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reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2010-07-15 01:00 pm
reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2010-07-15 01:00 pm
Paul Richmond: Uncovered Contest 2
Hi everyone! I’m excited to be back and share some of my recent cover artwork as well as announce a brand-spanking new contest (sadly, there is no actual spanking involved). Even though I’ve been busy “uncovering” celebrities in my latest art exhibit, Cheesecake, I’ve also been helping “cover up” some fabulous novels by my friends in the gay fiction world -- so I have much to show off today. Let’s get right to it!
The Hired Man
Last year, I held a contest called “Uncovered” and many of you helped select “The Hired Man” as the first giclee print offering in my online store. [http://www.etsy.com/listing/34001343/the-hired-man-limited-edition-giclee] Apparently something about the sudsy dreamboat in that painting struck a chord with many of you. And now I’m back again — and feeling as indecisive as ever! This time, I have four cover illustrations for you to choose from. Decisions, decisions! And one lucky voter will randomly be chosen to receive the first print in the series as well as the corresponding novel/novella courtesy of Dreamspinner Press. Yay! So go cast your vote now! [http://www.paulrichmonduncovered.blogspot.com] (Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you here...)
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, let the show-and-tell session begin! First of all, I had an amazing time at the Cheesecake opening last month and the exhibit was a big success. Thanks for all the well-wishes as I prepared for my first solo show in Chicago, especially the countless people who wrote to remind me to wear a belt. :) Fortunately, the only wardrobe malfunctions at the event occurred on canvas! If you would like to see photos and read a recap of the show, check out my Cheesecake blog post here:
http://paulrichmondstudio.blogspot.com/2010/06/cheesecake-recap.html
The Cheesecake Boys weren’t the only handsome fellows hanging out on my easel over the last few months. I have been fortune to illustrate many gay fiction novel covers too, and some of those cover boys give the Cheesecake hunks a run for their money. I thought I’d share some of my favorites and give you a behind-the-scenes tour.
Anthology covers like “Midsummer’s Nightmare” are fun because the subject matter is a little more open than usual. Inevitably, giving me that much control means that someone’s getting caught with their pants down! This time, our heroes are stirred from their slumber by “Things That Go Bump In The Night,” leaving them no time to cover their tighty whities and skull-patterned undies respectively. It’s one part Hardy Boys, one part Nancy Drew, and one part Marky Mark.
Anyone who has met me would probably laugh at the thought of my name and ‘butch’ being in the same sentence, but I had to channel my inner macho man when working on the cover for “First Blood” by Aleksandr Voinov and Barbara Sheridan, the sequel to last year’s “Clean Slate.”
“Conway’s Curse” by Patric Michael features a couple of scantily-clad sprites in the forest. Once I read that in the cover request form, I was sold! I had the same response to “Rogue Wolf” by Violet Hilton when I read that it took place in outer space. I absolutely ADORE the creativity of the authors in this genre! Keep ‘em coming!
And who doesn’t love gay cowboys? I always enjoy doing covers with a western theme, so I had fun with “Two Marked Men” by Roland Graeme. It’s a great way for me to pretend I’m out riding the range -- without sacrificing the comforts of my air conditioned studio, of course. After all, I’m not so into the whole outdoorsy thing in real life.
Two of my most recent cover illustrations, “Irreversible Error” by Wolf Phoenix and “Valley of Shadows” by Phoenix Emrys both feature female presences (although one’s a drag queen, but that still counts!) lurking mysteriously in the background. I thought they were a fabulous addition. After all, where would gay men be without the important ladies in our lives? Of course, if I were illustrating my own life story, I would have to show myself with Cher peeking over one corner and Dolly Parton over the other!
I like the tension in the air in the cover illustration for “In His Arms Again” by Lisa Marie Davis. The fellow in his skivvies on the bed is obviously hoping to catch his friend’s eye, and by the looks of it, I think his plan is working! Hopefully he will catch a few readers’ eyes as well. I love cover art that makes you wonder about the scenes preceding and following the one being shown. Don’t you want to know what happens next?
And here are a few more from the “Recent Works” file, including a few that are currently in process to whet your appetite for more great summer reading to come from Dreamspinner Press:
I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to have such fun with my work, and collaborate with so many creative people along the way. Thanks again for welcoming me into this amazing genre! And many thanks to Elisa for opening the door and continuing to encourage me every step along the way.
Good luck to everyone who enters the “Uncovered” contest. Join me on August 15 at MichelenJeff’s blog “Author Interviews, Book Reviews and More” [http://michelenjeff-reviews.blogspot.com/] when I reveal the winner!
The Hired Man
Last year, I held a contest called “Uncovered” and many of you helped select “The Hired Man” as the first giclee print offering in my online store. [http://www.etsy.com/listing/34001343/the-hired-man-limited-edition-giclee] Apparently something about the sudsy dreamboat in that painting struck a chord with many of you. And now I’m back again — and feeling as indecisive as ever! This time, I have four cover illustrations for you to choose from. Decisions, decisions! And one lucky voter will randomly be chosen to receive the first print in the series as well as the corresponding novel/novella courtesy of Dreamspinner Press. Yay! So go cast your vote now! [http://www.paulrichmonduncovered.blogspot.com] (Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you here...)
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, let the show-and-tell session begin! First of all, I had an amazing time at the Cheesecake opening last month and the exhibit was a big success. Thanks for all the well-wishes as I prepared for my first solo show in Chicago, especially the countless people who wrote to remind me to wear a belt. :) Fortunately, the only wardrobe malfunctions at the event occurred on canvas! If you would like to see photos and read a recap of the show, check out my Cheesecake blog post here:
http://paulrichmondstudio.blogspot.com/2010/06/cheesecake-recap.html
The Cheesecake Boys weren’t the only handsome fellows hanging out on my easel over the last few months. I have been fortune to illustrate many gay fiction novel covers too, and some of those cover boys give the Cheesecake hunks a run for their money. I thought I’d share some of my favorites and give you a behind-the-scenes tour.
Anthology covers like “Midsummer’s Nightmare” are fun because the subject matter is a little more open than usual. Inevitably, giving me that much control means that someone’s getting caught with their pants down! This time, our heroes are stirred from their slumber by “Things That Go Bump In The Night,” leaving them no time to cover their tighty whities and skull-patterned undies respectively. It’s one part Hardy Boys, one part Nancy Drew, and one part Marky Mark.
Anyone who has met me would probably laugh at the thought of my name and ‘butch’ being in the same sentence, but I had to channel my inner macho man when working on the cover for “First Blood” by Aleksandr Voinov and Barbara Sheridan, the sequel to last year’s “Clean Slate.”
“Conway’s Curse” by Patric Michael features a couple of scantily-clad sprites in the forest. Once I read that in the cover request form, I was sold! I had the same response to “Rogue Wolf” by Violet Hilton when I read that it took place in outer space. I absolutely ADORE the creativity of the authors in this genre! Keep ‘em coming!
And who doesn’t love gay cowboys? I always enjoy doing covers with a western theme, so I had fun with “Two Marked Men” by Roland Graeme. It’s a great way for me to pretend I’m out riding the range -- without sacrificing the comforts of my air conditioned studio, of course. After all, I’m not so into the whole outdoorsy thing in real life.
Two of my most recent cover illustrations, “Irreversible Error” by Wolf Phoenix and “Valley of Shadows” by Phoenix Emrys both feature female presences (although one’s a drag queen, but that still counts!) lurking mysteriously in the background. I thought they were a fabulous addition. After all, where would gay men be without the important ladies in our lives? Of course, if I were illustrating my own life story, I would have to show myself with Cher peeking over one corner and Dolly Parton over the other!
I like the tension in the air in the cover illustration for “In His Arms Again” by Lisa Marie Davis. The fellow in his skivvies on the bed is obviously hoping to catch his friend’s eye, and by the looks of it, I think his plan is working! Hopefully he will catch a few readers’ eyes as well. I love cover art that makes you wonder about the scenes preceding and following the one being shown. Don’t you want to know what happens next?
And here are a few more from the “Recent Works” file, including a few that are currently in process to whet your appetite for more great summer reading to come from Dreamspinner Press:
I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to have such fun with my work, and collaborate with so many creative people along the way. Thanks again for welcoming me into this amazing genre! And many thanks to Elisa for opening the door and continuing to encourage me every step along the way.
Good luck to everyone who enters the “Uncovered” contest. Join me on August 15 at MichelenJeff’s blog “Author Interviews, Book Reviews and More” [http://michelenjeff-reviews.blogspot.com/] when I reveal the winner!