GORBLIMEY! What The Hell Happened To Barry Windsor Smith?

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[@__Greg___]

Back in this period Barry Smith shared a studio with Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta and Jeffrey Jones and they no doubt influenced each other. They put out a book together called The Studio that would be great to look at in a video.

[@totallytomanimation]

The should reprint "The Studio" as a hardcover.

[@jeffreylawrence6928]

Very lucky to be at forbidden planet in London when they brought out the studio so not only do I have the book but it’s signed by all four artists and I had like a five minute chat with Barry Windsor Smith, who influenced and still does my love of art and comics

[@toluod3649]

Had never heard of Barry windsor Smith till today and now it's a name I'll likely never forget. His work leaves me at a loss for words

[@JorgeVelezMusic]

Oh man do I envy you. Enjoy!

[@dannykilpatrick2811]

Dude! Welcome to a world with about a thousand more colors!

[@azaze88]

His machine man series he did is so good, Windsor in my opinion is one of the best comic artists ever

[@knowgo411]

WOW MAN...JUST WOW!!! THANKS FOR SHARING THESE PIECES!! BWS IS LEGENDARY!! Those later portfolio pieces just Absolutely Beautiful 🔥🔥🔥

[@reprintranch]

Regarding the discussion of portfolios, that starts up at about 2:15 -- in the early to mid 70s, a company called Middle Earth was the leading purveyor of these products. Among other things, they got Frank Frazetta signed on to do a Lord of the Rings pen-and-ink portfolio that was issued in 1975. Back then, seemed like every young, technically gifted comic book artist was doing portfolios -- Wrightson, Adams, Starlin, Smith, etc. and I assume it was a creatively satisfying, well-paying gig.

[@Susie_Floozie]

Beauty! Thanks. I haven't seen this stuff in, like, 40 years...and Smith's vision is still a trip with suitcases!

[@garykuzminski7969]

Wonderful! Thanks to Scott Strong & CK for giving the world a chance to view such hard to find pieces.

[@russworks2882]

This is going to get a lot of views and well deserved.

[@billyhaney5117]

I love this phase of Barry's career! So glad you guys got your mitts on this Gorblimey Press published art.

[@richardbehrle1496]

I have some of those since I started collecting as a result of my sister modeling for Frank Thorne in the 70s. Both my sisters were involved in comics and clothing from that time. I met BWS at a comic convention in the early 80s and witnessed his wrath when another kid asked him why he didn't do comics anymore, a future teacher of mine at Kubert school was at that same convention, an amazing figure artist names Ben Ruiz. I made it a point to collect Barry's artwork throughout the 70s and 80s.

[@russworks2882]

The "2P" in the corner of the first portfolio cover is not the price, but Barry calling this his "Tupenny Portfolio", an archaic reference that got past everyone back then, too. It cost more than two dollars and obviously more than two pennies.

[@patriciosoler3861]

Those cards are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing this tremendous gift!🙏

[@markmanhetherington1]

Those decorative borders come from old Irish and Anglo saxon manuscripts from the Dark Ages - look at some of the pages from the Book of Kells for example. The artist best known for using these kinds of borders, especially around the time these Gorblimey Press portfolios came out, is Jim FitzPatrick. He designed several album covers for Thin Lizzy and the iconic Che Guevara image that 70s students had on their walls. He also did loads of work based on Irish Myths and Legends which often has a very BWS feel but is actually pretty different if you look closely. Check out The Book of Conquests, The Silver Arm and Erinsaga

[@thomasgray9824]

Me and my buddy bought this set when it came out,we even went to visit him at the studio.all the way from Wyoming!!good times!!

[@dragonfist777]

Awesome work as always gentlemen. I would also say that a major influence on Barry Windsor Smith at that time was the Pre Raphaelite Artist Edward Burne-Jones. Lovely work that I wish was still being made.

[@murraybain5359]

Such treasures!!! Thanks for sharing. The The Studio had stacks of all four of their gorgeous Prints, And they had mouse infestation, They were nibbling at the corners. Apparently archival paper is delicious. Kaluta had a BB gun and he’d snipe them. The weed of crime bears bitter fruit! Eventually they put a ton of the mice they caught into a giant aquarium. It was full with dozens and they weren’t like pet mice, wildly running all across the lid and sides Day and night. So a bitter cold snowy night, they carry the aquarium down the stairs and to a park across the street. When they tip the aquarium over the mice as a herd make a bee line down the street and across and straight back to the building of the studio.

[@meesalikeu]

this is beyond the beyond cool. i recall every one of these bws materials being advertized for sale in various comics and i always coveted them as a kid and wondered about them. so great to finally see them all these years later they did not disappoint. enjoying the commentary too so big thanks. 👍🏽

[@apexcomix3200]

I'm blown away watching the Barry Windsor Smith portfolio reveal. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@Phantoman7]

I think Quesada talked about how he would go to old book stores, to gain access to those ornamentry design patterns for the boarders (10:02). Not hand drawn from scratch.

[@russworks2882]

Well, this video gets bookmarked forever. Just about the most valuable content ever. The border patterns that BWS used on some of those prints is based on old Celtic knotwork designs that were used as ornamentation going back to the 7th Century at least. I'm sure a lot of the artists of the 70's fantasy revival went to the source material without even seeing this incredible work. I remember a 70's portfolio artist named James Fitzpatrick who specialized in this sort of thing.

[@gaslight5]

Bisley's version of this in 2000ad was great

[@lescomicsdufrenchgeek]

I bought the first BWS portfolio from this video in the late 80s early 90s from the French Parisian book store called Déesse - They also printed a John Byrne (X-Men) and a Mike Zeck (Punisher) portfolios. Everything was official, and I always thought the BWS portfolio was printed there for the first time. Thank you for making this video and this channel, I am a big fan!

[@BreinGames]

Why aren’t absolutely all of these prints framed and on a mini art exhibit?

[@adriananthony602]

I heard about the Kayfabe idea for Christmas in July at Hero’s Con this past weekend! As a creator I am very much on board for this! Not to skip pass the BWS video which is fantastic to see… but I’m curious to hear more and be a part of the Kayfabe Christmas in July!

[@gg92101]

You're right in that Phil Seuling and Bud Plant distributed Barry Smith's Gorblimey Press stuff ... but I definitely remember buying some of it directly from Smith at the Seuling shows in the mid-1970s. My copy of SHELF STUF' had a green cover, so I'm guessing there were multiple color covers. Seuling and Plant basically underwrote some of these products by pre-ordering a certain amount of copies. I fondly remember the huge displays of zines and such at Seuling's cons, from both Phil and Bud. It was a Golden Age of artist- and fan-produced material.

[@ahmedt2146]

You guys need to crack open an issue of Rune. BWS work on that was breathtaking and some of his best work.

[@hcanderson3787]

Holy fucking shit.

[@Catweazled]

Red Nails is the fantastic bridge between the two periods of Barry's art development from comics to fine print creator.

[@JamesHaney]

Excellent BWS exhibition! Great seeing his evolution his style and techniques all building on the visuals that made him a fan fave so long ago. ps: Great to see you guyz at HeroesCon this past weekend! Jim: Thanks for the PLAIN JANES and the chat regarding Gene Colan. Ed: great panel with Chris and Weezie! Didn't realize you were so damned tall! Neither of you were as bulgy as the background art suggested, but both were charming in person as on YT! Keep it comin', Kidz! 🖖♾

[@ChuckArnold1]

I always wondered where Arthur Adams found inspiration besides Michael Golden and Walter Simonson...I think it's this portfolio.

[@totallytomanimation]

I remember, back in the day, there was a industry publication put out by Jim Steranko called Mediascene. I use to see a lot of portfolio and higher end stuff being sold in it's pages. That's where I first saw the work of Virgil Finlay, when they were pushing that series of books publishing his work (the complete series is a part of my book collection these days). I still have a small assortment of Mediascene's in storage.

[@gabrieljimenez9762]

This is so amazing. it seems unreal! Truly a master.

[@quirqq]

I love Barry Windsor-Smith's work in the dystopian cyberpunk Machine Man limited series!

[@jcandram]

Oh man, I’ve seen those little neighbors library and I was planning on dropping in some trades or loose comics that would be good for young readers. There a good used book store close that dedicates a solid wall to trades. Besides the big too I find independent publications that are solid gems. Best part generally the books run $3-5 bucks! I think this be would be an awesome plant seeds for the next generation of future readers and cartoonist!

[@robertedwards3551]

I like how USA centric your references are, for battle compositions and line work check out Frank Bellamy's work on Heros the Spartan for Eagle comic in the UK, his penmanship was superb. When you look at British comic art and panel composition in examples like Dan Dare you can see BWS' calm, considered motion, emotion and anatomy came from this tradition and is the key difference between BWS' Conan and say John Buscema's.

[@cookieDaXapper]

....a GRAND collection of hours upon HOURS of line work by a modern Master. Thank you for sharing Gentlemen; PEACE, Love, and Respect. God bless.

[@jamesgildersleeve]

Wow!! Beautiful work from BWS! I've been looking at some Jeffrey Catherine Jones work lately, and one can definitely see how they (Jones, BWS, Wrightson, Kaluta) all were drawing inspiration from each other and from similar fine art sources, filtering it all through unique sensibilities. Lovely stuff. Another awesome video, guys. Watching these before heading to work is always a highpoint of my day.

[@MrEjw3]

This was really cool. I bought, and still have the islands and king Arthur portfolios. Some got lost over the years, but man, I wanted all of those!BWS was at a height during that time and it was getting a little pricey for me. Really nice to revisit that Era. Thank you!

[@SmoDdo781]

Monsters was so good one of the best things I read last year!

[@edwardthorne9875]

I read that during this time, BWS was being tormented by hallucinations and Shadow People. And no, it was not drugs. Thank you guys for presenting this important artist.

[@ISheolraver]

In actuality, it was related to an alien encounter he experienced. He describes it in his "Opus" books.

[@richdannys2906]

I was waiting for you guys to point out that Thoth Amon is actually floating slightly above the floor, in that Portfolio plate? Took me many years before I noticed it, myself..

[@johnbuttino2848]

I am lucky enough to have quite a few of these signed and framed in my studio.

[@univerz0]

7:01 The print was used as the front and back covers to Marvel Treasury Edition 4 without Barry Windsor-Smith’s permission. Marvel photographed it directly from the print. Barry explained this to me when he declined to sign my copy of the Treasury Edition in the late ‘70s.

[@MikeTaylor-uw5zy]

There is a whole lotta BWS in the DNA of Jim Lee/Scott Williams cross hatching style.

[@KennyGsca]

Hes still alive and I STILL LOVE BWS!!! So Much love for his Art, Im a huge fan looking forward to this video

[@reapersaurus]

I'm late to this video, but thank you for showcasing a personal favorite. I'm surprised I didn't see a print of Icarus in there - it's one of my favorite pieces of art of all time; one I wish I'd picked up.

[@steverodriguez2002]

I took that treasury when I met Barry in the 90s. He would not sign it. He advised Marvel did not pay him for the reprinted work. I did not realize that. Still have some of his work( as well as Conan comics).

[@morten_art]

Thanks so much for sharing BWS' sublime work!

[@michaelcollier2951]

It's great that you guys are sharing all of BWS art!

[@JorgeVelezMusic]

I had the Enchantment poster and one other with a caped skull standing in a barren wood. Both signed by the man. Ended up disappearing during a house move.

[@ISheolraver]

"Whithering" (1975) A hauntingly amazing piece.

[@ChristopherLeeRiley]

You had me at Patrick Bateman American Psycho reference. HAHA. I'm a graphic designer and used to have to make business cards in the 90s and that scene in that movie is so on point when people would try to design the perfect card.

[@randomfluffypup9608]

thanks for sharing this

[@briana656]

Theres a Moon Knight Portfolio from Sienkiewicz that i been after on Ebay for a few years now.

[@paulpizzlewizzle]

Archer and Armstrong is great!

[@punkrockjazzstudio]

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!

[@JasonMcArthur]

Dam, so flipping dope!!!!!!, is all I'm going say. Thanks for sharing your score dudes.

[@meesalikeu]

does anyone know the exact address of the studio? i always wondered and it bugged me. i know west chelsea nyc, but the exact address. maybe its noted in some of these materials or the studio book? thanks if you know.

[@sakinney3]

I had a print of that "Book of Samothrace" back in the day.

[@georgegolston5417]

I'm a BWS fan since the 70's. Thanks for the review. I have a few of these. Mainly his Conan.

[@azaze88]

You guys should do his machine man series

[@goodjobnick7]

I grew up reading my dads old John buscema Conan issues and I remember going through back issues at my local comic shop being like “I don’t like this skinny Conan style” now all those BWS back issues are twice the price of the buscema ones! Kicking myself for not swiping those all those years ago. The older I get the more I’ve fallen in love with BWS style and application. He’s truly a master visual storyteller!

[@MourningConstitution]

Thanks!

[@losfeliz3421]

The wet on wet dude looks like miles davis

[@gordonmanley9377]

Could be!🤔

[@captaintomasquin]

Is there a name for the piece you called the bridge for hippy chicks, reminds me of a Waterhouse work

[@russworks2882]

Pandora.

[@Therealmrmeow]

Amazing stuff!

[@theartofSkinner]

Epic!!!!!!!

[@andyburk8771]

Like Moebius, Corben, Frazetta, Wood, Miller, and so many more...Geniuses are gonna' Genius!

[@dylanho8608]

These are some rare goodies, wow

[@ronprewoznik3566]

His Weapon X book was fantastic.

[@univerz0]

9:55 According to Barry himself, the Giants represent the British Isles.

[@ericsred5440]

I Love This Shit! Keep it coming.

[@SkalpSolo]

it cost a fortune...?Or it s a cheap edition? a fortune... anyway ..Fokin beautifull!

[@doomtripper]

I’m 100% cribbing that Ragnarok 3 cover. You dudes are the gift that keeps on giving.

[@qfapodcastabouthowardstern]

That portfolio was peak BWS for my money. Loved his art but hated his elitist stance on some of his fellow artists.

[@MrWingiii]

He just dropped a graphic novel didnt he?

[@ISheolraver]

"Monsters" published April 27th, 2022. He worked on it for decades. I did some minimal work on it with him in the mid '90s. On my birthday in '97 he gifted me some of the original artwork he didn't use in the final book.

[@MurielBellini]

[@sho_more_]

Find your local little library to pitch in for the Comic Book Christmas in July initiative! littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/