Michael Whelan’s original painting FIRESTARTER goes to live auction with Heritage, an online auctioneer of collectibles, on October 17-18.

In 1980, Phantasia Press commissioned Whelan to illustrate the cover of their slip-cased, limited edition of the novel, which would be Whelan’s first work for Stephen King.

The author and artist had met a few months earlier at the World Fantasy Convention where they were both Guests of Honor. The cover assignment soon followed and logically so did the first of Whelan’s unprecedented three World Fantasy awards.

Based on the strength of this darkly fantastic work—notice the charred corpses at the feet of Charlie McGee—King named Michael Whelan as the illustrator for THE GUNSLINGER, the first in his paramount series THE DARK TOWER.

Both King and Whelan have reigned atop their respective fields for decades. Understandably this painting stands as a rare treasure for both Michael Whelan and Stephen King fans alike.

Heritage Auctions - Lot 72327

Source: fineart.ha.com

LOVECRAFT’S NIGHTMARE AT AUCTION

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This weekend, Michael Whelan’s celebrated LOVECRAFT panels are being offered for sale by the Frank collection at the Heritage Auction of Illustration Art in New York City.

Over the last 40 years, Howard and Jane Frank have amassed one of the signature collections of science fiction and fantasy artworks. Their decision to “down-size” has created a great opportunity for other collectors to acquire some great works.

This diptych (one image on two panels) is not only one of Whelan’s finest and most reproduced paintings, but one of the greatest and most definitive works of art related to the writings of H.P. Lovecraft.

The panels feature iconic images that reintroduced the weird fiction master to an entire generation of readers and have become indelibly connected to his classic tales.

http://dlvr.it/4BYKYn

LOVECRAFT’S NIGHTMARE by Michael Whelan

These two original paintings are being offered by the Frank Collection at live auction on October 26, 2013.  Internet bidding is currently open on the Heritage Auctions website.

The diptych (one image on two panels) was originally commissioned by Del Rey to be used for 6 separate covers for books by H.P. Lovecraft.  The images were later reproduced in Whelan’s second art collection Michael Whelan’s Works of Wonder, and they remain two of his most popular horror images.  

The prints are still available as a set in our shop.

Source: michaelwhelan.com

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