Last week I featured the Easton Press edition of I Am Legend. When a new edition (particularly a domestic release) of I Am Legend is published, I often check on the availability of the cover artwork. So in 2009, I tracked down artist Patrick Jones, who had provided frontispiece illustrations for each volume in the Easton Press "Day After Doomsday" series.
Patrick confirmed that his I Am Legend artwork was in fact digital (as is often required given the timing and multiple changes publishers might request), but that he had a preliminary pencil sketch, and he could also make me a giclee print of his artwork. Needless to say, I took him up on both options.
I also got the following digital thumbnails from him, which show off the evolution of his artwork. I love his first concept, of Neville burying his wife while the fiery pit rages in the background.
His alternate concept is the one that was ultimately selected (and continued to evolve).
Here is his pencil sketch with his notes. In it, you can see the alternative placement of the rifle in Neville's right hand, which is how it would be rendered in the final illustration of Neville with an empty cityscape behind him.
Fortunately, because I was so quick to contact him, I was able to get the first out of the maximum 100 prints that he would make of the artwork. Patrick also offered to add a remarque to the print — a small pencil sketch of Neville.
Considering what a finished painting might have cost, I'm fortunate that I was able to get a high quality print of the artwork for the Archive, not to mention the first in a limited run with an original remarque, along with his original pencil sketch.
Check back next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!
