The Deceiving Eye: The Art Of Richard Hescox with text by Randy M. Dannenfelser
pub: Paper Tiger. 128 page hardback. Price: £20.00 (UK), $29.95 (US), $44.95(CAN). ISBN: 1-84340-184-3.

check out website: www.papertiger.co.uk

All right, if you live in the UK like me, you won’t have seen many of Richard Hescox’ book covers cos they tend to appear on US publishers like DAW.

If you play a lot of computer games, then chances are that you’ve come across his work since he’s been involved in a lot of computer games where his work has been translated into the backgrounds you see on the screen, creatures and gadgets that they use. Even more remarkable because Richard Hescox is not a digital artist.

His preference is oils although he’s pretty fluent with acrylics as well. He admits here that he would prefer to be called an ‘illustrator’ than an ‘artist’ because it sums up what he does for a living - illustrating or interpreting a scene.

Uniquely, this book also features a selection of non-commissioned work where Hescox paints what he likes as well. This always throws fresh insight into what an artist can do unleashed by art directors and needs to be encouraged in books like this if they want to extend their work possibilities.

There’s an interesting contrast between his SF and fantasy paintings. With SF, Hescox’ art has the associated sharpness. With fantasy though, maybe it's the different colour palate, but there’s an almost biscuit tin top ethereal look to them that is an interesting contrast that adds a dream-like quality to his work.

To add to this mix, there is a selection of pre-final painting paintings that illustrate the difference between them and the final picture that should reassure anyone that your ideas can be refined without resorting to a lightbox to just scale things up.

Looks like your bookcase is going to have another interesting volume to add to its selection this year. Be sure to give it a look.

GF Willmetts

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