Difference between revisions of "Hannes Bok"

From Fancyclopedia 3
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
(1914 -- April 11, 1964)
+
(July 2, 1914 April 11, 1964)
  
Hannes Bok was a pseudonym used by Wayne Woodward, an American artist and illustrator, as well as an amateur astrologer and sometime writer of [[fantasy]] fiction and poetry. Early in life he changed his name to Hans (later Hannes) Vajn Bok -- as a tribute to his favorite composer, Johann Sebastian Bach -- and at other times he used the [[pseudonym]] Dolbokgov.   
+
'''Hannes Bok''' was the working name of '''Wayne Francis Woodward''', an American [[artist]] and illustrator, as well as an amateur astrologer and sometime writer of [[fantasy]] [[fiction]] and poetry. Early in life he changed his name to Hans (later Hannes) Vajn Bok -- as a tribute to his favorite composer, Johann Sebastian Bach -- and at other times he used the [[pseudonym]] '''Dolbokgov'''.   
  
From his first professional cover (the December 1939 cover of ''[[Weird Tales]]'') to his last (an illustration of [[Zelazny]]'s "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" for the November 1963 ''[[F&SF]]'',  Bok painted nearly 150 covers for various [[prozines]], as well as contributing hundreds of black and white interior illustrations to these publications. Early in his career he also provided artwork to [[fanzines]], such as [[Ray Bradbury]]'s ''[[Futuria Fantasia]]'' and was a protege of [[Bradbury]]'s.   
+
From his first [[professional]] cover (the December 1939 cover of ''[[Weird Tales]]'') to his last (an illustration of [[Zelazny]]'s "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" for the November 1963 ''[[F&SF]]'',  Bok painted nearly 150 covers for various [[prozines]], as well as contributing hundreds of black and white interior illustrations to these publications. Early in his career, he also provided [[art]]work to [[fanzines]], such as [[Ray Bradbury]]'s ''[[Futuria Fantasia]]'' and was a protege of [[Bradbury]]'s.   
  
He was a member of the famed [[Futurian Society of New York]], but until he started selling to ''[[Weird Tales]]'', he was pretty much unknown to [[fandom]].  He was "honored" in 1943 when [[Claude Degler]] created the (probably non-existent) [[Hannes Bok Art Society]].
+
He was a member of the famed [[Futurian Society of New York]], though until he started selling to ''[[Weird Tales]]'', he was pretty much unknown to [[fandom]].  When he associated with the Futurians, [[Damon Knight]] described Bok as follows: "Bok was a big-chested, well-built man, blond and snub-nosed, with a quiet and somewhat feminine manner.  He was certainly the most talented artist ever to work in [[science fiction]] illustration." He was "honored" in 1943 when [[Claude Degler]] created the (probably non-existent) [[Hannes Bok Art Society]].
  
Bok's work graced the dust jackets from early specialty book publishers such as [[Arkham House]], [[Shasta Publishers|Shasta]], and [[Fantasy Press]].  His paintings achieved a luminous quality through the use of an arduous glazing process, which was learned from his mentor, artist [[Maxfield Parrish]].
+
Bok's work graced the dust jackets from early specialty [[book]] publishers such as [[Arkham House]], [[Shasta Publishers|Shasta]], and [[Fantasy Press]].  His paintings achieved a luminous quality through the use of an arduous glazing process, which was learned from his mentor, artist [[Maxfield Parrish]].
  
Bok was the first artist to be awarded a [[Hugo Award]] (the [[1953 Best Cover Artist Hugo]] which he shared with [[Ed Emshwiller]]).   He was nominated for the [[1946 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] and the [[1951 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]].
+
Bok and [[Ed Emshwiller]] were the first artists to be awarded [[Hugo Award]]s (sharing the [[1953 Best Cover Artist Hugo]]). Bok was nominated for the [[1946 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] in 1996 and the [[1951 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] in 2001.
  
He also did some writing, selling stories to ''[[Startling Stories]]'' and to ''[[Unknown]]'', and finishing two novels begun by [[A. Merritt]].
+
He also did some writing, selling stories to ''[[Startling Stories]]'' and ''[[Unknown]]'', and finishing two novels begun by [[A. Merritt]].
  
 
As the years passed, Bok was prone to disagreements with editors over money and artistic issues; he also grew reclusive, mystical, and preoccupied with the occult. He eked out a living and was often in near poverty, until his death in 1964 -- apparently due to a heart attack.  He was only 49.  He was eulogized by [[Lin Carter]] as "a warm, whimsical, pixyish, sympathetic person"
 
As the years passed, Bok was prone to disagreements with editors over money and artistic issues; he also grew reclusive, mystical, and preoccupied with the occult. He eked out a living and was often in near poverty, until his death in 1964 -- apparently due to a heart attack.  He was only 49.  He was eulogized by [[Lin Carter]] as "a warm, whimsical, pixyish, sympathetic person"
  
In 1970 the [[N3F]] published the ''Hannes Bok Illustration Index'', compiled by [[fans]] [[Ned Brooks]] and [[Don Martin]]. This Index consisted of all known published artwork by Bok in magazines, books, art folios/single prints, [[fanzines]], and as miscellaneous items (Christmas cards, program books, calendars, bookplates, catalogs, collaborations, and some non-genre items). There were two subsequent editions of this index, the last in 1994.  An illustrated, detailed review of this Index by [[Jon D. Swartz]] was published in the December, 2010 (Vol. 10, Nos. 3-4), issue of ''[[The National Fantasy Fan]]''.  Bok's friend, [[Emil Petaja]], set up the [[Bokanalia Foundation]] to keep his work alive.
+
Bok's friend [[Emil Petaja]] set up the [[Bokanalia Foundation]] to keep his work alive.  In 1970, the [[N3F]] published the ''Hannes Bok Illustration Index'', compiled by [[fans]] [[Ned Brooks]] and [[Don Martin]]. This Index consisted of all known published artwork by Bok in magazines, books, art folios/single prints, [[fanzines]], and as miscellaneous items (Christmas cards, program books, calendars, bookplates, catalogs, collaborations, and some non-genre items). There were two subsequent editions of this index, the last in 1994.  An illustrated, detailed review of this Index by [[Jon D. Swartz]] was published in the December, 2010 (Vol. 10, Nos. 3-4), issue of ''[[The National Fantasy Fan]]''.   
  
When he associated with the Futurians, [[Damon Knight]] described Bok as follows: "Bok was a big-chested, well-built man, blond and snub-nosed, with a quiet and somewhat feminine manner. He was certainly the most talented artist ever to work in [[science fiction]] illustration."
+
*{{SFE|name=bok_hannes}}.
 +
*[http://pulpartists.com/Bok.html Entry at PulpArtists.com.]
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
* 1946 -- [[1946 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo|Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] nominee
 
* 1951 -- [[1951 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo|Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] nominee
 
 
* 1953 -- '''[[1953 Best Cover Artist Hugo|Best Cover Artist Hugo]]'''
 
* 1953 -- '''[[1953 Best Cover Artist Hugo|Best Cover Artist Hugo]]'''
 
* 1998 -- [[Minnesota Fantasy Award]]
 
* 1998 -- [[Minnesota Fantasy Award]]
 +
* 1996 -- [[1946 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] nominee
 +
* 2001 -- [[1951 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo]] nominee
 +
  
 
{{person | born=1914 | died=1964}}
 
{{person | born=1914 | died=1964}}

Revision as of 22:53, 4 February 2021

(July 2, 1914 – April 11, 1964)

Hannes Bok was the working name of Wayne Francis Woodward, an American artist and illustrator, as well as an amateur astrologer and sometime writer of fantasy fiction and poetry. Early in life he changed his name to Hans (later Hannes) Vajn Bok -- as a tribute to his favorite composer, Johann Sebastian Bach -- and at other times he used the pseudonym Dolbokgov.

From his first professional cover (the December 1939 cover of Weird Tales) to his last (an illustration of Zelazny's "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" for the November 1963 F&SF, Bok painted nearly 150 covers for various prozines, as well as contributing hundreds of black and white interior illustrations to these publications. Early in his career, he also provided artwork to fanzines, such as Ray Bradbury's Futuria Fantasia and was a protege of Bradbury's.

He was a member of the famed Futurian Society of New York, though until he started selling to Weird Tales, he was pretty much unknown to fandom. When he associated with the Futurians, Damon Knight described Bok as follows: "Bok was a big-chested, well-built man, blond and snub-nosed, with a quiet and somewhat feminine manner. He was certainly the most talented artist ever to work in science fiction illustration." He was "honored" in 1943 when Claude Degler created the (probably non-existent) Hannes Bok Art Society.

Bok's work graced the dust jackets from early specialty book publishers such as Arkham House, Shasta, and Fantasy Press. His paintings achieved a luminous quality through the use of an arduous glazing process, which was learned from his mentor, artist Maxfield Parrish.

Bok and Ed Emshwiller were the first artists to be awarded Hugo Awards (sharing the 1953 Best Cover Artist Hugo). Bok was nominated for the 1946 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo in 1996 and the 1951 Best Professional Artist Retro Hugo in 2001.

He also did some writing, selling stories to Startling Stories and Unknown, and finishing two novels begun by A. Merritt.

As the years passed, Bok was prone to disagreements with editors over money and artistic issues; he also grew reclusive, mystical, and preoccupied with the occult. He eked out a living and was often in near poverty, until his death in 1964 -- apparently due to a heart attack. He was only 49. He was eulogized by Lin Carter as "a warm, whimsical, pixyish, sympathetic person"

Bok's friend Emil Petaja set up the Bokanalia Foundation to keep his work alive. In 1970, the N3F published the Hannes Bok Illustration Index, compiled by fans Ned Brooks and Don Martin. This Index consisted of all known published artwork by Bok in magazines, books, art folios/single prints, fanzines, and as miscellaneous items (Christmas cards, program books, calendars, bookplates, catalogs, collaborations, and some non-genre items). There were two subsequent editions of this index, the last in 1994. An illustrated, detailed review of this Index by Jon D. Swartz was published in the December, 2010 (Vol. 10, Nos. 3-4), issue of The National Fantasy Fan.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:



Person 19141964
This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.