Artwork Details
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DescriptionEarly piece done when John was only 19.What a talent! Dated: 6-17-77 8" x 8" Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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André . 
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 4/25/2025
Mark Levy wrote:
Cool signature and date also!
I was thinking the same thing. Usually takes artists a lot longer to develop a signature that cool.
John C
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 4/25/2025
My whole life, I've been dying to meet a sapient, spacefaring alien up close, and you're telling me your name is ALAN?
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 4/25/2025
dang that's pretty freaking cool man. you're most impressive collection of vintage sketches/convention pieces or illustrations continues to wow us!
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 4/25/2025
Wow, done while a student at the Joe Kubert School. Imagine already having that much brush control while still a teenager!
Christopher Swanson
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 4/25/2025
Absolutely amazing details. Congrats on picking up a really nice piece by John!
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
2 - Posted on 4/25/2025
Already on par with some of the working professionals. He's Frazetta inspired here in line, colors, and signature!
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
2 - Posted on 4/25/2025
Marcus Wai wrote:
Already on par with some of the working professionals. He's Frazetta inspired here in line, colors, and signature!
I had the same thought!
Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 4/28/2025
Such a beautiful sketch... and at 19?!? Yowza... I love the EC feel this one has, from the slightly yellowed paper (can you tell if that's from age or the original coloring?) to the sumptuous hand-colors, to that completely circular, beautifully inked helmet (adorned with the uber-technical accoutrements and details - like the communications rig on the alien's left side of the helmet, WITH THE CORD that -obviously- plugs in to a backpack... because a standalone unit would be just too much of a leap... :) It's my favorite touch, I think, even over the delicious, bent antennae... And then that respiration hose plugged into the side of the helmet - gorgeous inking on the hose! - piping in a noxious, life-giving ammonia-rich atmosphere...!). The alien's left shoulder patch is another favorite touch, too - I absolutely love that. Simple black and white (despite a possible temptation to infuse it with color)...
SO much wow-factor here, Rick, and so much of it stemming from the incredible maturity level reflected in the decisions of the 19-year old Totleben. Along with each of those above details, the brushstroke mastery (just as Rubén pointed out) and (once again) those amazing hand-colors... there's subtlety and nuance there, and the background is bold enough to be dramatic, without being ostentatious and "harmful" to the impression given by the piece: a finely-tuned, beautifully crafted, delicately detailed love-letter to a "lost" era of lost sci-fi... even as sci-fi as a whole was taking its first steps in experiencing a global renaissance...
I mean, think about it... in June of 77, Star Wars was still over 6 months away from opening in the UK... but I'm guessing some of the US buzz around the movie -must- have found its way to young John by this time... And he may have been funneling some excitement that way, by route of an EC filter...? Just super fun to think about!
I madly love your beautiful new piece, Rick! -SO- cool! :) Thanks for sharing this!
Rick W
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 4/28/2025
Jason Hussa wrote:
Such a beautiful sketch... and at 19?!? Yowza... I love the EC feel this one has, from the slightly yellowed paper (can you tell if that's from age or the original coloring?) to the sumptuous hand-colors, to that completely circular, beautifully inked helmet (adorned with the uber-technical accoutrements and details - like the communications rig on the alien's left side of the helmet, WITH THE CORD that -obviously- plugs in to a backpack... because a standalone unit would be just too much of a leap... :) It's my favorite touch, I think, even over the delicious, bent antennae... And then that respiration hose plugged into the side of the helmet - gorgeous inking on the hose! - piping in a noxious, life-giving ammonia-rich atmosphere...!). The alien's left shoulder patch is another favorite touch, too - I absolutely love that. Simple black and white (despite a possible temptation to infuse it with color)...
SO much wow-factor here, Rick, and so much of it stemming from the incredible maturity level reflected in the decisions of the 19-year old Totleben. Along with each of those above details, the brushstroke mastery (just as Rubén pointed out) and (once again) those amazing hand-colors... there's subtlety and nuance there, and the background is bold enough to be dramatic, without being ostentatious and "harmful" to the impression given by the piece: a finely-tuned, beautifully crafted, delicately detailed love-letter to a "lost" era of lost sci-fi... even as sci-fi as a whole was taking its first steps in experiencing a global renaissance...
I mean, think about it... in June of 77, Star Wars was still over 6 months away from opening in the UK... but I'm guessing some of the US buzz around the movie -must- have found its way to young John by this time... And he may have been funneling some excitement that way, by route of an EC filter...? Just super fun to think about!
I madly love your beautiful new piece, Rick! -SO- cool! :) Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks buddy! Glad you like it :)
Hard to say what the original brightness of the illustration board was. I'd guess it's close to original with some slight toning over the years.
My favorite part is the foreshadowing, upside down "V" of the lower face, reminiscent of his later Swamp Thing design.
Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 4/28/2025
Rick W wrote:
Thanks buddy! Glad you like it :)
Hard to say what the original brightness of the illustration board was. I'd guess it's close to original with some slight toning over the years.
My favorite part is the foreshadowing, upside down "V" of the lower face, reminiscent of his later Swamp Thing design.
Totally!! The Swamp Thing upside down "V" grafted onto the all-time great, timeless and classic "This Island Earth" brain creature design... Spectacular!
Tommy Kohlmaier
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 4/29/2025
Amazing and eerie mix between "Mars Attacks" and "Bernie Wrighston - Swamp Thing", huge congrats on this goodie :)
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 5/10/2025
The gradients of color - just some next level stuff from Totleben! Congrats!
Ian Saint
Member Since 2021
1 - Posted on 9/1/2025
This one is absolutely captivating! Could look at this on a wall forever!
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