Imagination Fully Dilated: Science Fiction Part 23

A Short Biography of Alan M. Clark

Alan M. Clarkwas born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1957. He graduated in 1979 from the San Francisco Art Inst.i.tute with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. In 1984 he became a freelance ill.u.s.trator, and since has produced work ranging in subject from fantasy, science fiction, horror, and mystery for publishers of fiction, to cellular and molecular biology for college textbooks. He has produced work for young adults and provided the artwork for two children's books.

Clark has ill.u.s.trated the writing of such authors as Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, Joe R. Lansdale, Stephen King, George Orwell, Manly Wade Wellman, Greg Bear, Spider and Jeanne Robinson, and Lewis Shiner, as well as his own. A major influence for his art comes from the Surrealists, particularly Max Ernst. He is fascinated with the use of what he calls "controlled accidents" and the possibility of "finding" images within the paint. A great advocate of collaboration, Clark has worked with many others in both literary and visual art.

His awards in the ill.u.s.tration field include the 1994 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist, the 1992 and 1993 Chesley Awards for Best Interior ill.u.s.tration, the Chesley for Best Paperback Cover of 1994, and the Chesley for the Best Unpublished Color Work of 1994. He is the recipient of the Deathrealm Award, as well as the first International Horror Guild Critics Award for Best Artist.

He is co-author and ill.u.s.trator ofThe Pain Doctors of Suture Self General, published by Blue Moon Books. He collaborated with Elizabeth Engstrom on the ill.u.s.trated collectionThe Alchemy of Love, published by Triple Tree Publishing,producing the interior ill.u.s.trations, the cover art, and the book design.

Also with Engstrom, he coedited the anthologyImagination Fully Dilated , with stories based on his paintings, which is available from Cemetery Dance Publications. He has sold short fiction to the anthologiesMore Phobias ,The Book of Dead Things ,Dead on Demand, andDarkside , and to the magazinesMidnight Hour andThe Silver Web .

In order to make available to the public the products of his many collaborations, Clark created IFD publishing in January of 1999. He has said of the new company, "IFD Publishing is committed to the idea that art is never the product of a single mind but occurs instead when imaginations meet."

The second book from his new publishing company wasImagination Fully Dilated Volume II, edited by Elizabeth Engstrom. Their latest release isPain & Other Petty Plots to Keep You in St.i.tches , that Clark designed and ill.u.s.trated, and co-wrote with Randy Fox, Jeremy Robert Johnson, Troy Guinn, and Mark Edwards.

Currently, he and his wife, Melody, reside in Eugene, Oregon.

Other t.i.tles by Fairwood PressStrangers and Beggars by James Van Pelt trade paper: $17.99 ISBN: 0-9668184-5-8.

Other Voices, Other Doors by Patrick O'Leary trade paper: $17.99 ISBN: 0-9668184-3-1.

The Final Trick of Funnyman by Bruce Taylor trade paper: $16.99 ISBN: 0-9668184-4-X.

Where the Southern Cross the Dog by Trey R. Barker paperback: $8.99 ISBN: 0-9668184-6-6.

Welcome to h.e.l.l: A Working Guide for the Beginning Writer by Tom Piccirilli paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0-9668184-2-3.

The 10% Solution: Self-editing for the Modern Writer by Ken Rand paperback: $5.99ISBN: 0-9668184-0-7 ZOM BEE MOO VEE.

by Mark McLaughlin chapbook: $5.99 ISBN: 0-9668184-1-5.

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