Artists who Richard Frahm and Boyd Pearson think capture the Clark Ashton Smith spirit in some way. Containing both the well known and the not so well known, sorted in Alphabetical order.
We will only consider people who have not done any work directly based on CAS. See Art Inspired by Clark Ashton Smith's Art - Listings for such material.
Eugene Berman (1899-1972)
Fantasy art doesn't get much better. I [Richard] like him because his work is understated, elegant and with an "out of time" feeling. To us his work suggests 'Zothique', especially: View in Perspective of a Perfect Sunset (1941)
Links:
Memories of Ischia
Dark Medusa at Sunset
Giselle Castro
I love his sumptuous vegetation with just a tinge of lucid decay. I especially like Dream and Solitude
links:
Culture's Nature: Paintings by Giselle Castro
Salvador Dali (1904-)
Spanish Surrealist Dali had a literary approach to surrealism, he would illustrate dreams the way one would illustrate a story, using symbolic images.
Links:
Salvador Dali Museam
Max Ernst (1891-1976)
One of the founders of surrealism which combined the dada idea of automatism with the psychology of Sigmund Freud. The unconscious and dream states were the key in Freudian psychology. Of particularly CASian note is the the painting titled The Eye of Silence. (1943-44) It is a visualisation of a world that is for me [Richard] pure Smith.
Links:
Max Ernst
M.C Escher (1898-1972)
While best known for his symmetrical work some of my favorite Escher consists of strangely proportioned 'landscapes' and architecture such as Castrova (Comte de la FrĂȘnaie 'high castle' perhaps), Dream, Three Worlds, Another World (I and II) and the ever self evident theme in Smith's work - death - self evident in Eecher's Eye. Just as Escher managed to draw the impossible Smith managed to describe it
Links:
World of Escher
Frank Frazetta (1928-)
Whose Dark Fantasy art in muted pastels would be perfect for many of Smiths Hyperborean Fantasies.
Links:
Frank Frazetta Art Gallery
H.R Giger (1940-)
Best known for work on Aliens his work is dark and disturbing with necrotic love portrayed in a way Smith never could have writing in the 20's-50's. Of particular note: His dune landscapes could well be Smith conception of mars. The Magus would make a fine illustration for the "The Black Abbot of Puthuum"
Links:
The Official H.R Giger Site
Carl Kishida (d. 2004)
He did some ceramic work of what he called "Martian archaeological artefacts" that are really neat. Strange insectile pieces that seem to have non-human sexual overtones. This artist is too poor to have a web site. Has, like Smith to work as a gardener to this day. This was a guy with so much promise that the Art Department of the University of Washington gave him a free studio in the Art Dept. Building. Usually they are for faculty only not a mere student.
Franz Miklis
A powerful fantasy artist with some nice abstract pieces. I Especially like the dream worlds series.
Links:
Fraz Miklis
Rapa Nui Natives
The story goes that Smith had not seen any Easter Island works prior to his sculpture creations a number of which bare a striking similarity to early Polynesian pre-Columbian works. As Smith was self taught, perhaps this sculpture form is inherent in humanity.
Links:
Easter Island
Odilon Redon (1840-1916)
We especially like his plants and flowers, which bleed together like a Smith poem and use a technique similar to Smith. WebMuseum: Redon, Odilon
Floria Sigismondi
The Mind behind the videos - "Little Wonder" -David Bowie and Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People." Now how do I get her to direct an adaptation of one of CAS's works ?
Links:
Floria Sigismondi
Sidney Sime (1867-1941)
Richard is almost sure that Smith recommended Sidney to him. Great illustrator of Dunsaney's work (who was an influence on CAS). Nice foreboding dark B&W images
Links:
Sidney Sime - Forgotten Artist of Fantasy
Dug Stanat
Dug's creatures are not pretty, I like that. Some of his sculpture could very well be representative of the beings of CAS created.
Links:
WELCOME TO DUG'S CREATURE GALLERY
Printed from: eldritchdark.com/articles/visual-arts/3
Printed on: December 22, 2024