John Berkey was a really great guy. Had an opportunity to visit his studio with a class which at the time I had no clue what an amazing treat that was.
Got to look through his unfinished canvases and listen to him embarrassedly complain about how some of the fingers he painted looked like hotdogs.
He had some neat stuff there. He had suspended mirrors above his work area so he could just look up and see what he was working on at a 6 foot range.
He also had these videos he'd play at his desk that pretty much looked like the light tunnel sequence of 2001:A Space Odyssey.
Yes, I visited him too, on a long car trip across country, just when I was starting out as an illustrator. We talked for about 3 hours at the end of his work day. He had a completely original mind, both for art and for sound. He would associate patterns that he heard with his paintings on an abstract level.
I think of his work as a great example of an abstract painter who was also a realist, and a realist who was also a fantasist.
Great video but a little disturbing about the black listing in Hollywood. In the early 90's I walked in on a quasi-artist who was doing this project and he showed me the reference he was using from an awards catalog in our industry. He said "Yeah I'm copying this gold award winner but I just need to get it done." Later he entered it into a competition and won a silver award. I mention our earlier conversation but it was like it never happened. This person was ruthless is now the head of all artists in a place everyone has heard of. He got there not by being an artist but by being an efficiency expert using technology to consolidate where and how art gets done. Now myself and the gold award winner he copied from don't work in that industry. I'm not sure the reason but I wonder. I guess it's time to get back to the art.
Richard, according to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, " He mixed his own colours, and painted almost exclusively in acrylics blended with casein to make them harder and longer-lasting, a technique he devised himself." http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/berkey_john
I asked John about Hollywood, and I don't think there was really any blacklist or vendetta. John was really easy to work with, a total professional. His main objection was that he didn't like to travel. But that applied to all requests for traveling. He was perfectly content to stay home and paint.
He told me he did go out there for the "Towering Inferno" movie poster. The fire department sent him up on a very high ladder, and he said it made him feel pretty uncomfortable. But he sure did a great movie poster for Towering Inferno.
He had a very successful movie poster career, doing art for Star Wars, King Kong (US and Japanese versions), and many other pictures.
Another of my favorite artists! Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI don't put much stock in Hollywood. It strikes me as a town that is a lot like a drug addict doing anything for that next fix.
I love to hear when someone prospers even after being told they won't.
That's nice. I did a church of exactly that type on a Christmas card design last year. Just put it up on deviantart...
ReplyDeletehttp://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/American-Church-Chrisrmas-Scene-275556335
Happy Christmas Mr Gurney!
John Berkey was a really great guy. Had an opportunity to visit his studio with a class which at the time I had no clue what an amazing treat that was.
ReplyDeleteGot to look through his unfinished canvases and listen to him embarrassedly complain about how some of the fingers he painted looked like hotdogs.
He had some neat stuff there. He had suspended mirrors above his work area so he could just look up and see what he was working on at a 6 foot range.
He also had these videos he'd play at his desk that pretty much looked like the light tunnel sequence of 2001:A Space Odyssey.
Yes, I visited him too, on a long car trip across country, just when I was starting out as an illustrator. We talked for about 3 hours at the end of his work day. He had a completely original mind, both for art and for sound. He would associate patterns that he heard with his paintings on an abstract level.
ReplyDeleteI think of his work as a great example of an abstract painter who was also a realist, and a realist who was also a fantasist.
Great video but a little disturbing about the black listing in Hollywood. In the early 90's I walked in on a quasi-artist who was doing this project and he showed me the reference he was using from an awards catalog in our industry. He said "Yeah I'm copying this gold award winner but I just need to get it done." Later he entered it into a competition and won a silver award. I mention our earlier conversation but it was like it never happened. This person was ruthless is now the head of all artists in a place everyone has heard of. He got there not by being an artist but by being an efficiency expert using technology to consolidate where and how art gets done. Now myself and the gold award winner he copied from don't work in that industry. I'm not sure the reason but I wonder. I guess it's time to get back to the art.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the medium he using to paint with in those little bottles?
ReplyDeleteRichard
Richard, according to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, " He mixed his own colours, and painted almost exclusively in acrylics blended with casein to make them harder and longer-lasting, a technique he devised himself."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/berkey_john
I had the 1977 folder when I was a kid and that's the first time I can remember seeing those 2 particular city images since. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteit seems like there is more to this video? does a longer (full) version exist?
ReplyDeleteGreat post James. It was nice to get to watch him paint. Wish I would have had to opportunity to meet him as well.
ReplyDeleteI asked John about Hollywood, and I don't think there was really any blacklist or vendetta. John was really easy to work with, a total professional. His main objection was that he didn't like to travel. But that applied to all requests for traveling. He was perfectly content to stay home and paint.
ReplyDeleteHe told me he did go out there for the "Towering Inferno" movie poster. The fire department sent him up on a very high ladder, and he said it made him feel pretty uncomfortable. But he sure did a great movie poster for Towering Inferno.
He had a very successful movie poster career, doing art for Star Wars, King Kong (US and Japanese versions), and many other pictures.