Cover Art

DAN IVAN PUNCHATZ... SEPT. 8, 1936- OCT. 23, 2009

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It's possible you've never heard of Dan Ivan Punchatz. Lots of outstanding people only come to our attention as we read their obit. I think that upon making his acquaintance, you won't forget him quickly. He was an illustrator of popular horror and science fiction, and the first "Star Wars" poster. He was a great influence to a generation of illustrators, and a master of the absurd and fantastic. His cover art included Isaac Asimov's "Foundation". He was associated with the genre know as magic realism.

He also contributed to Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Playboy. Ray Bradbury was another author that Punchatz illustrated..."his ability...is endlessly stunning".

To ease his workload he opened Sketch Pad Studios as a training ground for dozens of apprentices known as the "elves". His studio was said to work like a Renaissance workshop. Mr. Punchatz did the first sketch, then passed it on to a group of assistants with varying skills. Renderings of flat colors, transparent washes, and surface detail were handed out. Punchatz finished with a final highlighting and calligraphy.

He also worked as an assistant television art director and produced animations. In the army in 1959, he worked as a medical illustrator, and producer of animated training films. Till he retired in the 1990's he worked on accounts for Pepsi, Exxon, and also illustrated children's books.

His work appeared in many galleries and his portrait of B.F. Skinner is in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery. He taught illustration for 35 years at Texas Christian University.

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Dan Ivan Punchatz was hired to create the packaging for a new video game. The game, "Doom", became a runaway best seller.