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Last night I found the first sketch that I made on an IPad Pro back in 2016. I had seen a short interview with comic creator Frank Hampson (Dan Dare) in which he talked about losing creative control/rights to his own creation. I had tried to capture his haunted sad expression.
Around that time I had read the book “The Man who drew Tomorrow” the story of Frank Hampton’s creative work. Such a sad story, many had made so much money from his creation. And after losing his rights he fell into depression, cancer and an attempted suicide.
A cautionary tale.
A cautionary tale.
On a more positive note here is a wonderful painting of a younger Hampson in his happier years working (with his team) on the original run of Dan Dare. Note the little models and sculptures around the studio that Hampson and his team would make for lighting/perspective reference.
Credit: Don Harley.
Harley has produced many painting/illustrations that capture Hampson’s Dan Dare art style as seen in “Spaceship Away’ magazine.
Harley has produced many painting/illustrations that capture Hampson’s Dan Dare art style as seen in “Spaceship Away’ magazine.
One of those covers is in fact by Ian Kennedy who would also go on to illustrate the return of Dan Dare for the Eagle relaunch in the 1980s (without Hampson involvement).
It is a great shame that none of Ian Kennedy’s (and co’) Dan Dare strips have ever been reprinted because it was a great continuation featuring some fabulous artwork.
