Boris Vallejo (born January 8, 1941)
[ is a Peruvian-American painter][ who works in the ]science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
, fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
, and erotica genres.[ His hyper-representational paintings have appeared on the covers of numerous science fiction and fantasy fiction novels. They are also sold through a series of annual calendars.
]
Artwork
Born in Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
, Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
, Vallejo began painting at the age of 13, in 1954, and obtained his first illustration job three years later in 1957 at the age of 16. He attended the Escuela Nacional Superior Autónoma de Bellas Artes on a five-year scholarship, and was awarded a prize medal. After emigrating to the United States in 1964, at the age of 23, he quickly garnered a fan following from his illustrations of Tarzan
Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...
, Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, films (including '' Conan the Barbarian'' and ''Conan the Destroyer''), ...
, Doc Savage and various other fantasy characters (often done for paperback-fiction works featuring the characters). This led to commissions for movie-poster illustration, advertisement illustration, and artwork for various collectibles - including Franklin Mint paraphernalia, trading cards, and sculpture. Along with Julie Bell
Julie Bell (born October 21, 1958) is an American fine artist, illustrator, photographer, bodybuilder and wildlife painter. Bell is also a fantasy artist and a representative of the heroic fantasy and fantastic realism genres. Bell has won Che ...
, Vallejo presents his artwork in an annual calendar and various books. Vallejo's work is often compared to the work of Frank Frazetta, not only because it is similar stylistically, but also because Frazetta painted covers for paperbacks of some of the same characters.
Vallejo's preferred artistic medium is oil on board, and he has previously used photographs to combine discrete images to form composite images. Preparatory works are pencil or ink sketches, which have been displayed in the book ''Sketchbook''. He and Julie Bell have worked on collaborative artworks together, in which they sign the artwork with both names.
Vallejo has produced film poster
A film poster is a poster used to promote and advertise a film primarily to persuade paying customers into a theater to see it. Studios often print several posters that vary in size and content for various domestic and international markets. Th ...
s for numerous fantasy and action movies, including ''Knightriders
''Knightriders'' is a 1981 American drama film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, Amy Ingersoll, Patricia Tallman, and Christine Forrest. It was filmed entirely on location in the Pitts ...
'' (1981), ''Q'' (1982), and ''Barbarian Queen
''Barbarian Queen'' (also known as ''Queen of the Naked Steel'') is a 1985 American-Argentine fantasy film starring Lana Clarkson, directed by Héctor Olivera and written by Howard R. Cohen. The film premiered in April 1985 in the United States. ...
'' (1985). He has also illustrated posters for comedies, notably '' National Lampoon's Vacation'' (1983), ''European Vacation'' (1985), ''Nothing But Trouble'' (1991) and '' Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters'' (2007), co-created with Bell.
He created the 1978 Tarzan calendar. His sea serpent paintings hang in the queue of Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster ( gd, Uilebheist Loch Nis), affectionately known as Nessie, is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or ...
, a rollercoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Awards
He received the British Fantasy Award for best artist in 1979 for his painting ''The Amazon Princess and her Pet''. Vallejo also won the 2011 Chelsey Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and the 2014 Chelsey Award for Best Product Illustration.
Publications
Vallejo's published works include:
* ''The Fantastic Art of Boris Vallejo'' (1980)
* ''Mirage'' (1982, reprinted 1996 and 2001)
* ''Enchantment. Stories By Doris Vallejo, Illustrated by Boris Vallejo'' (1984)
* ''Fantasy Art Techniques'' (1985)
* ''Ladies: Retold Tales of Goddesses and Heroines. By Boris and Doris Vallejo'' (1992)
* ''Bodies: Boris Vallejo: Photographic Art'' (1998)
* ''Dreams: The Art of Boris Vallejo'' (1999)
* ''Titans: The Heroic Visions of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell
Julie Bell (born October 21, 1958) is an American fine artist, illustrator, photographer, bodybuilder and wildlife painter. Bell is also a fantasy artist and a representative of the heroic fantasy and fantastic realism genres. Bell has won Che ...
'' (2000)
* ''Sketchbook'' (2001)
* ''Twin Visions'' (2002)
* ''Fantasy Workshop: A Practical Guide'' (with Julie Bell
Julie Bell (born October 21, 1958) is an American fine artist, illustrator, photographer, bodybuilder and wildlife painter. Bell is also a fantasy artist and a representative of the heroic fantasy and fantastic realism genres. Bell has won Che ...
) (2003)
* ''Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell: The Ultimate Collection'' (2005)
* ''The Fabulous Women of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell'' (2006)
* ''Imaginistix'' (2006)
A yearly calendar of 13 paintings by Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell is produced by Workman Publishing.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vallejo, Boris
1941 births
Living people
20th-century American painters
20th-century American male artists
20th-century Peruvian male artists
21st-century American painters
21st-century Peruvian male artists
American illustrators
American male painters
Artists from Allentown, Pennsylvania
Fantasy artists
People from Lima
Peruvian emigrants to the United States
Peruvian male painters
Peruvian speculative fiction artists
Pin-up artists
Role-playing game artists
Science fiction artists