Today is the day!
Drawing Down the Moon is officially out and in the stores. It’s a hefty 200 pages, mostly full color and a whole lot of fun to look at.
Almost as if you can could hold my life (at least so far) in your hands.
Here’s my first review:
BOOKLIST Magazine, Jan. 1, 2010 issue
*Starred Review*
Drawing down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess (Dark Horse Books)
One of contemporary comics’ classiest acts, fantasy artist Vess is even more stunning as a book illustrator. It ‘s altogether fitting, then, that book (and poster) illustration looms large in this gorgeously produced retrospective album (the heavy, translucent section frontispieces are especially impressive).
Vess provides his own, very economical notes, which downplay technique in favor of autobiographical and art-appreciative remarks, the latter about his beloved influences, beginning with Arthur Rackham and Aubrey Beardsley, both of whose fluidly slender figures have their ilk in Vess creations. He also lauds the premier Victorian painter of fairies, Richard Dadd , whose mastery of crowded compositions Vess thoroughly learned; comics artists Hal Foster and Russ Manning, renowned for the ornate and graceful vigor of their work on Tarzan and Prince Valiant; and all manner of literary fantasists, starting with the Scots and English ballad makers and the Shakespeare of A Midsummer Night‘s Dream, which Vess has rendered in both comics and an illustrated edition of the full text. He doesn’t mention, but we see, the Pre-Raphaelites, Tenniel, Klimt, the Brandywine School illustrators, Maxfield Parrish indeed, the entire folkloristic, romantic tradition of opulent, musical, balletic illustrative art in his work. No wonder he’s the preferred artist of premier modern literary fantasists Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, and Susanna Clarke, the last of whom contributes an aptly breathless, yet not giddy, introduction.
- Ray Olson
It is available now at your local book or comic book store and on Amazon or B&N.com (at 25% off). If you would like a signed book right away you can order a copy from Malaprops (a fabulous independent bookstore) in Asheville NC. Call this 800 number to place an order: 1-800-441-9829. When I was there last Friday I signed as many of their stock as I could. Say hello from me if you do give them a call, okay?
Enjoy,
Charles
