Sci-Fi-O-Rama

A further selection from British Artist Chris Foss one of the true masters of Sci-Fi Art.

I’ve collected these sample’s together as they best serve to highlight the elements I find most interesting in Chris’s work. IMO these are: the ship designs themselves (naturally)  the striped and checkered lexicon he adorns these craft with, the simply stunning cloudfields, aurora and rock formations, but of course most importantly of all - it’s all about the lighting.

A little more about the samples:

Top: This design typifies all of Chris’s aforementioned traits, a bulbous, large vented craft wrapped with industrial zig-zagging descending through a heavenly cloudscape…

Second: A breathtaking alien vista, incredible lighting tricks here, love all the soft glows.

Third: Something of a Gerry Anderson “Thunderbirds” feel here, again it’s all about the markings.

Fourth & Fifth: two different craft designs, one cylindrical the other very geometric, posed at a very similar angles - great atmospheric effects (corona / dustcloud).

Artwork collected and featured via: Net-Cafe http://www.net-cafe.hu/fantasy.php?ct=174 Astrona: http://astrona.blogspot.com/search/label/Chris%20Foss - do check Astrona for a much larger gallery and more artist info….

Probably the best way to get a true feel for Chris’s Style is to track down one of his books, try ebay of course for a bargain, or amazon.com has a wide selection here: http://is.gd/117Cb or better yet try Chris’s Home site: http://www.chrisfossart.com where for a there’s the chance to buy signed prints!

Cover Art for a later edition of Alfred Bester’s Classic Sci-Fi Novel “Tiger! Tiger!” originally published in 1956. 

Artist is Adrian Chesterman - http://www.chestermanart.com/

Scan via Flickr User Seriykotik1970 originally spotted via the SciFi Books Pool, a great source of inspiration I’ve featured from many times http://www.flickr.com/groups/22742217@N00/pool/

As I’ve been a bit slack with posting as of late, here’s a multi-image selection from big time Sci-Fi-O-Rama favourite; Spanish 70’s/80’s Sci-Fi book cover artist Salinas Blanch. Unfortunately I still know very little about Salinas himself, though his supreme neon-fauvist-airbrushing-style will always have a home here! If you’d like see a full gallery of his work and more do check the link below…

Image’s via flickr user C. Rancio has a collection of 30 covers here: http://is.gd/iFqu

Another sample from Tim White used for the cover of the 1983 novel “Welcome Chaos” by Kate Wilhem. Though not strictly a Sci-Fi image in the most obvious sense (that really doesn’t matter here) I’ve decided to feature this because it’s simultaneously naff & cheesy but also dramatically striking in that psuedo-realistic neon style that’s so quintessentially 1980’s - think Athena Posters….

Uk artist Tim White has his own site, with extensive gallery and shop: http://www.tim-white.co.uk/

A chromed robotic female suggestively poses for the cover of “Heavy Metal” the infamous American/French Sci-Fi Magazine. Art from the idiosyncratic airbrush of Hajime Sorayama - dated Novemeber 1980.

Heavy Metal was created by American Publisher Leonard Mogel, who upon a trip to Paris had come across “Metal Hurlant”(Howling Metal) a French science-fantasy magazine that had debuted in 1974 and featured contribution’s from illutrators such as Jean Giraud AKA Moebius, Phillippe Druillet, Philippe Caza and Italian Erotica specialist Milo Manara. Inspired, Mogel set about licensing and translating this material for an American version and thus in April 1977 Heavy Metal was born, a franchise that’s spawned two feature length animated Movies and still runs to this day - check the official site:  http://www.metaltv.com/ (warning Saucy over 18 type content)

Read more about Heavy Metal at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Metal_(magazine) 

Image Sourced via Flickr User  jl.incrowd - check his excellent selection of  scanned Heavy Metal Artwork: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jl-incrowd/sets/72157604843541927/

So back to the subject of Hajime Sorayama and all thing’s bright, shiny and VERY 80’s - Hafidz from http://puteraaladin.blogspot.com/ has kindly contacted me to reccomend these lovingly crafted techinicolor  Sorayama tribute Wallpaper’s:

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Hajime-Sorayama-Tribute/161565

Digital Art by: sakke soini… Cheers!

One final note I’d like to add - I think perhaps the most enduring element of Heavy Metal is the collapsing chrome Logo-type - Perfection!

James White - La Femme

Digital Art from the portfolio of Canadian Graphic Artist James White, taken from his Flickr feed: http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalnoiseart/