Bud Plant was my partner in Illustrated Books until I retired November 30, 2005 and he owns another
company in Grass Valley, California. For the very best in current
art and fantasy art books, calendars, prints, cards, and more,
check out his company's web site. Bud's Art Books is the industry
standard in variety, quality, and service - since 1970!
Bud still sells old illustrated books with his new partner, Anne Hutchison. Write to her at Anne Hutchison.
My great friend, illustrator, artist, website designer and the best guide to the city of Paris - Francisco San Millan. Merci, mon ami. (Also, the world's most patient soul. He is the heart behind the long-overdue update to this website.)
It's taken me far too long to add my favorite publisher to my links page. Flesk Publications is the brainchild of John Fleskes who is publishing some of the best books on illustration and comics around. Currently available are books on James Bama, Franklin Booth, Joseph Clement Coll, Harvey Dunn, Gary Gianni, Steve Rude, Mark Schultz, Jim Silke, William Stout, and Al Williamson. Tell him that Jim sent you.
Another friend and publisher, Manuel Auad of Auad Publishing has books on Franklin Booth, Alex Toth, Jordi Bernet and just recently reprinted a deluxe edition of Frank Brangwyn's The Way of the Cross portfolio. His newest book is on Robert Fawcett.
Bridius Books is the eBay store of my friend of many years, Paul Willis. The poor man was transplanted from Scotland years ago and still has a fondness for their sleazy paperbacks. Tell him Jim said hello (just one more sneaky Elvis reference...).
You might also check out Taraba Illustration Art. Fred Taraba is an old hand at buying and selling illustrations and has branched out on his own. He's an old friend and will be happy to discuss any artwork that you might have for sale or that you might want to purchase.
The Art Renewal Center is the best site I've found on the web for those of us who appreciate the quality and content of 19th Century Academic art. I highly recommend that you spend some time there, especially make the effort to read the "Philosophy" pages and browse through the "Museum." I thought I'd done a lot of work on my site, but these folks have me beat six ways to Sunday.
Dan Zimmer and his brother, Matt, publish Illustration Magazine devoted to classic illustration from the 1930s to the 1950s. Check it out. Issue 34 was just published.
The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass, has expanded to include The Rockwell Center For American Visual Studies, curated by Joyce Schiller. The center provides another focal point for viewing and studying American Illustration Art. Lucky us. Watch for an Everett Raymond Kinstler exhibit there next March.
nocloo.com is run by Minh Lai and he is dedicated to reproducing all the plates in books illustrated by the classic Golden Age illustrators. He has scanned images, from the first editions, by Rackham, Dulac, Nielsen, Parrish, Clarke and many others. Save for the annoying and distracting "watermark" that he uses on the images, his scans are excellent and provide a chance to view the contents of some very rare books.Illustration House is the premier purveyor of original art by American Illustrators. Visit their site for more Illustrator Biographies, auction and for sale information.
My sister-in-law, Neva, has
a shop on the Etsy site to market her unique jewelry.
Her company is Imagine MDD. If you tell her that
I sent you, she'll offer a 10% discount on any purchase of $40
or more. She's a nice lady and does beautiful work. Check it out.
Have too many books or magazines or prints or drawings and can't figure out how to deal with them? My friend Jeri Dansky Professional Organizer works with clients around the world to help them straighten out their "stuff." Maybe she can help YOU.
Karen and I have a morning ritual that involves an hour at The Y in Palo Alto and then a 3 mile jaunt to Mt. View for Cafe Americanos at Clocktower Coffee. Clocktower is, far and away, our favorite coffee place on the Peninsula (we drive by a Peet's and two Starbucks to get there). If you are ever in the area, stop by for the best coffee in town. Try the Americano or any of their freshly roasted and brewed coffees. Tell them Jim and Karen sent you.
Ever wonder what I do when I am not writing or publishing ImageS? Well, here's some typical research that my friend John Benson and I did for his book, Confessions, Romances, Secrets, and Temptations: Archer St. John and the St. John Romance Comics. John also wrote Romance Without Tears about author Dana Dutch.
Yo! Know Yoe? No? Go Yoe, yo-yo!
Want to check out a great store for modern comics, alternatives and even a selection of Golden and Silver Age, then try Lee's Comics in Mt. View, California. He has an eBay shop, too.
Tom Ranheim, from Norway, runs the slickest Dave Stevens page on the net. He's a fellow Elvis Presley fan.
Hot-shot ace illustrator Paul McCall wants you to come visit his website and see what he's been up to lately.
Long-time friend John Pound, he of Garbage Pail Kids, Mars Attacks and now Meanie Babies fame, has got a site just filled with crazy creative art and he would love for you to visit.
The legendary Percy Crosby has his own site courtesy of his daughter, Joan Crosby Tibbetts. Visit the Skippy site and see what's going on.
Mark Wheatley and the Insight Studios Group create and publish art that isn't afraid to wear its influences proudly on its virtual sleeve. From their paean to the classic pulps, Titanic Tales, to their recent book on the late Gray Morrow, et al, these folks are keepers of the flame. Tell them we said, hi. Find out more about Tony DiTerlizzi at his website. Do come back, though, ya hear?
Jessica Amanda Salmonson has a site devoted to Antiquarian Supernatural Literature. It's called Violet Books and it's worth a look if you like literary ghost stories, Victorian science fiction, Yellow Nineties Decadence, H. Rider Haggard & haggardesque "Lost Race" novels, Marie Corelli & other occult romancers, swashbuckling historical romances, classic detectives, rare dust jackets, etc. Jackie Baldwin claims that she sells stories and that the 750 plus images she showcases on her Story-Lovers World site are just there for show. We know better, however. You can get notecards, notepads, postcards, stationery, envelopes, bookplates and even business cards with any of those hundreds of images on them. Funny, she doesn't offer any ONLY with stories...
Terri Windling's site explores the denizens and depictors of myth. A great place to learn more about all aspects of faery. Terri is an artist herself and she was also co-editor with Ellen Datlow of the annual Year's Best Fantasy and Horror collections from St. Martins Press - while they were being published.
Ed Nudelman of Nudelman Fine Illustrations wrote a biography and a bibliography of Jessie Willcox Smith and specializes in her art and rare editions of her works. Visit his site for samples of her work and other rare and unusual tomes from the late 19th century.
For an in-depth look at books and illustrations devoted to The Arabian Nights Entertainments, I recommend Rob Hafernik's site, Arabian Night Books. Wander through the site and discover just how many (and how many GREAT) illustrators produced a version (or two) of these marvelous stories.
The folks at the Norman Lindsay Gallery have a new website. Check it out and tell 'em Jim sent you.
Don't tell anyone, but this is my sister's site.
And let's not forget the bloggers: Charley Parker's Lines and Colors blog is a must for art appreciators and artists.
Leif Peng's Today's Inspiration blog is the other must-read. Only reason Leif is second is that Charley won the coin toss.
My friend John of Flesk Publications writes (occasionally) John Fleskes' Blog to keep folks aware of his latest projects and the people and art he encounters in his business.
I met Jim Gurney when he was studying at Art Center Colledge of Design in Pasadena and living at the Golden Palms Motel. Fellow inmates and Sketch Club members were Ron Harris, Paul Chadwick, et al. That was over 30 years ago. The Gurney Journey Blog continues Jim's inherent desire to share and fervent need to teach art.