Thursday, 30 March 2017
Shredded Wheat Promo
Artwork created for promotional cards for "Octopussy". These were included in "Shredded Wheat" breakfast cereal boxes.
Saturday, 25 March 2017
Italian Bond Covers
Selection of Italian James Bond 007 paperbacks by publisher Garzanti, Released between 1973 and 1977.
Saturday, 18 March 2017
Art Tribute The Living Daylights
Art tribute to the literary version of "The Living Daylights".
Art by Gerry Wadsworth, watercolour on Arches paper; 30.5cm x 46cm. Check out his other work here.
Art by Gerry Wadsworth, watercolour on Arches paper; 30.5cm x 46cm. Check out his other work here.
Friday, 17 March 2017
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
My Collection is Back
After 2 years in storage, I have my collection back. It was a strangely satisfying feeling unpacking everything and sorting the books. But there is still a lot more to unpack. Fun!
Monday, 27 February 2017
Look-In Magazine Cover Artwork
Look-In magazine cover artwork for the July 1977 edition featuring "The Spy Who Loved Me". Artwork by Amaldo
Putzu.
Thanks to Jim for finding this!
Thanks to Jim for finding this!
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Interview with artist Paul Mann

Q: What inspired you to become an artist?
Answer Paul Mann:I feel I was born with the desire to be an artist. As a small child I was always drawing and very much encouraged by my family. As I grew that desire in me grew. My family and friends gave me such positive support and praise that I knew this was my calling in life.
Q: You mention on FB that you collect art yourself. What fascinates you about pop culture art?

That image inspired me and I knew that someday that would be the type of art I wanted to do. Throughout my life I have collected some of the original artwork of my favorite artists, of the fifties and sixties. I love the images of rugged men and beautiful women. Two of my favorite artists are Robert McGinnis and Frank McCarthy who also painted the early Bond posters. That era fascinates me because of the quality of artists and the work they were able to produce. Unfortunately it is becoming a lost art. There are very few artists around that can produce such work.
Q: What is your preferred painting medium?

You recently completed a commission for a McCarthy-style “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” artwork, please tell us about that.
Q: How do you interpret the briefing and communicate your ideas to the client?
Answer PM: The client had a pretty good idea of what he wanted the art to consist of, I did my best to put together on paper what the client is seeing in his head. I sent the client images of my sketches. The client then communicated back to me if there were things to change or move. Such as angles, colors, and so forth. I then incorporated those ideas back into my sketch until we had figured it all out. Again these illustrations are not easy to put together and it can take some time to come up with a good sketch that works.
Q: What is your process?
Answer PM: I always start with some simple doodles to get a basic design working and the placement of people and objects.
Next I will call in models and do a photo session, with those photos and any other scrap I have I will put together a simple but accurate line drawing. Sometimes I may have to draw this out several times before I can get everything to fit nicely and work as a design. Once the client okay's the sketch I go to a full color comp. This is where I want to make sure everything is working, that everything is sized right and that the color comes together. I do take time to do a nice and finished color rough.

Q: The artwork features a lot of different elements. What do you use as a reference?
Answer PM: That's always a challenge; first I look at all photos that I can find on the internet from the movie. I do this to see if there is anything I can use as a good reference. Usually there is very little I feel that will work for me. I have to have the best reference material I can find or photograph my own figure scrap.
I will bring into the studio models in costumes to pose and photograph. It might be someone in a dark suit I will photograph him in the position that I need and then add the real Bond's head onto the body or my model will be wearing a military style outfit that is close to what was worn in the movie. This may mean a trip to the army surplus to find costuming. I will hand my model a toy machine gun that I spray painted black to make it look authentic.
I then have him stand on a large sheet of plywood with one end elevated about two feet off the ground so he is standing on a slanted surface. It’s a lot of work which the client is not aware of but it does give me the material I need to do the art.
Q: Did the artwork change while you were painting it?
Answer PM: Yes, I was not happy with the Bond head I had, so I changed to a different head which worked much better. You can let some things slide a little bit but never on a head. It has to be right on and look like the character. The client also had one change he wanted a little surprise in it. If you look close in the upper windows of the Piz Gloria you will see it.
Q: What are the finishing touches for the artwork?
Answer PM:The client asked me to add more fighting figures in the painting and to have snow blowing up from under the helicopter. Adding the blowing snow worried me a little because if I over did it my people at the bottom of the art would disappear. I tried to add enough to make the client happy but not too much that I lost the figures. The snow was a good call on my client’s part it helped Bond pop out more.
Big thanks to Paul for his interview and Thomas from the Nixdorf Collection for sharing the commissioned artwork!
Saturday, 4 February 2017
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Mystery Dr. No Lobby Card - Help, please
Help, please: I found this image a while ago and I'm not sure what it is. It looks like a French "Dr No" lobby card but does not resemble any French or Swiss lobby cards that I know (see below).
Does anyone know where this is from? Thank you.
Does anyone know where this is from? Thank you.
Saturday, 28 January 2017
From Russia With Love Lobby Cards from South Africa
Comic Cover Art from Chile
Cover and interior page from issue 57 "El Rallye de la Muerte" of the South American James Bond comic series published by Zig Zag in 1971. Artist: Germán Gabler
Monday, 23 January 2017
24 Sheets of the Moore Years
US 24 Sheet posters for "Live and Let Die", "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker".
I have never seen a 24sh for "The Man with the Golden Gun" so the image below is a guess how it could look like. Does anyone know more?
Sunday, 22 January 2017
Goldfinger Book Cover Artwork
Sketches and final book cover for the hardcover edition of Ian Fleming's "Goldfinger" by Penguin.
Sketches and artwork by Michel Gillette.
Sketches and artwork by Michel Gillette.
Saturday, 14 January 2017
Comic Cover Art For Your Eyes Only
1983 Comic cover artwork from Yugoslavia(?) for the comic version of "For Your Eyes Only". Artwork clearly inspired by the poster campaign.
Sunday, 8 January 2017
From Russia With Love Folio Edition
2016 Folio Society edition of Ian Fleming's "From Russia With Love" with illustrations by Fay Dalton.
US Cover for Trigger Mortis

IanFleming.com has the full interview with Patrick.


Friday, 6 January 2017
Skyfall Art Tribute
Tribute artwork for "Skyfall" by Mark Raats. Check out his page and other works here.
I'm very glad to see painted artwork for a Craig Bond, very rare in the days of photo posters.
I'm very glad to see painted artwork for a Craig Bond, very rare in the days of photo posters.
Thursday, 5 January 2017
Monday, 2 January 2017
Audio Book Covers
Audio book cover artwork for various James Bond novels from Blackstone. Featured on the Ian Fleming Publication Instagram website.
Pan Cover Art Tribute
Happy New Year!
I always had a weakness for the "what if?" scenarios, so I could not resists to toy around with a Thunderball retro cover in the old Pan paperback style.
I always had a weakness for the "what if?" scenarios, so I could not resists to toy around with a Thunderball retro cover in the old Pan paperback style.
Friday, 16 December 2016
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays and a great start for 2017 to all my readers. Thank you for all the kind emails and help!
(Artwork by Gregory Manches from Jan 1997 Playboy magazine illustrating Raymond Benson's "Blast from the past")
(Artwork by Gregory Manches from Jan 1997 Playboy magazine illustrating Raymond Benson's "Blast from the past")
Daily Express Artwork for You Only Live Twice
In February and March 1964 the UK newspaper ran a serialisation of Ian Fleming's "You Only Live Twice" with illustrations by artist Robb.
Roger Moore Magazine Cover Artwork
1972 cover artwork for UK "Look In" magazine featuring Roger Moore as the new Bond. Artist unknown (to me).
Sunday, 11 December 2016
Book Covers from Russia
Various book cover illustrations from Russia (I assume). Sadly I don't speak Russian so I have no idea which is which.
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