art here, Solano López was really a strong artist and an excellent storyteller working in black and white as well as colour.

Just in case you think editor Diego Cordoba is keeping to deceased artists, the next, Italian artist Eugenio Sicomoro (1952- ) is very much alive and equally jaw-dropping not only with his detailed art, especially with hair, but also his humour and texturing. From humans to aliens to robots to zombies, he encompasses them all. I checked on how much of his work is available and other than a couple Italian graphic novels, very little. It does get a bit easier if you look under the books he’s worked on like ‘Dylan Dog’, which should enforce you to get this ‘Illustrators’. I’m in awe at his pencil-work. He has a pencil for detail is an art and the best artists make it easy which belies the time it takes to look that good.

Spanish comicbook artist Víctor De La Fuente (1927-2010) had certain political undertones in his work but in the period he was brought up and his travels, I don’t think I would find that too surprising. One can’t dismiss his art and line control that provides action on the panel.

Finally, Spanish artist and teacher Arantzazu Martínez (1977- ) is another artist whose art is to die for in its detail. Here, we are shown how big her canvases are, which looks like they are A2, although she does work at different sizes as well. Working in oils, she also primes her canvas so the tooth is really smooth which no doubt explains how she can get the detail. Oddly, I can’t find any books of her work, although she has appear in the ‘Star Wars: Visions’ book, although from what Diego Cordoba gets from his interview with her, she frequently wins art competitions.

If you want to be inspired by artists, then this issue of ‘Illustrators’ is a must buy. The accent on detail should help you improve your own art. If you just like looking at art, then you’ll be tracking down some of the books these artists have worked on. An important asset for any artbook or magazine.

GF Willmetts

August 2021

(pub: The Book Palace, 2021. 98 page illustrated squarebound magazine. Price: £20.00 (UK), $21.99 (US) via Bud Plant. ISBN: 978-1-913548-15-5. ISSN: 2052-6520)

check out website: www.bookpalace.com and www.illustratorsquarterly.com