Folks, I read over the weekend about the passing of artist Greg Hildebrandt, and I want to get up a post this morning to honor the man's legacy.
Back in the days of my youth, the Brother Hildebrandt (Tim and Greg) as they were known were just phenomenal artists. I distinctly remember their work in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, recalling how their stylistic interpretations really set the bar for what literary Fantasy could look like when it was brought to life in a different medium. I'd read that they were particularly disappointed that they weren't contracted to work on the late 1970's animated The Lord Of The Rings film -- a project that, essentially, told the first half of the book trilogy and went unfinished because it failed to build an audience -- and that kinda/sorta created a bit of a rift between the two. Wikipedia.org reports that they worked together until the 1980's at which point -- for professional reasons -- they went their separate ways. Though they both continued working in the realms of the Fantastic, I still think it's sad that they weren't in unison as they had been for so many years previously.
Honestly, I couldn't even begin to guess whether or not illustrations of their type are en vogue with the entertainment industry today. (My personal opinion is that it isn't, but I've only impressions and anecdotal evidence to base that on.) That, too, saddens me quite a bit because I remember growing up and being so amazed by what Greg and Tim had produced. Why, I recall picking up magazines solely because of their contributions to it, but that kinda/sorta thing even happen today? Art of this type seems to be a lost commodity, and I've no means to understand how fandom has evolved to this point. The Hildebrandts were as instrumental in the world of Pop Culture as anyone can claim, and, yes, it saddens me greatly to know that another light has gone out in the universe that could, would, and should continue to burn ever brightly.
Our warmest thoughts and prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Greg Hildebrandt.
May he forever rest in peace ...
-- EZ
Back in the days of my youth, the Brother Hildebrandt (Tim and Greg) as they were known were just phenomenal artists. I distinctly remember their work in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, recalling how their stylistic interpretations really set the bar for what literary Fantasy could look like when it was brought to life in a different medium. I'd read that they were particularly disappointed that they weren't contracted to work on the late 1970's animated The Lord Of The Rings film -- a project that, essentially, told the first half of the book trilogy and went unfinished because it failed to build an audience -- and that kinda/sorta created a bit of a rift between the two. Wikipedia.org reports that they worked together until the 1980's at which point -- for professional reasons -- they went their separate ways. Though they both continued working in the realms of the Fantastic, I still think it's sad that they weren't in unison as they had been for so many years previously.
Honestly, I couldn't even begin to guess whether or not illustrations of their type are en vogue with the entertainment industry today. (My personal opinion is that it isn't, but I've only impressions and anecdotal evidence to base that on.) That, too, saddens me quite a bit because I remember growing up and being so amazed by what Greg and Tim had produced. Why, I recall picking up magazines solely because of their contributions to it, but that kinda/sorta thing even happen today? Art of this type seems to be a lost commodity, and I've no means to understand how fandom has evolved to this point. The Hildebrandts were as instrumental in the world of Pop Culture as anyone can claim, and, yes, it saddens me greatly to know that another light has gone out in the universe that could, would, and should continue to burn ever brightly.
Our warmest thoughts and prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Greg Hildebrandt.
May he forever rest in peace ...
-- EZ
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