Steven Brower

Astounding, Mysterious, Weird and True: The Pulp Art of Comic Book Artists is the first-ever book about the pen and ink artists who worked in both pulps and comics, and what happened to them. This informative and entertaining volume offers an intriguing look at interior pulp illustrations created by artists who eventually gained greater fame in the world of comic books. Beginning in the 1930s and up through the 1970s, these artists contributed to both pulp magazines and comic books. For some, it was a period when their art first saw publication, for others it was a time when they published their works concurrently in both pop mediums. Eventually, as the popularity of pulps waned and comic books ascended, those artists who could deliver what the comic book audience wanted found steady work drawing for comic books while others transitioned to advertising or prestige magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post or disappeared from the publishing scene altogether. This book provides capsule-format information on the artists, their work, art studios and publishers that fueled the publication of comic books and pulp magazines. The artists on display here reads like a who's who of the comic book world. Filled with many illustrations Some of the artists included: Dan Adkins - Murphy Anderson - Dick Ayers - Matt Baker - Dan Barry - C.C. Beck - Jack Binder - Peter Costanza - Stan Drake - Bill Draut - Elton Fax - Creig Flessel. - Dick Fletcher - Matt Fox - Kelly Freas - Dick Giordano - John Guinta - Jerry Iger - Jeffrey Jones - Jack Kirby - George Klein - Mort Meskin - Leo Morey - Gray Morrow - Norman Nodel - Irving Novick - Alex Raymond - Paul Reinman - Alex Schomburg - Syd Shores - Joe Simon - Wally Wood and many more...

The Mighty Elvis is a commemoration of his life andtimes in the form of an art book, told through the unique vision of legendarydesigner and illustrator Seymour Chwast. Beautifully illustrated throughout, itpresents an enhanced portrait of one of America's greatest celebrities. With text by author Steven Brower (Satchmo:The Life and Art of Louis Armstrong), The Mighty Elvis reminds us of thecontinuing stardom of one of the most popular American singers of all time.Through Chwast's illustrations, cartoons and comics we get to relive his earlylife, his meteoric rise to fame and how he was affected by, and in turn,affected the world of music in the many genres he mastered. The book covers hisfirst appearances on television, Graceland, his meeting with President Nixon andhis wedding to Priscilla, and much more. Millions of fans loved him, purchasedhis records, attended his sold out shows and went to his thirtythree films.Death, forty years ago, has not diminished his fame. "Elvis Lives!" The MightyElvis is a celebration, in art and design, of the life of a great icon of theAmerican Scene!

Honorable Mention in the Foreword Indie Awards 2016For many design students, the expectation is that they will one day reach the top of the ladder within a design studio or corporation and become an art director. But what does this mean and how does a design student get there? What does an art director do? How is it different from being a designer? How does one lead and inspire a team, work with freelance designers, illustrators and photographers? Inside Art Direction answers all these questions for design students and professionals alike. Through interviews with 18 art directors working in a range of different industries from books and magazines to music and film to web and app design, students learn about how they got to where they are, what the art director's job really entails, and receive advice about the future of art direction. In the 28 case studies, illustrators, art directors and editors discuss specific assignments that they worked on, how they came up with ideas and the process of getting to the final result. With practical, hands-on advice, tips and art direction assignments that students can try out, Inside Art Direction provides insights about this fascinating field.

Duke Ellington was the undisputed father of the American songbook. A prolific writer and consummate performer, Ellington was the author of such standards as Solitude, Prelude to a Kiss, and It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got that Swing). With a career that spanned five decades, he is one of the defining composers of the Jazz Age. With unprecedented access to the Ellington family archives, this long overdue book illuminates the life and work of an icon of twentieth-century music from his humble beginnings to his long-lasting success. Every stage of Ellington's career is brought to life, from sepia photographs of his early days in Washington, DC, to colorful playbills from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, his triumphant tours of Europe in the 1930s, and his pioneering explosion of form and genre in the 1940s and beyond. Alongside more than two hundred stunning images, contributions from peers such as Dave Brubeck, Cornel West, Quincy Jones, and Tony Bennett shed light on Ellington's musical legacy, while the voice of his granddaughter Mercedes reveals the character behind the charisma, and the man behind the piano.

Mort Meskin was a consummate professional, dedicated to his work. A great talent. Jack KirbyFrom Shadow to Light: The Life and Art of Mort Meskin is a coffee table art book and critical biography of one of the twentieth century s most influential comic book artists. Meskin s career spanned both the Golden and Silver ages of comics, from the 1940s to the 1960s. His drawing, chiaroscuro technique, and storytelling are considered by connoisseurs of the form to be among the most sophisticated of his time. His passion for his artwork was equaled by his skill, and the quality of his overall oeuvre blurs the artificial distinction between high and low art. Yet he is known mostly among hard-core aficionados today, eclipsed by many of his peers, some of whom he profoundly influenced. Among Meskin s fans and admirers are Jim Steranko, Joe Kubert, Alex Toth, Carmine Infantino, Steve Ditko, Jerry Robinson, and Jack Kirby. From Shadow to Light: The Life and Art of Mort Meskin will finally give this neglected artist the recognition he s due.The first artist to draw Sheena of the Jungle, Meskin s work appeared in such diverse genres as romance, true crime and western comics. Following World War II he formed a studio with the legendary Jerry Robinson, co-creator of The Joker and Robin. He later worked for Joe Simon and Jack Kirby s company S&K Studio and with Stan Lee at Atlas (Marvel). During the 1950s and 60s he helped DC Comics define their mystery and science fiction lines. And there is one aspect of Meskin s voluminous creative output that has yet to be examined: his personal art. From Shadow to Light compiles for the first time the best of Meskin s art from his comic book career, his post-comics career bin advertising, and his fine art. Many of the comics pages are scanned form the original art, thanks to the cooperation of the Meskin estate.Mort Meskin s story is one of perseverance and overcoming personal demons. It is the tale of the indomitable spirit of a true artist and innovator. From Shadow to Light: The Life and Art of Mort Meskin will finally set the record straight and add his name to the pantheon of comic book artists who helped create this distinctly American art form.