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To Boldly Paint What No Man Has Painted Before

Posted by michael on from the acrylic-or-oil-based dept.

David Mazzotta writes "It's not just Sci-Fi authors who have had influence on space technologies. Artist Chesley Bonestell produced beautiful space-art that inspiried people from Sagan to Heinlein."

9 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Inspirations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's amazing to see how artists can portray our universe. While writers and directors often get the most exposure to the public, the vast universe has inspired equally impressive works from visual artists and musicians.

  2. Can you buy these from somewhere? by jukal · · Score: 3

    ...or paper copies atleast, I mean seriously, those are amazing!

    1. Re:Can you buy these from somewhere? by pretzel_logic · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here is a a link to his book. It also has a pdf look inside feature.

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      pretzel_logic
  3. some more links by pretzel_logic · · Score: 3, Informative
    • Here is a link to Chesley Bonestells web site where you can find more art.
    • His Bio,
    • And some more art is here.
    • But this one has a bunch of scans.
    • Other space artist links.
    this stuff is so cool...
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    pretzel_logic
  4. Is He The Guy Who... by tealover · · Score: 3, Funny

    did the fake backdrops for the staged Moon Landings?

    If so, this guy is good! Bravo, take a bow !!

    --
    -- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to
  5. This guy's art and why I hate being an artist. by SeverianDragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have seen this artist before, I've run across him numerous times on the covers of sci-fi novels and in sci-fi and sci-fa magazines. I think his work is just beautiful. His inspiration? Space and progress, best as I can understand it.

    Unfortunately, this sort of art wouldn't fly in the "serious" art world. Not only is it tied to "main-stream" books and publications on space, but also to the sub-culture of Science Fiction genre writing. Ironically enough, the college that I attend looks down upon any person who does Genre Fiction. But I digress too much.

    Favorite Rant: The Art World today, is confused. It is full of artists, critics, curators and gallery managers who scrabble after the false god of "Art Has A Message". Sure it does. But is the artist required to draw a sodding road map?!? I know my professors will want me to do so for my senior show.

    Like I said before. Love the work! It's beautiful, expansive (both physically and temporally), and (dare I say?!? [dare! dare!]) pure(?). Would that artists of his calibre were more accepted in both the main-stream as forward thinking and artists-for-everyone. And in the art world as the master-artists they are, if only the art world could drop the pretentious BS that they have swallowed with their chocolate-covered strawberries and red wine at every art opening.

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    Once more into the birch deer fiends!
    1. Re:This guy's art and why I hate being an artist. by Angry+Toad · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think it reflects badly on the academic art world, not art in general, that this man's work cannot be taken seriously. His work was appreciated by millions and influenced the vision of the universe of entire generations.

      Isn't that pretty much the definition of great art?

      There's a distinct snobbery at work here, but in the end who really cares - his work did what it set out to do.

    2. Re:This guy's art and why I hate being an artist. by webmaven · · Score: 3, Informative

      Thankfully, there is the Association of Science-fiction and Fantasy Artists which gives an annual award (The Chesley Award).

      The Chesley awards are presented each year at the World Science Fiction Convention, which this year (later this month, in fact) is in San Jose.

      The convention has an extensive art show, with many artists exhibiting their work.

      There is even a 'real-world' gallery devoted to space art.

      So, although the 'serious' art world looks down on this type of art, there are venues, and a market, for this work.

      --
      The real Webmaven is user ID 27463. I don't rate an imposter, because my ID is such a lame-ass high number.
  6. dead astronaut by fantomas · · Score: 4, Interesting

    this one [demon.co.uk] has a bunch of scans (pretzel_logic)


    Wow, interesting, the image of astronauts burying their dead comrade on Mars. Pretty contoversial stuff, it must have caused a real storm when that picture got published. Anybody know anything about that picture? Give the man his due for realism. Can anybody imagine NASA producing a series of artistic impressions these days including a burial scene?


    I suppose it follows in the great romantic tradition of the 'fallen hero' but respect to the man for telling the possible negative side of the story as well as the positive.