James Bama: American Realist - Hardcover

Bama, James; Kane, Brian M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0972375880 ISBN 13: 9780972375887

Publisher: Flesk Publications, 2006

Synopsis

The illustration art of James Bama has now been collected into this impressive 160-page full color hardbound edition. James Bama: American Realist is the first book to span his entire career. Examples explore his diverse brush from magazine illustrations, paperback book covers, and advertising. Chapters examine his work in pop culture, horror, science fiction, adventure and western genres, concluding with his most recent fine art endeavors.

This volume features a detailed biography exploring his noteworthy and singular career. Insightful quotes by Bama accompany many pieces. In addition, testimonials by leading artists, writers, and historians are contained throughout.

During his career, Bama’s art graced many memorable pop culture paperback book covers. Among his most notable works are the 62 cover paintings for Bantam’s Doc Savage adventure series, all of which are contained within.

His uncanny ability to render a multitude of genres, and under amazingly tight deadlines, made Bama highly sought after by top publishers. Combined with his exemplary work ethic, Bama’s artwork encompassed a wide spectrum of media. This, along with his unique realist approach, helped secure his place as one of the most influential artists of his time. Having achieved remarkable success in illustration, Bama changed direction, pursuing a career in fine art. His gamble led to higher acclaim. This book delves into the man, from illustrator to artist.

Written and designed by Brian M. Kane in cooperation with Mr. Bama. Introduction by Harlan Ellison®. Foreword by Len Leone. 160 pages in color. Over 260 illustrations are featured, of which more than 85 are from the original art. Over 30 personal photographs of family and modeling shoots are contained within.

About this title

From Booklist:

Readers may not recognize James Bama's name, but chances are they will have seen his work. Bama was the reigning paperback cover illustrator during the 1960s and 1970s, creating hundreds of unforgettable images that grace westerns by Louis L'Amour, the Doc Savage series, and novels by William Goldman, Taylor Caldwell, Frank Conroy, Anne Tyler, and Thomas Pynchon. Bama's forte is portraying characters with an Old Master soulfulness and passionate precision to create arresting images unsurpassed in emotional authenticity and sheer animal magnetism. Kane, whose first book celebrated the work of illustrator Hal Foster, documents Bama's entire diverse, irresistible, and exciting oeuvre in both radiant reproductions and succinct commentary that includes tributes from the likes of Harlan Ellison and Ray Bradbury, as well as Bama's own reminiscences. Kane documents not only Bama's unparalleled paperback years but also his magazine and advertising work, his phenomenal achievements as a sports illustrator and military artist, and (after moving to Wyoming in 1968) his triumphs as a fine artist. This unusual and immensely pleasing blend of pop culture and art celebrates an extraordinarily dedicated, prolific, and widely appealing American artist, and a neglected yet much loved art form. Donna Seaman
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About this edition

• Publisher: Flesk Publications
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0972375880
• ISBN 13: 9780972375887
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 160