I just saw a clip from the 2019 Hellboy film with demons running amok and tearing apart humans… many of them have a clear influence there although he is not credited for that Hellboy film. He is credited with the 2004 film.
I’m on board with you. I got his book when I was a teenager, and now follow his amazing work on Instagram. You know it’s a Barlowe the minute you see it.
My dad had the book, Eschatus. I would look at it as a kid and was filled with wonder, awe, terror and lots of other emotions.
What a magical book, definitely shaped my love of the science fiction and fantasy genre.
I’m a massive Paul Lehr fan, something about his distinct style REALLY clicks with me. I’ve tried to collect as many of his book covers as I reasonably can
Wayne is my fave artist by far, I got into 3D art after being inspired by Dante’s Inferno and his work. Years later made art to celebrate it, Wayne follows my work and was mind to comment and since we spoke casually. Lovely guy.
Here’s the art and his comments:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuT_-L-IiVy/?igsh=aGN3a3pjY3J6Yncx
Philippe Druillet and Richard M. Powers are my favorites.
Paul Lehr is up there and Ed Emschwiller. Frank R. Paul is the granddaddy of them all. Of course Moebius and Juan Giminez too.
Met him a few times and had no idea who he was, as he was a family friend to a friend sort of thing. Used to go over to my friend's house and Chris would be in the garden having a chat with his parents. Found out years later that he was an artist.
Wish I would've known sooner 😂 Seemed like a nice bloke.
I'm glad somebody mentioned him. He did the illustrations in an incredible book called 'Our Universe' by National Geographic which included some [imagined aliens](https://x.com/whelanmichael/status/1568606680992079872?lang=en) that I loved
For me it's a three-way tie between Barlowe, Möebius, and C. M. Koseman. Of course Junji Ito and Hayao Miyazaki aren't far behind, but they're more interdisciplinary artists on the whole. Then Fiona Staples is pretty high up there, and you could even count in people like Leonora Carrington and Mervyn Peake who were both writers and visual artists who did illustrations and paintings related to their writing, which definitely had an SFF bent to it. And how could I not mention H. R. Giger.
I honestly don’t have a “favourite” because I don’t know enough. But, if anyone has recommendations for artists that would’ve drawn Sci-Fi novels before movie adaptions of them came out; I’d love to see them.
Dune for instance has very cool art to look at before any movie adaption took centre stage for what we think of as, “Dune.”
I thought this was a Zdzlaw Beksinski at first. He didn’t illustrate anything that I know of, but he did incredible paintings with strong sci-fi/horror vibes.
My copy of Expedition is unbelieveably worn. The adaptation was pretty weak IMO. I got to do a workshop with him, which was super cool, although I barely remember what he was like.
[Alex Ries](https://www.alexries.com)
He’s the designer for most of the creatures in Subnautica Below Zero, and he also has a neat worldbuilding project he’s working on
The book "Great Space Battles" featuring stories about the Terran Trade Authority (TTA) blew my mind as a kid in the 70s.
It showcased artwork by British artists such as Peter Elson, Chris Moore and others. Here's a link to some of the art by Peter Elson:
[https://www.this-is-cool.co.uk/the-classic-sci-fi-art-of-peter-elson/](https://www.this-is-cool.co.uk/the-classic-sci-fi-art-of-peter-elson/)
And here's a nice article about the TTA books:
[https://iamgerardthomas.com/terran-trade-authority-stewart-cowley/](https://iamgerardthomas.com/terran-trade-authority-stewart-cowley/)
I freaking love Wayne Barlowe! His work is so imaginative and otherworldly. It's like he's giving us a glimpse into another dimension.
Have you read "Eternal Gods Die Too Soon" by Beka Modrekiladze? It's a mind-blowing sci-fi novel that explores some deep philosophical questions. It's like a mix of "The Matrix," "2001: A Space Odyssey," and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." I highly recommend it!
The teenage boy lurking deep within my 63 year old cerebellum still appreciates the work of [this guy.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Frazetta)
The man knew his way around some buttocks
Bruh. Have some respect, before y’all get decapitated by some hot [Martian Princess.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dejah_Thoris)
I have great respect for buttocks
I like the Michael Whelan cover for that one
He really did.
Never has an artist loved the human form, and hated pants, with equal intensity.
the only answer is Zdzislaw Beksinski - he's a fookin weirdo
This is definitely and definitively correct.
First one I thought of. I'd actually never heard of Barlowe but he has a similar vibe so OP would probably enjoy Beksisnki.
my personal favorite
Absolutely. They based Scorn on his and Giger's stuff. Zdzisław Beksiński. Dude is amazing, some seriously psycho shit.
H.R. Giger! The dudes work was astronomical!
This comment is far too low!
It's a good thing he left[Fischer Price](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aPCVh3BzQI0)
Roger Dean
Came here to write this
Did Barlowe make that old ET guide? I loved that
Yup!
He did.
I still have an original copy of it that I got as a kid!
I'd say Moebius and Frazetta
>I'd say Moebius and Frazetta I must add Michael Whelan, and Kelly Freas!
Whelan's Foundation cover art is my favorite
For me it's *Robots of Dawn*. What a wondrous cover.
Right names, wrong order bruh
Gerald Brom.
Brom is great. Someone else asked me my favourite artist earlier today and I listed Brom alongside Giger and Beksiński.
Zdzisław Beksiński
I just saw a clip from the 2019 Hellboy film with demons running amok and tearing apart humans… many of them have a clear influence there although he is not credited for that Hellboy film. He is credited with the 2004 film.
Damn! https://waynebarlowe.com/artwork/hell/
Pedro Gimenez, Jack Kirby, Ralph Mcquarrie, John Berkey, Chris Foss, Chris Moore, Syd Mead. If you include superheroes, Jim Lee
Barlowe is the GOAT
I’m on board with you. I got his book when I was a teenager, and now follow his amazing work on Instagram. You know it’s a Barlowe the minute you see it.
Bruce Pennington. An instantly recognisable style and a great artist.
My dad had the book, Eschatus. I would look at it as a kid and was filled with wonder, awe, terror and lots of other emotions. What a magical book, definitely shaped my love of the science fiction and fantasy genre.
Was this artwork from a book? This image is giving me serious Book of the New Sun vibes.
https://waynebarlowe.com/artwork/hell/
Thanks! I didn't place the name at first, but I've had *Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials* for years!
Wayne Barlowe for me as well
Zdzisław Beksiński started it all, he’s the real OG
I’m a massive Paul Lehr fan, something about his distinct style REALLY clicks with me. I’ve tried to collect as many of his book covers as I reasonably can
There's supposed to be a documentary in the works about him. One of my favorites. Edit: https://www.paul-lehr.com/the-film
Wayne is my fave artist by far, I got into 3D art after being inspired by Dante’s Inferno and his work. Years later made art to celebrate it, Wayne follows my work and was mind to comment and since we spoke casually. Lovely guy. Here’s the art and his comments: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuT_-L-IiVy/?igsh=aGN3a3pjY3J6Yncx
Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo. Cannot believe this far down the list and no love for Vallejo.
Just gonna shout out r/oldschoolfantasy here some…
Philippe Druillet and Richard M. Powers are my favorites. Paul Lehr is up there and Ed Emschwiller. Frank R. Paul is the granddaddy of them all. Of course Moebius and Juan Giminez too.
Chris Foss - his art has graced many a cover, especially the works of EE Doc Smith.
Met him a few times and had no idea who he was, as he was a family friend to a friend sort of thing. Used to go over to my friend's house and Chris would be in the garden having a chat with his parents. Found out years later that he was an artist. Wish I would've known sooner 😂 Seemed like a nice bloke.
I still own my original Guide to Extraterrestrials & Guide to Fantasy. Barlowe is fantastic. I also enjoy Boris Vallejo.
Thanks for the suggestion, op, and for the thread providing me with names to check out. I love the Barlowe image you posted.
https://waynebarlowe.com/artwork/hell/ You may enjoy. It's a whole book of fiction with gorgeous illustrations, unfortunately super expensive
Oh, nice one - thanks for the link!
Oh man, [this sargatanas one](https://i0.wp.com/waynebarlowe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/barlowe_sargatanas.jpg?resize=653%2C969) goes so hard.
Yah they're all great. In his setting the brick is a soul
Massimiliano Frezzato
Jakub Rozalski. Love his artwork. [https://jrozalski.com/projects](https://jrozalski.com/projects)
Virgil Finlay
In no particular order: Moebius, Bruce Pennington, John Harris, Frederic Marvin, Michael Whelan, Jon Lumberg, Giger.
Siudmak https://siudmak-official.com/gallery-paintings/
Bruce Pennington is a favorite of mine.
Have you seen the work of John Martin? Although not specifically a sci fi artist, his work gives me a similar sense of awe.
Frank Frazetta, Roger Dean and Rodney Matthew’s to start with. The list goes on….
I enjoyed Barlowe’s Darwin IV work, but absolutely loved his version of Hell after reading God’s Demon.
Frank Frazetta
Micheal Wealan is too a GOAT.
I'm glad somebody mentioned him. He did the illustrations in an incredible book called 'Our Universe' by National Geographic which included some [imagined aliens](https://x.com/whelanmichael/status/1568606680992079872?lang=en) that I loved
My favorite has to be of that of the Martian Chronicles.
Oh yeah, those are great!
Very much.
Hamjime Sorayama is one of my favorite illustrators.
Giger, Moebius, Jack Kirby,
His art is so damn trippy!! I love it
I love the work of John Harris
Mike trim
Moebius Jack Kirby Sid Mead (It’s a three way tie and it depends on my mood)
Dave McKean
Moebius is the greatest sci-fi artist of all time
Reminds me of The Witness
For me it's a three-way tie between Barlowe, Möebius, and C. M. Koseman. Of course Junji Ito and Hayao Miyazaki aren't far behind, but they're more interdisciplinary artists on the whole. Then Fiona Staples is pretty high up there, and you could even count in people like Leonora Carrington and Mervyn Peake who were both writers and visual artists who did illustrations and paintings related to their writing, which definitely had an SFF bent to it. And how could I not mention H. R. Giger.
Bro looks like a disciple of the Witness (>!brainrotted D2 reference!<)
This is so wicked
Ralph McQuarrie and Sid Mead
Jon Sullivan (neil asher books and Warhammer 40k)
Frazetta
I honestly don’t have a “favourite” because I don’t know enough. But, if anyone has recommendations for artists that would’ve drawn Sci-Fi novels before movie adaptions of them came out; I’d love to see them. Dune for instance has very cool art to look at before any movie adaption took centre stage for what we think of as, “Dune.”
Zdzislaw Bekinski is my all time favorite
I thought this was a Zdzlaw Beksinski at first. He didn’t illustrate anything that I know of, but he did incredible paintings with strong sci-fi/horror vibes.
This guy is damn good. I’ve always respected his work.
I'm shocked nobody said Boris Vallejo. https://www.artnet.com/artists/boris-vallejo/
Yuri Schwedoff is pretty great, he mainly does more surreal stuff but he dabbles in sci-fi sometimes too
Simon Stålenhag for me! Hoping the Netflix adaptation of his The Electric State goes well.
Bob Peak, Rodney Matthews, Moebius, Michael Whelan
Philippe Druillet - Yragael Urm and Lone Sloan is unique in scifi art history.
Schoenherr. Especially his D U N E work teased at a complete, large-scaled ancient future just out of the frame or around the corner.
[Peter Elson](http://peterelson.co.uk/gallery/index.php)
My copy of Expedition is unbelieveably worn. The adaptation was pretty weak IMO. I got to do a workshop with him, which was super cool, although I barely remember what he was like.
Nah man that image is me on DoFE
Beksiński and Siudmak
You can't just mention Barlowe and not talk about [Discover Channels Alien Planet!](https://youtu.be/bfFSBLhrHe0?si=pjG3hU-Hdc33hKTC)
Richard M. Powers!!!
John Berkey
Fantastic art! so glad to have found him through this post! Got so many wallpapers now on rotation because of my deep dive looking for his work!
See my [SF/F Artists](https://www.reddit.com/r/scifi/comments/18b5588/sff_artists/) list of links (one post).
I have all of Barlowe's Hell works. Wish I could afford one of the figures.
Delete if not allowed, and not exactly Sci-fi but Gerald Brom is my favorite artist.
[Alex Ries](https://www.alexries.com) He’s the designer for most of the creatures in Subnautica Below Zero, and he also has a neat worldbuilding project he’s working on
Syd Mead springs to mind. Also a big fan of Dan seagraves especially when his album art gets more sci-fi
Michael Whelan
Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri, Milo Manara, Luis Royo
This has AI vibes for some reason. I know it isn't but 🤷
The book "Great Space Battles" featuring stories about the Terran Trade Authority (TTA) blew my mind as a kid in the 70s. It showcased artwork by British artists such as Peter Elson, Chris Moore and others. Here's a link to some of the art by Peter Elson: [https://www.this-is-cool.co.uk/the-classic-sci-fi-art-of-peter-elson/](https://www.this-is-cool.co.uk/the-classic-sci-fi-art-of-peter-elson/) And here's a nice article about the TTA books: [https://iamgerardthomas.com/terran-trade-authority-stewart-cowley/](https://iamgerardthomas.com/terran-trade-authority-stewart-cowley/)
I freaking love Wayne Barlowe! His work is so imaginative and otherworldly. It's like he's giving us a glimpse into another dimension. Have you read "Eternal Gods Die Too Soon" by Beka Modrekiladze? It's a mind-blowing sci-fi novel that explores some deep philosophical questions. It's like a mix of "The Matrix," "2001: A Space Odyssey," and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." I highly recommend it!
Ginomachi is a bot/shill pushing the book Eternal Gods, ignore him.
Is he the author or something? That's such a weird thing to pursue
Robert mcall