Something for the die-hard fans: The original version of the "You Only Live Twice" bath artwork by Robert McGinnis.It's based on a press release photo from 1967.Give him a big hand...
Screenshots taken from the excellent documentary "Robert McGinnis - Painting the Last Rose of Summer" by Paul Jilbert. The film portays the life and work of McGinnis with one chapter dedicated to his James Bond work. Fascinating to watch, especially the sketches which I've never seen before. Also McGinnis and Donald Smolen (PR Executive of UA in the sixties) tell the amusing story of the "small" Connery in the "Diamonds Are Forever" poster.
Big thanks to Paul who also shared the artworks below - one is a sketch for Thunderball, the other a "Spy Girls" project from the DVD. Click here to order the DVD
"Il Favoloso 007 di Fleming", Italian hardback omnibus by Garzanti 1978 containing: Casino Royal, Vivi e lascia Morire, il grande Slam della Morte, una cascata di Diamanti.
Tribute to McGinnis' Thunderball artwork. I couldn't resist trying it again. I'm working on a larger scale now in A2 and learn a lot about the way the picture is composed and created. With every version I'm getting a bit closer.
Cover artworks for the Classics Illustrated comic adaptation of Dr No. Top version is the German edition entitled "WXN antwortet nicht" (WXN does not answer) by Bildschirm Detektiv Verlag.
French Omnibus editions in two volume of Ian Flemings work, published by Éditions "Robert Laffont", Collection "Bouquins" in 1986. Thanks for sharing these, Yvain.
I'm always fascinated by source artwork and decided to try to copy one of McGinnis paintings. How hard can it be... I found out quickly enough that it's incredibly hard. What looks like a random brush stroke is actually masterfully positioned. I have admired McGinnis' work for it's colours, painting style and compositions for a long time but now my respect has doubled. Here are my first attempts. Guess I will continue until I get at least a bit closer - or until my wife wants the kitchen table back.
Phil Hale: Illustration for Raymond Benson's "The Facts of Death". Commissoned by Playboy magazine in 1999 but not sure if it was ever printed. Thanks to Leighton for sharing this, check out his site!
Something for the die-hard fans: The original version of the "You Only Live Twice" bath artwork by Robert McGinnis.It's based on a press release photo from 1967. Give him a big hand...
1988 Harcover edition of John Gardners Bond novel "Nessuno Vive Per Sempre" (Nobody Lives Forever).
"You Only Live Twice II - Back Of Beyond", Role Playing Game by Victory Games 1986
Screenshots taken from the excellent documentary "Robert McGinnis - Painting the Last Rose of Summer" by Paul Jilbert. The film portays the life and work of McGinnis with one chapter dedicated to his James Bond work. Fascinating to watch, especially the sketches which I've never seen before. Also McGinnis and Donald Smolen (PR Executive of UA in the sixties) tell the amusing story of the "small" Connery in the "Diamonds Are Forever" poster.
Two storyboards by Martin Asbury for "Casino Royale" and "Tomorrow Never Dies". Check out his website with many more storyboards here!
"Il Favoloso 007 di Fleming", Italian hardback omnibus by Garzanti 1978 containing: 
Tribute to McGinnis' Thunderball artwork. I couldn't resist trying it again. I'm working on a larger scale now in A2 and learn a lot about the way the picture is composed and created. With every version I'm getting a bit closer. 
"Casino Royal", Ian Fleming, Italian paperback cover from 1987 edition by Oscar Mondadori Publications.
Cover artworks for the Classics Illustrated comic adaptation of Dr No. Top version is the German edition entitled "WXN antwortet nicht" (WXN does not answer) by Bildschirm Detektiv Verlag.
Brasilian paperback editions of Ian Flemings' James Bond books: 
French Omnibus editions in two volume of Ian Flemings work, published by Éditions "Robert Laffont", Collection "Bouquins" in 1986. Thanks for sharing these, Yvain.
Brasilian paperback editions of Ian Flemings' James Bond books: 
I'm always fascinated by source artwork and decided to try to copy one of McGinnis paintings. How hard can it be...
Phil Hale: Illustration for Raymond Benson's "The Facts of Death". Commissoned by Playboy magazine in 1999 but not sure if it was ever printed. Thanks to Leighton for sharing this, check out his site!
