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Cover Art, Cover design, illustration, Jim Burns, Jim Burns sci fi, Keith Draws, Richard Tongue, Sci Fi, science Fiction, Science fiction art, Space ship, Star ship, starships
Recently I got to know Jim Burns.
Okay so it’s only on social media but hell! This is a man who has been a great influence on my work for as long as I can remember being interested in Science fiction and he actually takes the time to talk with me. I think the first time I saw his work (at least attributed) was in Omni (a Science fiction and fact magazine) in the late 70’s.
Jim Burns “Mechanismo”
The thing that stuck me about the way he worked was was his ability to contrast very human Star-ships, machinery and people with incredibly “alien” Alien star-ships, machines and characters. The alien part of his work can be almost jarring in it’s difference, and yet at the same time it looks very natural in the scene.
Jim_Burns for “The Reality Dysfunction (Night’s Dawn #1)” by Peter F. Hamilton
Jim is one of the most approachable, pleasant people I’ve ever had the pleasure to talk to and I still feel awestruck every time we talk.
Jim Burns
Keith Draws (awestruck!)
The realism of his work and the incredible detail he applies meticulously have always been something I strive to achieve, with varying degree’s of success, but I have to say the most important thing he does is to take the viewer away from the current reality, into the reality of his science fiction. And something about the way he does this seems to connect to the almost primeval parts of the mind. The effect of looking at his work is almost like experiencing recovered memories, filled with the almost overpowering emotions of awe, excitement, and discovery. The truth is when I look at his art I almost become that “starry-eyed teen” again. Speaking of being a “starry-eyed teen” I remember the first time I saw the cover for Stanislaw Lem’s “The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age” painted by Jim. The image is so alien and yet at the same time so fascinating that it has stuck with me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an image that had such a profound effect on my outlook before or since.
Jim Burns Art for Stanislaw Lem’s “The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age”
Since I was first introduced to Jim’s Art I wondered what it would be like to have the opportunity to work on such images. In 2012 that opportunity came about when Richard Tongue ordered three book covers from me.
He sent me the books, I read them and really enjoyed them. I remember I put together the roughs for Richard and we just couldn’t finish them fast enough. I knew then that something major was happening in my journey.
Since then Richard and I have worked together on multiple covers (more than 25 if I remember correctly) and Richard recently told me,
” You’ve done some wonderful covers for me over the years, and I always look forward to each one. Often they are some of my biggest inspirations when it comes to writing the book; it’s always great to have that in front of me, urging me on.” when he ordered this:
Operation Damocles cover art © Keith Draws
It is extraordinary to hear such words directed at me when I could say exactly the same thing about Richard’s and Jim’s work. Also, It would be remiss not to say that thanks to the work I’ve done for Richard I’ve also been commissioned to work on many other projects in a similar vein.
Another major influence on my outlook was the magazine OMNI and they just ran a fantastic interview with Jim that I heartily recommend you go read. It’s right here: https://omni.media/jim-burns-interview
I think all that is left to say is a big thank you to Jim for being such an inspiration to me and thank you to Richard for allowing me to put that inspiration into action
You can visit Jim’s website here:
http://www.alisoneldred.com/thumbsJimBurns-Illustration-0-1.html
and Richards here:
http://richardtongue.blogspot.mx/p/battlecruiser-alamo.html
UPDATE: Jim’s reply on facebook:
Jim’s response on FB
As ever he is humble, and wouldn’t we all love to hear that speech. I’ve asked him if it’s around and I’ll let you know what he says.
Bellow in the comments is Richards Response and I have to say I am humbled.
I think I’m going to try and do more posts like this about creators and their influence and if possible I’ll try and get some interviews.
keithdraws 
I’m both honored and humbled to be the subject of such praise; I remember, growing up, looking through second-hand art books featuring work by artists such as Chris Foss, Jim Burns, John Harris, and though their techniques were very different, they all had something in common – the sense of wonder. (Without the old Terran Trade Authority books, I don’t think I’d have got into writing in the first place…) I still look through those old books today, gleaming inspiration.
I can remember when I first saw your work, four years ago, very late one night at the office, and I bought my first set of covers right there at the desk. While I’d done a few failed drafts of the book that became ‘Price of Admiralty’, I don’t think the Alamo series really took form until I got those first covers in. Somehow, it made it all seem real, rather than just an impossible dream.
And now I’m coming to the end of my twenty-second novel, the first of a new series I have high hopes for, and once again I have one of your covers urging me on! I’m extraordinarily fortunate to be able to write for a living; even after three years, it still seems impossible. I know very well indeed that a large part of that is down to the wonderful covers you’ve created for me. The thought of an Alamo book without a Keith Draws cover is…inconceivable. It’s always a pleasure to get a new cover through, always an exciting experience. And it always gives me that same sense of wonder I first experienced a long time ago, flipping through those old books.
Thank you Richard. You are very generous with your praise. I will constantly strive to go beyond your expectations.