Cover Artist Feature – Michael Whelan

Yesterday I wrote about how important book covers are to me, and this week’s featured artist is Michael Whelan. If you’ve read with any depth in the science fiction/fantasy genre then you probably already know his work. From Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series to Michael Moorcock’s Elric series, Michael Whelan has been illustrating fantasy novels for over twenty-four years. He has won the Hugo award an amazing fourteen times.

The biography on his official website includes Whelan’s artistic statement which, interestingly enough, is a quote by renowned Catholic author G.K. Chesterton:

“The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world.”

Michael Whelan certainly lives up to that statement. I love his attention to detail and use of rich colors. My favorite of his covers are from Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy:

The Dragonbone Chair

Stone of Farewell

To Green Angel Tower