David A. Hardy

David A. Hardy
Born (1936-04-10)April 10, 1936
Bournville, UK
Occupation Artist
Known for Space art

David A. Hardy is the longest-established living space artist, having illustrated a book by Patrick Moore in 1954.[1]

Early life

David Hardy was born 10. April 1936 in Bournville, UK. He studied at the Margaret Street College of Art in Birmingham, and was soon painting for the British Interplanetary Society.[2]

Career

He started his career as an employee in the Design Office of Cadbury's, where he created packaging and advertising art for the company's confectionery.

His first science fiction art was published in 1970, but he has gone on to illustrate hundreds of covers for books, and for magazines such as The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact. His work also appears regularly in magazines such as Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, Astronomy Now and Popular Astronomy, for which he also writes articles.

Jon Gustafson and Peter Nicholls write that he is "known as much for his astronomical paintings in the accurate tradition of Chesley Bonestell as for his sf work... Some of his best early work was to illustrate a nonfiction book by Patrick Moore, Sun, Myth [sic], and Men (1954)." Gustafson and Nicholls remark that The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction was "the magazine for which he developed his famous "Space Gumby," a green alien which lent humour to his vivid astronomical scenes. He was an important artist for Vision of Tomorrow and worked also for Science Fiction Monthly, If and Gal."[2]

He is European Vice President of the International Association of Astronomical Artists, and Vice President of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.

He has been Artist Guest of Honour at a number of science fiction conventions, including Stucon, Albacon, Armadacon, Novacon, the 2007 Eurocon, and Illustrious, the 2011 Eastercon. He was also a guest speaker at the 2012 Microcon at Exeter University.

Major books

Awards and honours

Asteroid 13329 Davidhardy, discovered 1998 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak has been named after him.

References

  1. Atkinson, Nancy (30 May 2012). "Visions of the Cosmos: The Enduring Space Art of David A. Hardy". Universe Today. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 Gustafson, Jon; Nicholls, Peter (1995). "Hardy, David A(ndrews) (1936- )". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (Updated ed.). New York: St Martin's Griffin. p. 542. ISBN 0-312-09618-6.
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