William Stout (1) (1949–)

Okay, so I love fantasy art especially when it features faerie, mermaid, mythology, etc. But I am so NOT a fan of the "barbarian and buxom beauty" genre for which Royo & Vallejo are so famous. (Sorry, guys)

Stout features both in this edition. Some stunning fantasy artwork I'd be proud to frame and display. But also many of the "bare-breasted babe" pinup art that so delight adolescent boys.

I know that there is a market for both types of art. Just wish Stout would separate his works into two show more books. One for fantasy lovers and one for guys with breast fixations. If he did, the fantasy art book would go on my coffee table. As it is, I doubt I'll share this book with anyone except my more understanding friends who as moms have already found the girlie mags under their sons' beds... and could care less :-)

When all is said and done, Stout's fantasy art is incredibly well-done, detailed and beautiful. I don't regret buying it. Just wish I could display it without reservation.

And if you like Royo & Vallejo, over half of the book is in that vein. The cover is misleading, not in the quality of his art, in that it creates the expectation that all if not most the art in the volume would be of similar ilk. It's not. show less

Done in the R. Crumb style, this is a handy companion to his trading cards and book thereof. It concentrates on the post war blues artists, and so for me provides nice thumb-nail sketches of their biographies and most important records of artists I had seldom paid a great deal of attention to. In that sense, it can act as a good introduction to the post war blues, and perhaps the pre war artists will draw an audience less attentive to them in the opposite direction.

As an art book, it has show more lovely pictures and is well bound and printed, and surprisingly inexpensive. show less

A sequel of sorts to R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country. 100 colorful, introductory portraits of Blues greats. Some great trivia to go along with the factual information.

Beautiful, well produced Art Book. Companion book to Inspirations and just as wonderful.