Cool Art: 'The Empire Strikes Back' by Vincent Rhafael Aseo

'The Empire Strikes Back' by Vincent Rhafael Aseo

Cool Art: 'Unity' by Simon Delart

'Unity' by Simon Delart, inspired by 'Assassin's Creed Unity'

Regular

Variant

Cool Art: 'Rock Paper Classics Collection' by Mike Mahle

Rock Paper Classics is a set of classic books with modern, updated cover art from independent artists and was successfully crowd-funded via Kickstarter earlier this year.

Most reprints of classic books seem to be low quality produced editions with bland covers and unappealing formatting. The goal of Rock Paper Books is to offer an alternative that is both aesthetically pleasing, functional and attractive interior layouts, with a consistent look and feel throughout. 

The old saying goes that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover… but you shouldn’t have to look past the cover either!

"The idea for the project came about when I decided to catch up on my reading list. There were many classic books I hadn’t gotten around to reading. I wanted a set of books that matched each other and fit well with my apartment decor. So I went down to my local bookstore to check out their offerings. Unfortunately what I found were mass produced, cost cutting, dull looking versions of some of the most acclaimed books of all time. I was very surprised there were no higher quality paperback sets of classic books available. 

I brought up the idea with my friend, Patrick Phillips, to hire an artist and create my own collection. I wanted something with clean, modern, vector-based artwork. We did a lot of research, interviewed a few artists, and ended up picking Mike Mahle to create the first five books. To get started, we chose to go with H.G. Wells and Jules Verne classics in order to target the sci-fi market. To be honest I’m not sure if it would have mattered if we chose different books, as the kickstarter was a huge success. We now have 24 titles in the set and are looking to expand to many more in the future. Rock Paper Classics is our first collection but it sure won’t be our last." - David Mautz, developer of the project.

Go here to buy the books. And check out the set of 24 covers in the Rock Paper Classics collection by artist Mike Mahle below.

Cool Art: 'Into The Dalek' by Francesco Francavilla

'Into The Dalek' by Francesco Francavilla.

Book Review: 'The Art Of Guardians Of The Galaxy'

I have a few movie and video game 'Art Of' books in my collection, with this being my first of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And I'd have to say that this is one of the best.

Virtually all of the 334 pages are packed with some stunning concept art and notes and is split into 9 chapters. Each detailing some pretty cool concept art by Andy Park, Charlie Wen, Jackson Sze, and a lot more for our protagonists, the villains, minor characters, weapons and certain key scenes, including one scene broken down into the storyboards by David Krentz. It's interesting to see how each of the characters developed from concept all the way to screen.

If you like the behind the scenes look at the early imaginings and concepts and the developments all the way until the finished product on the screen, then get this book. If you loved the film, as quite a few people have, get this book. It even comes in a sturdy slipcase too. 'The Art Of Guardians Of The Galaxy' is well worth picking up.

*****/5

Cool Art: 'We Must Be Cautious' by Matt Ferguson

'Star Wars' inspired, 'We Must Be Cautious' by Matt Ferguson.

Available as a 12" x 24" print from Bottleneck Gallery soon.

Cool Art: 'Life Will Find A Way' by Mark Englert

'Life Will Find A Way' by Mark Englert, marking the closing of Mark's 'Director Series 2' second solo art show at Gallery1988 (West), is a 12" x 36" 6 colour print, in a limited edition of 200 (with 150 available at the gallery) and will cost $60. There's also an 'unplucked variant' in which the T-rex family has feathers, which is a 7 colour print, in a limited edition of 50 for $100.

They go on sale at the Gallery1988 (West), 7308 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046, Saturday August 30 at 11am PST and online at the Gallery 1988 website sometime later that day.

With any purchase at the gallery tomorrow, you will be entered in a raffle to win a signed and framed variant of Mark's 'Jurassic World'!

Head over to his blog for some detail shots. Follow Gallery1988 on Twitter @Galleries1988 for the on sale announcement.

'Life Will Find A Way' (Regular Edition)

'Life Will Find A Way' (Variant Edition)

'Jurassic World' (Variant Edition)

Cool Art: 'My Captain' by Adrià Llarch, Robin Williams Tribute Print From HCG

'My Captain' by Adrià Llarch, is a 12" x 12" fine art giclée print in an open numbered edition and costs $25.

A tribute to the late great Robin Williams, who passed away recently, this print is the first Mighty Mini Benefit print from Hero Complex Gallery, and all gallery proceeds will go towards the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

Go here to buy.

#FrazettaFriday: 'Leaping Lizards' by Frank Frazetta

Available as a limited edition signed and numbered lithograph

Go here to buy.

Cool Art: 'The Sleeper And the Spindle' Cover Art by Chris Riddell

Cover art by Chris Riddell for 'The Sleeper And the Spindle' by Neil Gaiman, coming out from Bloomsbury the week of Hallowe’en.

Cool Art: 'Flash Gordon' Posters by We Buy Your Kids

'Flash Gordon' posters by We Buy Your Kids.

These are 12" x 36" prints in signed and numbered limited editions of 100 each and are part of the Mondo gallery show, 'Harsh Majical' featuring the artworks of We Buy Your Kids. The exhibition runs from August 29 until September 15.

The opening reception is on Friday, August 29 from 7-10pm at the Mondo Gallery at 4115 Guadalupe St. in Austin, TX.

Cool Art: Bottleneck Gallery presents 'Celscapes': A Solo Art Show by James White

Bottleneck Gallery presents 'Celscapes': A Solo Art Show by James White.

The show opens on Friday, August 29th, with the opening reception at 7pm and at Bottleneck Gallery, 60 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249.

Any remaining work will go on sale at the Bottleneck Gallery website Saturday, August 30 at 12pm eastern.

Check out the preview of a selection of art from the show below.

Cool Art: 'Heavy Metal' by Kilian Eng

'Heavy Metal' by Kilian Eng, is a 24" x 36" screenprint that was originally available at the Mondo booth at this year's San Diego Comic Con.

The regular edition is in a numbered limited edition of 290 for $50, and the variant in a numbered limited edition of 145 for $75.

They go on sale at a random time on Thursday August 28. Follow Mondo on Twitter @mondonews for when this goes on sale.

Regular Edition

Variant Edition

#FantasyArtThursday: 'The Spirit Of The Forest With The Guardian Wolf' by Chris Rallis

Cool Art: 'Mario' by Bruce Yan

'Mario' by Bruce Yan, is an 11" x 14" giclee, and is a timed released edition for PAX Weekend and costs $40.

It will be available from Thursday, August 28 at 12pm PST until 11:59pm PST on Monday, September 1 through Ltd. Art Gallery.

Cool Art: 'Fantasize' by Ise Ananphada

'Fantasize', a series of illustrations by Ise Ananphada.

'In the kindness of trees, in the wisdom of light'

Cool Art: 'Black Widow' by Stanley Lau

'Black Widow' by Stanley Lau for XM Studio's limited edition Black Widow statue.

Cover art for 'John Carter: Warlord Of Mars' #1 from Dynamite Comics

Cover art for 'John Carter: Warlord Of Mars' #1, shipping in November from Dynamite Comics.

by Emanuela Lupacchino

#WhelanWednesday 'Amethystsea' by Michael Whelan

Cover art for the novel 'Days Of Grass' by Tanith Lee.

Cool Art: 'Espirit' by Andy Fairhurst

'Espirit' by Andy Fairhurst, the next in his 'Nerd's Eye View' series, inspired by 'The Spy Who Loved Me'.

#VallejoTuesday: 'Britorgan' by Boris Vallejo

Cool Art: 'The Magician of the Mountain of Death' by Bastien Lecouffe Deharme

'The Magician of the Mountain of Death' by Bastien Lecouffe Deharme.

Cool Art: 'The Man Without Fear' by Florey

'The Man Without Fear' by Florey, is an 18" x 24" 3 colour screenprint, that was originally part of Hero Complex Gallery's recent 'I Am The Law / Life Of Crime' art show.

The print has Blind Embossing in Braille in the upper right corner that reads "Daredevil. The Man Without Fear", and is available to buy as part of an auction on ebay with 100% of the sale going to The Guide Dog Foundation For the Blind, Inc. 

Go here to buy.

Cool Art: 'Psycho 2' by Chris Garofalo

'Psycho 2' by Chris Garofalo, is a 9" x 24" 3-colour screen print with grey metallic ink on French Paper Wild Cherry. It's in a signed and numbered limited edition of 20 and cost $20 and will be available at a special screening of 'Psycho 2' as part of the 'First Friday Fright Night' at The Colonial Theatre on September 5.

#McQuarrieMonday: Art From 'The Empire Strikes Back' by Ralph McQuarrie

Cool Art: 'G Of Life' by Karen Hallion

'G Of Life' by Karen Hallion, inspired by 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' and Gustav Klimt's 'Tree of Life'.

Go here to buy.

Cool Art: 'The 12th Doctor' by Francesco Francavilla

'The 12th Doctor' by Francesco Francavilla.

Cool Art: 'The Twelfth Doctor' by Matt Ferguson

'The Twelfth Doctor' by  Matt Ferguson.

Available as an 8" x 11" numbered giclee print, timed edition release. Available today, for 24hrs only, beginning 12pm EST (4pm GMT), Sunday August 24, from Bottleneck Gallery, and costs $25.

Go here to buy.

You can check out his art for the previous Doctors here.

Cool Art: 'Deep Breath' by Alice X Zhang

'Deep Breath' by Alice X Zhang, officially commissioned by the 'Doctor Who: Earth Conquest' documentary.

Also check out her cover art of the Twelfth, Eleventh and Tenth Doctors for Titan Comics below.

Cool Art: 'Old Story, New Ending' by Seventy Two Studio

'Old Story, New Ending' by Seventy Two Studio.

#FrazettaFriday: 'The Mammoth' by Frank Frazetta

Unlettered cover art for the novel 'Back To The Stone Age' by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Cool Art: 'Pretty Deadly' #1 Reprint Cover Art by David Mack

'Pretty Deadly' #1 reprint cover art by David Mack.

Cool Art: 'Bat Girl II' by David Stoupakis

'Bat Girl II' by David Stoupakis is a 14.5" x 20" print on 310 gsm German Etching, in a hand signed and numbered limited edition of only 50, and costs $65.
Go here to buy.

Cool Art: 'Terror And Wonder' by Dave McKean

'Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination' opens in October at the British Library, and explores all aspects of the Gothic world. 

Iconic works, including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the sinister fairy tales of Angela Carter and the modern horrors of Clive Barker, highlight the ways in which contemporary fears have been addressed by successive generations of Gothic writers. Other rare and fascinating exhibits, including overlooked manuscripts and even a real-life vampire-slaying kit, highlight how contemporary fears have been addressed by generation after generation.

The artwork for the poster is by Dave McKean, best known for his work on Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman'.

'Terror And Wonder: The Gothic Imagination' opens on 3 October 2014 and is on until 20 January 2015.

Cool Art: 'Link' by Bruce Yan

On Friday August 22, Bottleneck Gallery will be closing their current exhibit, Chogrin's 8 Bit and Beyond 2, with a special 3 hour timed release letterpress print. 

'Link' by Bruce Yan is a 5" x 5" letterpress print that will cost $15 each. All prints will be signed and the number of the edition will be determined at the end of the 3 hour mark.

And on Sunday night, 4 lucky people will be drawn out and will receive the wood variant. The wood variant is also 5" x 5" and will be signed and numbered in a limited edition of 5. The remaining wood print will be auctioned off for charity at a later time.

The sale will last from 12pm-3pm EST. Go here to buy.

Cool Art: Final Two 'Ghostbusters' 30th Anniversary Prints From Gallery1988

The final two screenprints in the 'Ghostbusters' 30th Anniversary art celebration from Gallery1988, by Tara McPherson and Godmachine, will be available Thursday August 21 at Noon PT / 3 PM ET.

Follow them on Twitter @galleries1988 for future announcements.

'Gozer' by Tara McPherson
17" x 24" Screenprint in a limited edition of 150. $35
Go here to buy

'OK…Who Brought The Dog?' by Godmachine
18" x 24" Screenprint in a limited edition of 200. $35
Go here to buy

#FantasyArtThursday: Art by Luis Royo

#WhelanWednesday: 'Spellweavers' by Michael Whelan

Unlettered cover art by Michael Whelan for the novel 'The Mageborn Traitor' by Melanie Rawn.

Cool Art: 'Starship Troopers' by Kilian Eng

'Starship Troopers' by Kilian Eng

Unfortunately not for sale as this was for a private commission. 

Cool Art: 'Road Of Justice' by Kaz Oomori

'Road Of Justice' by Kaz Oomori, inspired by the new 'Mad Max' movie 'Fury Road', is part of the 'I Am The Law / A Life Of Crime', art show from Hero Complex Gallery. A tribute to cops and criminals, authority figures, buddy cop films, cons, prison films, gangsters, heists, The Wire, gangs, westerns, spies, murder, whodunits, private eyes, and so much more.

Go here to buy.

#VallejoTuesday 'Felsa' by Boris Vallejo

Cool Art: 'Rocky' Poster Art From Mondo By César Moreno & Matt Taylor

Originally available at the Alamo Drafthouse's Sylvester Stallone Birthday Celebration, Mondo will be releasing remaining copies of 'Rocky' by César Moreno, and 'Rocky II' and 'Rocky III' by Matt Taylor online at a random time on Tuesday August 19.

Follow them on Twitter @mondonews for the on sale announcement.

'Rocky' by César Moreno
24" x 36" screen print, in a hand numbered limited edition of 150. $45

'Rocky II' by Matt Taylor
18" x 24"" screen print, in a hand numbered limited edition of 150. $40

'Rocky III' by Matt Taylor
20" x 36" screen print, in a hand numbered limited edition of 150. $40

Cool Art: 'Blade Runner' by Matt Ferguson

'Blade Runner' by Matt Ferguson.

Cool Art: 'There’s a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out' by Matt Ferguson

'There’s a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out' by Matt Ferguson.

2014 Chesley Award Winners Announced

The Chesley Awards were established by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA) to recognize individual artistic works and achievements in the field of science fiction and fantasy.

The 2014 Chesley Award winners were announced at Loncon 3, during The 72nd World Science Fiction Con, over the weekend at the ExCeL Arena in London.

Check out the list of winners and art below.

Best Cover Illustration: Hardback Book

Todd Lockwood - A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan; Tor, Feb. 2013

2014 Hugo Award & 1939 Retro Hugo Award Winners Announced

2014 Hugo Award

The Hugo Awards, presented annually since 1955 by the World Science Fiction Society, recognize the best in science fiction and fantasy, and the winners for the 2014 Hugo Awards and the 1939 Retro Hugo Awards (in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the very first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939 - more information here) were announced during Loncon 3 in London over the weekend.

This year's trophy was designed by Joy Alyssa Day.

2014 Hugo Award Winners

Best Novel
Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie (Orbit US/Orbit UK)

Best Novella
“Equoid”, Charles Stross (Tor.com, 09-2013)

Best Novelette
“The Lady Astronaut of Mars”, Mary Robinette Kowal (maryrobinettekowal.com/Tor.com, 09-2013)

Best Short Story
“The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere”, John Chu (Tor.com, 02-2013)

Best Related Work
“We Have Always Fought: Challenging the Women, Cattle and Slaves Narrative”, Kameron Hurley (A Dribble of Ink)

Best Graphic Story
“Time”, Randall Munroe (XKCD)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
Gravity, written by Alfonso Cuarón & Jonás Cuarón, directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Esperanto Filmoj; Heyday Films; Warner Bros.)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
Game of Thrones: “The Rains of Castamere”, written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, directed by David Nutter (HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; Television 360; Startling Television and Generator Productions)

Best Editor, Short Form
Ellen Datlow

Best Editor, Long Form
Ginjer Buchanan

Best Professional Artist
Julie Dillon

Best SemiprozineLightspeed Magazine, edited by John Joseph Adams, Rich Horton, and Stefan Rudnicki

Best Fanzine
A Dribble of Ink, edited by Aidan Moher

Best Fancast
SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester

Best Fan Writer
Kameron Hurley

Best Fan Artist
Sarah Webb

The John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer
Award for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2012 or 2013, sponsored by Dell Magazines. (Not a Hugo Award, but administered along with the Hugo Awards.)
Sofia Samatar

1939 Retro Hugo Award Winners

Best Novel
The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White (Collins)

Best Novella
“Who Goes There?” by Don A Stuart [John W. Campbell] (Astounding Science-Fiction, August 1938)

Best Novellette
“Rule 18” by Clifford D. Simak (Astounding Science-Fiction, July 1938)

Best Short Story
“How We Went to Mars” by Arthur C. Clarke (Amateur Science Stories, March 1938)

Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form)
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Written by Howard Koch & Anne Froelick, directed by Orson Welles (The Mercury Theater on the Air, CBS)

Best Editor (Short Form)
John W Campbell

Best Professional Artist
Virgil Finlay

Best Fanzine
Imagination! edited by Forrest J Ackerman, Morojo, and T. Bruce Yerke

Best Fan Writer
Ray Bradbury

#McQuarrieMonday: 'Battlestar Galactica' Art by Ralph McQuarrie

Cool Art: 'The War Of The Worlds' by Tom Whalen

'The War Of The Worlds' by Tom Whalen, is a 36" x 24" officially licensed screenprint, and is part of Dark Hall Mansion's Seminal Film series and available in signed and numbered regular and variant editions.

They are available first to subscription holders of the new Dark Hall Mansion 10-print “Twilight Zone Series" which goes on sale Tuesday August 19 between 9.30am - 12pm PST at their webstore.

Follow them on Twitter @DarkHallMansion for the on sale announcement.

EDIT:
These will be available on general release on Friday September 5 between 9am - 12pm PST at the Dark Hall Mansion webstore.

They are available in several editions. A regular edition of 295 for $65 and a variant limited to 100 for $100. There are also foil editions of the prints; the regular in an edition of 10 for $150 and the variant also in a limited edition of 10 for $150.

Regular Edition

Variant Edition