Originals #7 • Mike Hinge – Word Jazz

Word Jazz front

Mike Hinge‘Word Jazz’ illustration, date unknown

(25.3 x 25.3 mm, assorted paper and print on board).

Unpublished design for Ken Nordine’s ‘Word Jazz’ album, possibly a portfolio piece.

Blurb from the sale at the time of sale (2004): “From the estate of artist Mike Hinge, we are offering this unusual example of concept art for an intended album cover for the music of Ken Nordine – Ken Nordine Word Jazz. Hinge was a follower and fan of underground and ‘fringe’ music groups, so it is unknown whether he produced this cover art graphic as part of a commercial assignment, or for a proposed cover that he might have created to solicit work. we are not familiar with Nordine’s early album cover art, so we don’t know if this design was actually used (published) or not. But from the design, we would guess this was created in the late 50s to 60s. The artwork is 10″ x 10″ , paste up design and is in fine shape, kept under plastic since it was created. the piece is part of a large group of original advertising and illustrative artworks to be auctioned from the Hinge estate, all at no reserve. No rights of reproduction come with this sale.”

We represented Mike in the sales of his original sf art until his death in August of 2003, and now are agent for all that remains in his estate, which includes artwork spanning his 45 years as a professional artist and graphic designer. Early in his illustration career he worked for the largest ad agency in New Zealand (where he grew up) before moving to Los Angeles, where he attended the Art Center of the College of Design. In 1966 he moved to Manhattan, where he worked as an art director for several ad agencies. His graphic designs were notable, and his always colorful and psychedelic illustrations appeared on numerous science fiction magazines during the 1970s, including Analog, Fantastic, and Amazing, and on paperback books. Hinge also did design work for 2001: A Space Odyssey and produced illustrations for mainstream publications like Time magazine, including covers featuring Richard Nixon and Emperor Hirohito. He was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist in 1973, plus nominated for 6 Locus awards in the ’70

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Originals #6 • Mike Hinge – Six Million Dollar Man

Mike Hinge‘Six Million Dollar Man’ illustration, 1974

(58.2 x 42.2 mm, pen, photocopy, PMT and Letraset on paper).


Centre spread poster for Mediascene magazine #10.

From the blurb when I bought the art: “You are bidding on a huge double page spread drawn by Mike Hinge and published in Jim Steranko’s Mediascene magazine back in 1974.  Sternako did a layout for the figure of Steve Austin which Hinge redrew and incorporated into his final design.  There are numerous changes which were pasted onto the board as the drawing was extremely detailed and complicated.  I have a paste on that goes over the face shown and looks like Lee Majors (the old paste gave way and the past over came loose)  Nicest line drawn Six Million Dollar Man “cover ” you will find   Original art page is in good condition.”

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Originals #5 • Brendan McCarthy – Dream Tree

Brendan McCarthy‘Dream Tree’ illustration, 2008

(41.5 x 29.5 mm, pen and whiteout on paper).

Unpublished illustration for a story concept by Brendan McCarthy – ‘The Fabulous Dreamtrees’.

“The Dreamtree (is) a phantasmagorical tree whose fruit is the source of all dreams. Eat the fruit and experience the dream of yourself. It is the precious thing you will carry back to the waking world.”

Swimini Purpose, 2005.

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Originals #4 • Roger Mainwood – Autobahn animation cels

Autobahn 1Roger Mainwood‘Autobahn’ animation cels, Halas & Batchelor, 1979
(330 x 270 mm, pen and paint on acetate).

In 1979 animation studio Halas & Batchelor were commisioned by EMI to make a video to accompany Kraftwerk’s song ‘Autobahn’ for a possible laser disc compilation of the label’s back catalogue. These are two original cels from the film, the background and goggle reflections are lost, the laser disc was never released.

You can watch the film in two parts on YouTube, this frame appears at approx 4.22 in Part 2.

Part 1 Part 2

 

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Originals #3 • Kid Acne – TTC LP Illustration (Full)

TTC LP Inner full

Kid Acne‘TTC – C’eci N’Est Pas Un Disque’ LP inside cover illustration (full piece), 2001-2

(640 x 380 mm, pen and pencil on paper).

The full piece was created using photocopies of two A3 illustrations depicting the crowd characters. These were then joined and the club background added in thinner pen. The DJs were also added at this stage to complete the scene.

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Originals #2 • Kid Acne – TTC LP Illustration piece

TTC LP illo (Right) 650

Kid Acne‘TTC – C’eci N’Est Pas Un Disque’ LP inside cover illustration (right hand side), 2001-2 (420 x 297mm, pen and pencil on paper).


Originally one half of a crowd scene to go on the inside of a gatefold cover for TTC’s first LP. The label couldn’t afford a gatefold sleeve so it was printed on the inside of a single sleeve, the left half is thought to be lost.

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Perks of the job

One of the nicest things about the job I do is meeting other artists and like-minded people, and sometimes you get unexpected surprises because of this. Two recent packages turned up within days of each other and bought a smile to my face. The first was from Nigel Peake and he’d sent a unique screen print of the Ninja Family Tree he’d designed for the XX box set. This had reversed colours – blue on white – and he had hand-coloured my name on the print. Beautiful. He has now made a limited, signed edition available via his site so, if you didn’t get the box set, prefer the reversed colours and want a fold-free version, head on over there.

Doc Vec x 2This week saw not one but two posters from Doc Vek at the door, his design for the DJ Kentaro show earlier in the year (right) and the forthcoming Ninja Tune party in Bristol at Motion (left). This was one of only three made and I’ve already framed it for the studio. I loved it so much that I suggested to Ninja that they have some made for the Ewer St. party in London on Oct 2nd. They will be personalised with the date, location and line up and probably available from the Ninja shop afterwards.