Artist Profile: Harry Bennett (1919 — 2012)

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Dazzling Erin

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these classic retro romance covers by Harry Bennett! Born in New York and raised in Connecticut, Bennett served in World War II and later studied painting and illustration at Chicago’s American Academy of Art. Starting in the 1950s, Bennett was one of the premier illustrators of gothic romance paperbacks. After retiring from commercial illustration in his 60s, Bennett devoted himself to painting and exhibiting his own original work.

Bennett was responsible for a countless number of paperback covers. A small sampling of his work can be found below:

It’s Love!

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Dazzling Erin

Starting in the late 1940s, many comic book companies tried to broaden their audience by publishing romance comic books. These comics told dramatic love stories in which young women had to deal with issues of cheating, divorce, jealousy, heartache, and the search for the one. With Valentine’s Day approaching, here are some classic romance comic book covers.

Despite with that cover says, this romance doesn’t seem to be ideal.

John certainly looks serious. I hope Doris Bigelow gave her some good advice.

I don’t know how anyone could stay square after seeing that facial hair.

Didn’t anyone in these comics get along with their sister?

Love can drive you crazy.

At least they have something in common.

Like Beyoncé says, put a ring on it…

I love the blue eyeshadow.

Love, fun, and commitment issues on the beach.

I hear Heart Break is lovely this time of year.

I don’t think this is going to work out.

Artist Profile: Erik Johansson (1985– )

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Dazzling Erin

Erik Johansson is a self-taught artist who creates his surreal images through a combination of photography and Photoshop. As he puts it on his website, “He doesn’t capture moments, he capture ideas.” Born in Sweden, he currently lives in Berlin. Among his influences: Salvador Dali, M.C. Escher, Rob Gonslaves, and growing up on the Swedish countryside.

Artist Profile: Margarita Kareva

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Dazzling Erin

Margarita Kareva is a Russian photographer who, in just three years, has made a name for herself with her fantasy-inspired art photography. Her website is in Russian but the images speak for themselves.

Horror Artist Profile: Richard Tennant Cooper (1885 — 1957)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Dazzling Erin

There’s not a lot of information available on the artist Richard Tennant Cooper. It’s known from 1910 to 1912 that he painted several paintings that were meant to show the effects of disease on the human body. In his paintings, disease was represented by skeletons and evil ghosts, which are often seen hovering above the sick. Cooper also served in the British Army during World War I and painted several pictures based on his experiences. The first five pictures below are examples of Cooper’s medical work while the final four were inspired by World War I.

Horror Artist Profile: Chris Kuchta

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Dazzling Erin

The paintings below are by horror artist Chris Kuchta. Hailing for Lafayette, Indiana, Kuchta graduated from The American Academy of Art in 2000 and, in 2004, he opened the Kuchta Academy of Fine Art and Illustration. Along with being a freelance illustrator, he is also an art instructor. You can see more of his work and find out more about the artist at Horrorartist.com.

Horror Artist Profile: Michael Whelan (1950– )

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Dazzling Erin

For more than 30 years, Michael Whelan has worked as an illustrator specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror cover art. His paintings have appeared 0n more than 350 book and magazine covers. You can see more of his work on his site.

Horror Artist Profile: Joshua Hoffine (1973– )

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Dazzling Erin

Do you want to see something really scary? Check out these photographs from horror artist Joshua Hoffine. You can learn more about Joshua Hoffine and his work by visiting his web site.

Horror Artist Profile: Alan M. Clark (1957– )

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Dazzling Erin

After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1979, Alan M. Clark has gone on to become a prominent illustrator and book cover painter. Most of his work has been in the horror genre. Along with winning the World Fantasy Award in 1994, Clark was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2005 for his book, Siren Promised. You can see and purchase more of his work on his website.

Horror Artist Profile: Bernie Wrightson (1948- )

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Arleigh

Horror fans know who Bernie Wrightson is even if not by name, but by the work he has done in the horror field.

Born in October 27, 1948, Bernie Wrightson has made his name creating some of the more recognizable horror illustrations since the 1970’s. Wrightson would have his break out work in conjunction with Len Wein in co-creating the character Swamp Thing for DC Comics in 1971. In time, Wrightson would move on from DC Comics and the character he created for Warren Publishing that were well-known for producing black-and-white horror titles.

Throughout the years, Wrightson would end up producing some classic images for horror stories ranging from Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein right up to several Stephen King novels (The Stand, Cycle of the Werewolf and Wolves of the Calla).

Here’s to hoping that Wrightson has many more years of horror work ready to fire up the imaginations of horror fans everywhere.