I Have A New Favorite Artist - Paul Mann

[Hedji]

I found Paul Mann's artwork on Facebook. His stuff is absolutely incredible. His interpretations of modern movies make them look like old paperback book covers. I'm in awe that anyone still paints this way. He can take properties I'm not interested in and make them look fantastic. Love the expressions on the faces. If I controlled Hollywood, this guy would be my go to illustrator.

Here's his website: Paul Mann

[PNGwynne]

Mann, you aren't kidding! Fantastic stuff, thanks for the link.

[Hedji]

I think my personal favorites are the Saving Private Ryan and Stranger Things. You can almost smell the must of old paperback pages.

[EMCE Hammer]

I love a lot of it, but I gotta say there are a few faces that he missed on big time. Blade Runner is probably my favorite. It gives me a real Del Rey book fair vibe.

[PNGwynne]

Really like the Bond stuff.

[Hedji]

I think what he might miss on in terms of likeness, he more than makes up for in expressiveness. It makes it more exciting to me, to have a whimsical expression that isn't a photocopy of a screen grab, but has a bit of the artist's life breathed into it. The Winona Ryder from Stranger Things is my example where the likeness isn't spot on, yet the expression more than makes up for it.

I'm weird like that. I'd rather have style over accuracy. Drew Struzan was great in his day, but even his work became somewhat predictable to me over time. I can't find the words, but this art has a certain something that grabs me.

[Hedji]

Here's a few more I have saved that I don't see on the website:

[Hedji]

If you are inclined, click his link for his Facebook and check out his non-licensed paintings. They're wonderful.

[sprytel]

I love a lot of it, but I gotta say there are a few faces that he missed on big time. Blade Runner is probably my favorite. It gives me a real Del Rey book fair vibe.

You don't like Ryan Reynolds as Indiana Jones?

[Hedji]

You don't like Ryan Reynolds as Indiana Jones?

Looks like Ford to me. I guess mileage varies.

[Blue Meanie]

Reminds me a lot of what Gray Morrow was doing back in the 60's - 80's. Very nice stuff.

[Hector]

Love that Blade Runner and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

[hedrap]

I've seen his stuff before. I think we know some people in common from my years out west. He's big in Austin IIRC...

[sprytel]

Looks like Ford to me. I guess mileage varies.

Counter-point:



Boom. Dead ringer.

(Ok, you got me. Nice pull of the reference shot.)

[Hedji]

LOL! It IS Ryan Reynolds!