InspirationWhodunnit

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Brian Sanders' 1970s Book Covers

Posted on 10:02 by Unknown
Guest author Bryn Havord, following his overview of English illustrator Brian Sanders’ work produced in the 1960s, which we featured in April, continues with samples of Brian’s illustrations made during the 1970s and ’80s.


Yesterday I described how the 1970s proved to be a challenging decade for every illustrator in Britain trying to pursue a career in magazine illustration.

Sanders72

However, the market for paperback book cover illustration remained buoyant, although more and more photographic cover illustrations were being used.

Sanders73

In the early seventies David Larkin, then art editor of Pan Books, asked Brian if he would like to re-jacket the Steinbeck books. They both agreed that watercolour was too English for the subject matter, so Brian said he would work in ‘acrylic solid colour’. Brian thought that there were only six books. There were twenty-six.

Sanders74

Above are Brian's illustrations for "Of Mice and Men", "The Moon is Down" and "Sweet Thursday." Below, "Log from the Sea of Cortez." The figure of Doc in these last two paintings was kindly modelled by illustrator Alan Lee, now better known as the creative director of the Lord of the Rings films.

Sanders75

Below, book cover for Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jabwallah.

Sanders76

A Stronger Climate. The main building on this cover was not in India but based on the view from the roof above Brian’s studio at Artist Partners in London’s Soho. It is actually the Windmill Theatre.

Sanders77

Below, cover for A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Alexander Solzhenitsin. Published by Panther Books.

Sanders84

Sanders78

Above, one from a series of covers for books written by John Fante commissioned by Granada Books

Below, cover for a book entitled Poonah Company by Farrukh Dhondy.

Sanders79

Below, the cover for a book entitled It’s an Old Country by J B Priestly. Watercolour with dry brush.

Sanders80

The model Brian chose to play the part of the aging private detective in the novel turned out to be one!

Sanders82

Two covers for Brian Moore novels. Above: The Emperor of Ice Cream Below: The Luck of Ginger Coffey

Sanders81

Brian re-jacketed several C S Forester books for David Larkin at Pan.

Sanders83

This was for Hornblower in the West Indies


Continued tomorrow.

* Brian was very pleased with the responses he received after his first blog was kindly published by Leif Peng back in April. His e-mail address is briansanders[dot]art[at]googlemail[dot]com
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Posted in | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Bruce Johnson, Canadian Illustrator
    Here's a wonderful early '60s illustration by Canadian illustrator Bruce Johnson. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of informatio...
  • Leon Gregori: "... he would draw and draw and draw."
    There are some illustrators of the mid-century whose work I have come across time and again in my collection of old magazines about whom the...
  • Lowell Hess: "I had a reputation as an artist with talent."
    "As I grew up," writes Lowell Hess the introduction to his new book , "it was my only interest to make pictures." And p...
  • Good-bye Mitchell Hooks (1923 - 2013)
    A couple of days ago on Facebook, Dan Zimmer of Illustration Magazine shared some sad news: last weekend, Mitchell Hooks passed away. How p...
  • Model Kit Box Art by "the Two Roys"
    By Guest Author, Roger O'Reilly For anyone growing up in Britain or Ireland in the 70's and 80's who had half an interest in bui...
  • Michael Johnson: "I looked forward to being surprised, and always delighted, with what he produced."
    Guest author Bryn Havord introduces the early work of English illustrator Michael Johnson, covering the decade of his work, from the end of...
  • The Art of Summer Reading: Mercer Mayer
    Among all the beloved, memorable books of my childhood, I probably hold no other series in higher esteem than I do John D. Fitzgerald's ...
  • Barbara Bradley: A Female Illustrator You Should Know
    Last week I received, once again, a comment from a reader asking "what about the female illustrators of the mid-20th century?" Th...
  • The Art of Summer Reading: Robert McCloskey
    I wonder if anyone else remembers the terrific "Henry Reed" series of chapter books, illustrated by Robert McCloskey. I've me...
  • Howard Terpning, Magazine Illustrator
    Today most people think of Howard Terpning as one of America's premier western art painters. Terpning's prints and paintings can be...

Blog Archive

  • ►  2013 (68)
    • ►  August (3)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (12)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  April (6)
    • ►  March (10)
    • ►  February (16)
    • ►  January (13)
  • ►  2012 (127)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (10)
    • ►  September (8)
    • ►  August (10)
    • ►  July (17)
    • ►  June (20)
    • ►  May (14)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (13)
    • ►  February (15)
    • ►  January (12)
  • ▼  2011 (146)
    • ▼  December (17)
      • Brian Sanders: "a professional artist for five de...
      • Brian Sanders: Personal Work, Gallery and Exhibit...
      • Brian Sanders: Posters, Stamps and Gallery Paintings
      • Brian Sanders' 1970s Book Covers
      • The 1970s: a challenging decade for illustrators i...
      • The Countdown Concludes... with 'The 12 Famous Art...
      • The Countdown Continues... with 'The 12 Famous Art...
      • The Countdown Continues... with 'The 12 Famous Art...
      • The Countdown Continues... with 'The 12 Famous Art...
      • The Countdown Continues... with 'The 12 Famous Art...
      • The Countdown Continues... with 'The 12 Famous Art...
      • The Countdown to Christmas Continues... with Some ...
      • The Countdown to Christmas Continues... with anoth...
      • The Countdown to Christmas Continues... with "Bad ...
      • The Countdown to Christmas Continues... with Tea!
      • The Countdown to Christmas Continues... with Coffee!
      • The Countdown to Christmas Begins Once Again!
    • ►  November (11)
    • ►  October (9)
    • ►  September (16)
    • ►  August (15)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (9)
    • ►  May (11)
    • ►  April (15)
    • ►  March (10)
    • ►  February (16)
    • ►  January (12)
  • ►  2010 (159)
    • ►  December (10)
    • ►  November (18)
    • ►  October (11)
    • ►  September (9)
    • ►  August (23)
    • ►  July (15)
    • ►  June (12)
    • ►  May (15)
    • ►  April (17)
    • ►  March (21)
    • ►  February (8)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile