Michael WhelanFeb 20

DESCENT (1989)
Acrylic on Canvas - 28” x48”

When I was asked to do a new cover for Ray Bradbury's classic THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, I reread it and found I was deeply moved by the sense of inevitable tragedy that permeates the first half of the book. 1/4

#sciencefiction #illustration #raybradbury #bookcover

Show threadMichael WhelanFeb 20
I was also struck by the weirdness of the Martian culture and noted that the cities were said to be like bones. I liked the metaphor enough to use bone and coral-like forms for the architecture. 2/4
Show threadMichael Whelan
Harkening back to legends of comets being harbingers of doom, the trail of the descending craft from Earth became the chief symbolic element in the painting. 3/4
Feb 20 at 2:03pmWeb
Show threadMichael WhelanFeb 20

Book cover for THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES by Ray Bradbury (Bantam Spectra) 4/4

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/descent/

Show threadHuntn00Feb 20
@MichaelWhelan One of my favorite story collections growing up and I still have it in my electronic library. ❤️
Show threadmozzriboFeb 20

@MichaelWhelan

How come that some of the details are missing?

Show threadMichael WhelanFeb 21
@illumniscate Before making a print of it, I noticed some details from my comps that I had intended to add, in addition to things in the actual painting that I felt deserved some enhancement.  Usually, once it’s released as a large print I consider the image done once and for all. 1/3
Show threadMichael WhelanFeb 21
@illumniscate It often happens that when I see a painting with fresh eyes after it’s been out of my environment for a while I’ll notice errors or additions that I feel would improve the artwork. Back before all images were digitally submitted, it was customary for an art director to retain a cover painting for  months, so the tendency was for me to “touch up” a painting when it came back to me and I could see it anew. 2/3
Show threadMichael WhelanFeb 21
@illumniscate This is not unusual; I can think of many examples by the likes of Frazetta or even Rockwell employing the same routine. Frazetta even completely repainted some of his works, something I don’t think I’d have the patience to do. 3/3