Illustrators #47 (magazine review).

One of ‘Illustrators’ strengths is to show artists you might not come across before. It’s even more problematic when there are so few bookshops around or even having access to them to see what’s on the shelves. We need magazines like this, and also one of the rare times I’ve gone off hunting for their books, which should speak for itself.

To start this 47th edition, Diego Cordoba interviews artist Steve Stone, an artist I haven’t come across before but who has some beautifully digitally painted pictures. I don’t know about you, but with any artist I get interested in, I have to look up to see book availability, and he has four, although you do have to buy them from his own website. Check out his website, https://stonenexusdarkart.com/collections/art-books. You have a better chance of finding two of the four SF films he’s directed and written, ‘Entity’, ‘Schism’, ‘In Extremis’ and ‘Deus’, although he admits it was a strain doing them. He has an interesting clarity in his art and makes use of a limited palette that is impressive and jaw-dropping, and his horse paintings are an homage to Frazetta.

Next is Spanish artist Pepe Moreno. Mostly a comic book artist whose style fitted more with Warren Publications and, after their demise, ‘Heavy Metal’ and Epic Publications. Much of his panels are truly overloaded with detail, judging purely by his samples here, but I can see how he gets his fans, and you have to pay attention to what is on the page.

Writer Darcy Sullivan interviews cartoonist Pete Von Sholly, who made his living doing film layouts, many of them famous films, explaining that ideas he introduced were taken over by the directors. He clips into his own work from time to time with comedy, and his ‘Star-Spangled Dinosaurs’ gave me a wry chuckle. He normally gravitates towards horror and is known for his large murals.

Another cartoonist here is Gideon Kendall, who is far more outlandish, but he’s more of an underground artist, so that shouldn’t be surprising, as he is also interviewed. Even so, he also does comedy, and his work varies from picture to picture and even into ink alone.

There is a spotlight on Charles Dana Gibson (1867-1944), who does some superb linework and is known for his drawings of women enough for them to be called the ‘Gibson Women’. Judging by how he could thicken his ink line with pressure, I’m assuming his nibs had a slight split. This is a feat that is evidently unattainable in today’s digital world.

As you can tell, I’m a lot more enthusiastic about this edition of ‘Illustrators’. Much of my appreciation for art hinges on how well-crafted the pictures are. Using a good technique also enhances the visual appeal. Don’t miss this issue.

GF Willmetts

April 2025

(pub: The Book Palace, 2025. 98 page illustrated squarebound magazine. Price: £22.00 (UK), $27.99 (US) via Bud Plant. ISBN: 978-1-913548-03-2. ISSN: 2052-6520).

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