Opus, Vol. 2
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Overview
In 1999, Fantagraphics presents the first in a series of full-color editions featuring never-before published paintings and drawings from the artist's thirty-year career, while reprinting many of his classic works.The texts in these gorgeous "art books" are sure to create excitement and controversy among his many fans, while attracting the New Age community and followers of the paranormal, as Windsor-Smith recounts his life's adventures in the realms of cosmic experience. With the wit and style that has kept him at the forefront of storytelling art for three decades, he explores new meanings and changing values of objective reality in this world of quantum physics and its theories of time travel, multi-dimensional life forms and extraterrestrial visitors.
Synopsis
Barry Windsor-Smith has been a pop culture icon ever since his fantastic and meticulous drawings brought Conan the Barbarian to life in the pages of Marvel Comics in 1970. In 1999, Fantagraphics presents the first in a series of full-color editions featuring scores of never-before published paintings and drawings from the artist's thirty-year career, while reprinting many of his classic works from the 70 s and 80s. The texts in these gorgeous "art books" are sure to create excitement and controversy among his legion of fans, while attracting the New Age community and followers of the paranormal.
Library Journal
In the early 1970s, Windsor-Smith rose to almost legendary status as the illustrator of Marvel Comics's Conan the Barbarian. After that, he left the comics field but has "returned" periodically ever since. This five-volume series collects much of his published and unpublished works and commentary on everything from his own life to the paranormal. The book's arrangement is eclectic: for example, the illustrations, which range from color comic book panels to full-page illustrations (both color and black-and-white), are presented in a confusing stream-of-consciousness manner rather than chronologically. Still, because his work had a tremendous impact in the early 1970s, this book is recommended for larger public and academic libraries where popular culture studies are important.--Stephen Weiner, Maynard P.L., MA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
Library Journal
In the early 1970s, Windsor-Smith rose to almost legendary status as the illustrator of Marvel Comics's Conan the Barbarian. After that, he left the comics field but has "returned" periodically ever since. This five-volume series collects much of his published and unpublished works and commentary on everything from his own life to the paranormal. The book's arrangement is eclectic: for example, the illustrations, which range from color comic book panels to full-page illustrations (both color and black-and-white), are presented in a confusing stream-of-consciousness manner rather than chronologically. Still, because his work had a tremendous impact in the early 1970s, this book is recommended for larger public and academic libraries where popular culture studies are important.--Stephen Weiner, Maynard P.L., MA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.Charles De Lint
While the text is autobiographical, it details only a few weeks in the beginning of Windsor-Smith's career, focusing on a trio of extraordinary events that occurred to him while living in New York City: two precognitive, one visionary, all three described in great detail. Did these events actually occur? I don't think that's really the point. Windsor-Smith appears more interested in discussing the boundaries of perception than he is in convincing us as to whether or not the events actually happened, while his descriptions of them, and his additional commentaries, present the visual artist as a man who is also a skilled writer....Almost every page presents examples of gorgeous art—rendered in pencil, pen and ink, watercolors, and even oils. The production values are superb—although this observation comes from someone who can't compare the originals to what appears here on the page, so I can't vouch for how true the reproductions are. Still, considering Windsor-Smith's attention to detail as it comes out in the text, one assumes he was involved in all arts of the process, and that what we get here are approved versions...
All in all, Opus, Vol. 1 is a wonderful glimpse into the mind and art of one of the field's more talented individuals. And best of all, from that "Volume One" in its title, we can only assume that there are further installments still to come.
—Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine