Richard M. Powers
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Richard M. Powers (February 24, 1921 – March 9, 1996) was an American science fiction illustrator. He was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2008.[1][2]
Life and work
Born in Chicago 1921 into a Catholic family, Richard Michael Gorman Powers[3] spent most of his early life supported by his mother and aunt. His father left the family when Powers was young. At eleven, Powers was introduced to art when his uncle gave him a sketch book, although in later life his uncle's wife would try to prevent from making any art. He studied Greek at Loyola University before switching to art, taking classes at Mizen Academy, Chicago Art Institute and the University of Illinois, Chicago. After enlisting to join World War II, he took more art classes at the University of Kentucky during basic training, thereafter working in the Signal Corps in New York City. He married and began a career in illustrations for magazines and publishing houses, continuing his art education at the New School in New York.[4] Eventually, he became one of the most influential science fiction artists of all time.
He began by working in a conventional pulp paperback style, but quickly evolved a personal Surrealist idiom influenced by the cubists and surrealists, especially Picasso and Yves Tanguy. He also dabbled in abstract art and collage at a later age before dying in 1996 at the age of 75.
From the 1940s through the 1960s, he did many of covers for Doubleday. During the 1950s and 1960s, he served as an unofficial art director for Ballantine Books.
For many years, the science fiction art of the estate of Richard Powers, which includes original artwork, was represented by Worlds of Wonder, and it is still possible to contact them about gaining usage rights to art pieces.[5] The estate of Richard Powers is offering pieces of Richard Powers' fine art collection for sale - both originals and authorized reproductions - through Baldwin Hill Art & Framing in Natick, Massachusetts.[6]
Cultural influence
In 2010, Andy Partridge, former frontman of the British New wave band XTC released a limited edition CD of music inspired by Powers' art titled POWERS.[7]
Selected works
Collections
- Spacetimewarp: Paintings (1983) (Doubleday Science Fiction Book Club)
Illustrated books
Powers provided interior illustrations for a number of Easton Press special editions of classic science fiction novels, including a 1986 editions of The Gods Themselves and To Your Scattered Bodies Go.
- American Tall Tales, Adrien Stoutenburg, interior illustrations (Puffin, 1976) ISBN 978-0-14-030928-7
- The Number of the Beast (1980), interior artwork and cover illustrations, first edition
Album covers
- Symphonie Fantastique Hector Berlioz, Charles Munch, conductor, Boston Symphony Orchestra. RCA Victor, 1955[8]
Book covers
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database catalogs hundreds of book covers illustrated by Powers beginning 1950 (two known).[3] Template:Multicol
- Pebble in the Sky (Doubleday, 1950), by Isaac Asimov
- The Science Fiction Galaxy (Permabooks, 1950), ed. Groff Conklin – uncredited[3]
- The Mountain and the Valley (Henry Holt and Company, 1952), by Ernest Buckler
- The Long Loud Silence (1952)
- Tomorrow, the Stars (1952)
- Childhood's End (1953)
- More Than Human (1953)
- Expedition to Earth (1953)
- Ahead of Time (1953)
- Star Science Fiction Stories No.1 (1953)
- Earthlight (1955)
- Citizen in Space (1955)
- Who Goes There? and Other Stories (1955)
- The Human Angle (1956)
- Reach for Tomorrow (1956)
- Robots and Changelings (1957)
- Starburst (1958)
- On an Odd Note (1958)
- Man of Earth (1958)
- Wolfbane (1959)
- Nine Tomorrows (collection) (1959)
- Far Rainbow (1963)
- Greybeard (1964)
- The Invincible (1964) (1973 translation)
- The Second Invasion from Mars (1968)
- The Daleth Effect (1970)
- Vermilion Sands (1971)
- The Fabulous Riverboat (1971)
- Roadside Picnic (1977)
- Firing the Cathedral (2002)
Short Stories
- Three Acts With Ballet (1947) [9]
References
- Citations
- ^ Archived 2008-05-10 at the Wayback Machine. Press release April/May 2008. Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (empsfm.org). Archived 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
- ^ "Powers, Richard". The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Art Nominees. Locus Publications. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ a b c Richard Powers at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB). Retrieved 2013-04-09. Select a title to see its linked publication history and general information. Select a particular edition (title) for more data at that level, such as a front cover image or linked contents.
- ^ The Art of Richard Powers by Jane Frank
- ^ "RICHARD POWERS estate || Worlds of Wonder: Store". Wow-art.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- ^ "Artists | Baldwin Hill Art & Framing". Baldwinhillframing.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- ^ [1] Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rca Victor LM-1900: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique by Charles Munch
- ^ January-February 1947 Story Magazine pages 85 to 92
- Sources
- Frank, Jane; "The Art of Richard Powers", London : Paper Tiger, 2001. ISBN 1-85585-890-8
- The Frank Collection: A Showcase of the World's Finest Fantastic Art, Jane and Howard Frank. Paper Tiger, 1999
External links
- Richard M. Powers
- Dave Hartwell's account of Richard M. Powers
- A collection of Richard M. Powers' published artwork: The Powers Compendium
- Richard Powers at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- "Richard M. Powers biography". Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
- Cyber Art Gallery
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