Artists who get better with age?

[davekarlen]

Do any of the members have a favorite artist that they believe got better over the years compared to their earlier work. I can think of a few off the top of my head like Dan Spiegle, Doug Wildey, Butch Guice, etc...

 

Dave

[KirbyJack]

Jack Kirby, of course. The GA stuff is good enough to make him an immortal, but his wheelhouse silver age art is why he's The King.

[lb jefferies]

Mignola

 

[Speedy-D]

Joe Kubert got better and better, right up until the end.

[alxjhnsn]

I really enjoyed Gene Colan's work as he aged. I think the DD/BW piece that he did for me in 2007 at age 81is amazing. The shot from pencils issue of Captain America (#601?) was his last published work and was excellent.

 

Nick Cardy created two pieces for me Bat Lash and the Teen Titans in his mid-80s. Amazing work and I sincerely believe he's still improving.

 

 

[Michael (OML)]

Good points Alex. Capulo continues to get better over time as well. His work today versus 10 years ago is hands down better today.

[Gal Schwartz]

Jackson Guice is indeed one of the first that come to mind.

The man isn't afraid of trying new stuff and reinventing himself. Love him.

 

I'd say similar things about Steve Epting.

 

 

[jjonahjameson1]

Not sure what age group we are referencing here, but I'll provide a few examples:

 

1. Luke Ross

2. Dale Keown

3. Nick Cardy (the man is in his 90's and his artwork is still improving)

4. Joses Luis Garcia Lopez

5. Charles Vess

[Sarfa]

Tim Vigil. You can see the evolution of his art throughout Faust.

[Saint_Doyle]

I'm racking my brain but all I can come up with are guys who's art I am no longer in love with. I'll refrain from turning this into a negative thread...

[Terry Doyle]

Do any of the members have a favorite artist that they believe got better over the years compared to their earlier work. I can think of a few off the top of my head like Dan Spiegle, Doug Wildey, Butch Guice, etc...

 

Dave

 

Hello, Dave, welcome to the boards - good to see you here.

 

British artist, Frank Hampson (creator of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future), just got better and better during the course of his tenure on the strip.

 

Here's a 1951 Hampson Dare ( the opening episode 1 page 1 of "The Red Moon Mystery"):

 

 

And here he is with Dan Dare in 1958 (from "Reign of the Robots"):

 

 

These scans hardly do the original artwork justice (especially with the second example), as the line-work is razor sharp and the attention to detail is mind-blowing . . .

 

 

[Dan.Adrians]

Tim Vigil's art has evolved by leaps and bounds since his Faust days. If I remember correctly that was '91? '92? Check out his comicartfans gallery, his latest stuff is awesome.

[Ferran Delgado]

I agree with Gal: Butch Guice.

 

Just take a look at this page posted in his Facebook page which belongs to Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield? (2010), a special issue post Reborn. As you can see, it's heavily inspired by Steranko, who saw it and liked it very much.

 

Visit his Facebook page for more b/w and pencil samples:

https://www.facebook.com/butch.guice

 

[jjonahjameson1]

I agree with Gal: Butch Guice.

 

Just take a look at this page posted in his Facebook page which belongs to Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield? (2010), a special issue post Reborn. As you can see, it's heavily inspired by Steranko, who saw it and liked it very much.

 

Visit his Facebook page for more b/w and pencil samples:

https://www.facebook.com/butch.guice

 

 

Beautiful stuff! (thumbs u

[kdoginohio]

I agree with Gal: Butch Guice.

 

Just take a look at this page posted in his Facebook page which belongs to Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield? (2010), a special issue post Reborn. As you can see, it's heavily inspired by Steranko, who saw it and liked it very much.

 

Visit his Facebook page for more b/w and pencil samples:

https://www.facebook.com/butch.guice

 

Reminds me more of Gulacy.

[Brian48]

I always thought Gil Kane's later works were just as good if not better than his earlier stuff. He was a great artist. Right up there with Neal Adams as my two favorite artists of the BA. RIP.

[aardvark88]

But Gulacy tried to emulate Steranko throughout his entire comic book career.

Bill Ward did lots of wonderful larger than twice-up conte crayon good girl art after the 1978 Overstreet with his art profile came out that was more lush than his 40s comic (Torchy) art.

[pinupcartoonguy]

I'm going to have to disagree re Ward. His best stuff was in the late 1950s and early 1960s. By the time his overstreet cover came out, he wasn't even doing his big conte crayon pieces anymore and was mostly doing porn.

 

 

But Gulacy tried to emulate Steranko throughout his entire comic book career.

Bill Ward did lots of wonderful larger than twice-up conte crayon good girl art after the 1978 Overstreet with his art profile came out that was more lush than his 40s comic (Torchy) art.

[koollectablz]

Glenn Fabry.

 

His work has improved exponentially from when he first started being published.

[dgarthwaite-migration]

Most artist show inexperience in their early work. As they refine their craft, they experiment and their style has a lot more character and quality. As they draw even more, they start eliminating the experimentation and draw more in a consistent style that can be turned out quicker and more easily. It may still be excellent, but it's not quite as good as when they tried harder and were still getting comfortable with trying to make it look it's best. Eventually, the shortcuts increase, the attention to detail decreases, and the finished work just doesn't capture the eye as much.

 

It's really just a matter of when you catch them in their career. Some phases last longer for different artists. Some place such high standards on themselves that they refuse to compromise and take shortcuts until their health goes out or something of that nature.

 

DG