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Fenner Arnold on Spectrum 15 Winners (PR)
posted February 26, 2008
 

The jury for the fifteenth annual Spectrum competition convened in Kansas City, MO on the weekend February 22, 2008 to make their selections from over 5000 works of fantastic-themed art for this year's book. Spectrum is the only art annual with specific categories devoted to Comics and Concept Art and was the first to feature an Unpublished category.

The jury has given special recognition for superior achievement to the following artists in each of eight categories. The artists receive a Spectrum Award sculpted by Joseph DeVito which rests on a base sculpted by Tom Banwell with either a gold or silver engraved plate bearing the recipient¹s name. The jury consisted of Daren Bader [artist/art director for Rockstar Games/San Diego], Tim Bodendistel [art director/Hallmark Cards], Frank Cho [artist], Kelley Seda [artist], and Justin Sweet [artist]. To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the series the jury selected an entry to be honored as the "Best In Show": besides a sculpted award, that artist will also receive a check for $500.

Works created by the judges (or created under their direction) were excluded from consideration for awards. All of the art selected by the judges will be included in Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art to be published by Underwood Books of Nevada City, CA in October, 2008. Spectrum is distributed to the trade by Perseus, Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Diamond Comic Distributors. The series' editors are Cathy and Arnie Fenner.

Please join us in congratulating these exceptional talents!

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ADVERTISING
Gold Award: JOHNNY YANOK ("Resurrection of the Blood-Zombies From Beyond²/ client: Headless Spectre Records / art director: Doktor Viktor Von Kreep)

Silver Award: BROM ("Hellbent" / client: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. / art director: Brom)

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BOOK
Gold Award: SAM WEBER (cover to THIRTEEN ORPHANS by Jane Linskold / client: Tor Books / art director: Irene Gallo)

Silver Award: STEPHAN MARTINIERE (cover to CITY WITHOUT END by Kay Kenyon / client: Pyr/Prometheus Books / art director: Lou Anders)

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COMICS
Gold Award: JAMES JEAN (cover to FABLES #66: The Good Prince/ client: Vertigo/DC Comics / art director: Shelly Bond)

Silver Award: ADAM HUGHES (cover to CATWOMAN #75 / client: DC Comics / art director: Mark Chiarello)

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CONCEPT ART
Gold Award: DANIEL DOCIU (³Defeated Dragon² / client: ArenaNet/Guildwars / art director: Daniel Dociu)

Silver Award: DANIEL DOCIU (³Carnival Season² / client: ArenaNet/Guildwars / art director: Daniel Dociu)

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DIMENSIONAL
Gold Award: A. BRENT ARMSTRONG ("The Mummy Revisited" / bronze)

Silver Award: AKIHITO IKEDA ("Heart of Art" / mixed media)

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EDITORIAL
Gold Award: PHIL HALE ("Interpreter² / client: Playboy Magazine / art director: Tom Staebler)

Silver Award: KURT HUGGINS & ZELDA DEVON ("Singer² / client: Polluto Magazine / art director: Adam Lowe)

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INSTITUTIONAL
Gold Award: ROBH RUPPEL ("Hot, Dry, & Deadly² / client: Broadview Graphics / art director: Robh Ruppel)

Silver Award: LARRY MACDOUGALL ("Rainy River" / client: Underhill Studio / art director: P.A. Lewis)

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UNPUBLISHED
Gold Award: OMAR RAYYAN ("The Apple²)

Silver Award: BROM ("Black Coast² / art director: Arnie Fenner)

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BEST IN SHOW
JAMES JEAN (cover to FABLES #67: The Good Prince / client: Vertigo/DC Comics/ art director: Shelly Bond)

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GRAND MASTER AWARD (presented by the Spectrum Advisory Board) JOHN JUDE PALENCAR

The Spectrum Grand Master Award is presented to a living artist for career excellence.

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The next Spectrum (#16) will open for entries in October 2007: information will be available through the mail and the official Spectrum website: http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/.

Spectrum: The Best In Contemporary Fantastic Art is acknowledged as the premiere showcase for imaginative illustration, sculpture, and Fine Art. Founded in 1993 by Cathy and Arnie Fenner, the Spectrum annuals are an international who's-who of the best and brightest artists working today in all media. A retrospective show of selected art that appeared in the first eleven volumes of the series was held at the Museum of American Illustration in New York City in 2005. A second exhibition is planned for 2009.

For additional information please contact Tim Underwood/Underwood Books, P.O. Box 1919, Nevada City, CA 95959 http://www.underwoodbooks.com/ *or* Cathy Fenner/Spectrum, P.O. Box 4422, Overland Park, KS 66204 // email via the website: http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/

Photo i.d. The Spectrum 15 jury (l to r): Justin Sweet, Daren Bader, Frank Cho, Tim Bodendistel, Kelley Seda. Photograph by Arlo Burnett.