retrogameart.com: Portland Retro Game Expo or BUST!! PRGE is nearly Upon us!

BOUND FOR PORTLAND WITH SOME AUCTION ACTION!!

I HOPE... WITH THE AID OF THESE

FOUR FINE FELLOWS!!!

I AM AUCTIONING OFF MY ORIGINAL PREMIERE EDITION OF GAMEPRO MAGAZINE, FOR WHICH I DID THE COVER ILLUSTRATION IN MAY 1989, AND WILL BE PACKAGED WITH MY 13"X 19" SIGNED PRINT OF THE ORIGINAL ART, AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CLIENT!

THIS HIGHLY COLLECTABLE, VERY RARE AND PRISTINE EDITION WILL BE SIGNED BY ME IF THE BUYER WISHES. THE AUCTION WILL RUN THROUGH AUGUST 20TH AT THE NINTENDO AGE WEBSITE , AND I HOPE TO RAISE MONEY TO DEFRAY MY COSTS FOR MY BOOTH AS WELL AS MY TRAVEL EXPENSES. OBVIOUSLY IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THIS SINGLE OFFER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE NINITENDO AGE SITE AS I WILL BE OFFERING MORE ITEMS IN THE FORM OF ORIGINAL SKETCHES FOR AUCTION THROUGH THE TIME REMAINING BEFORE THE SHOW.

IN COMING POSTS I WILL DISCUSS THE SIX COVERS I DID FOR GAMEPRO THROUGH THE YEARS. THIS ICONIC MAGAZINE ENTERTAINED AND EDUCATED GAMERS THROUGH TIPS SHORTCUTS AND TACTICS BEGINNING IN 1989 AND CONTINUED FOR 24 YEARS, FINALLY CLOSING ONLY RECENTLY IN 2011. THE PREMIERE ISSUE CARRIED THREE OF THE VERY FIRST PROVIEWS AS SEEN HERE.

THESE INTERIOR SPREADS WERE TO INTEREST PROSPECTIVE ADVERTISERS IN FINANCING THE MAGAZINES THROUGH THEIR ADS. GAMEPRO WAS A VERY BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED ISSUE AND RAPIDLY BECAME A MUCH SOUGHT AFTER AD PLATFORM FOR EVERY MAJOR GAME COMPANY, AND ROSE TO PROMINENCE IN THE GAMING WORLD.

THEIR INITIAL DAYS WERE LEAN, HOWEVER, AND MY FIRST MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FIRST COVER TOOK PLACE IN A RENTED OFFICE IN A REDWOOD CITY STRIP MALL. THEY HAD TO TAKE STRONG MEASURES TO CREATE READERSHIP, INITIALLY HANDING THESE ISSUES OUT AT RETAIL OUTLETS FREE OF CHARGE.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE SPREADS YOU SEE HERE WERE NOT DONE BY ME, BECAUSE I WAS BUSY CREATING THE COVER. HOWEVER THE CENTER ILLUSTRATION FOR THE SHINOBI SPREAD WAS DONE BY MY STUDIO MATE AND OFT TIME MODEL CARL BUELL. HE POSED FOR MY ILLUSTRATIONS OF SNK'S GUERRILLA WAR, AND P.O.W., AND MANY OTHER COVERS. HE REMAINS AN AMAZING ARTIST AND MUSICIAN TO THIS DAY.

BELOW YOU CAN SEE THE SIX COVERS I DID FOR GAMEPRO. FUTURE POSTS WILL DISCUSS METHODS AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED. I HOPE YOU ENJOY, AND OR POSSIBLY, REMEMBER THESE PAINTINGS AS FONDLY AS I REMEMBER PAINTING THEM!