Existing comment:
Art Explorations
Chesley Bonestell's Legacy on Mars
Chesley Bonestell was an American artist and illustrator who lived from 1888 to 1986. His work focused on the possibility of space travel and exploration and is widely credited with inspiring the space program in the United States. His art was featured in numerous science fiction magazines and films. He was responsible for making the concept of space travel more accessible, inspiring many to make his work a reality, which is still continuing to this day.
Chesley Bonestell
1888-1986
"[Bonestell's] remarkable technique produces an effect of realism so striking that his paintings have sometimes been mistaken for actual colour photographs by those slightly unacquainted with the present status of interplanetary flight."
-- Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Choice of Medium:
Prior to working on his paintings of Mars and space exploration, Bonestell trained as an architect at Columbia University. Early in his career he was a special effects and set designer for the movies Citizen Kane and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. As a result, Bonestell was comfortable working in several different mediums, including oil and lithographs.
From Art to Reality:
Bonestell was able to portray the seemingly impossible concept of mankind traveling to Mars because he was able to witness the equally implausible concept of mankind taking flight. He was 15 years old when the Wright brothers took flight at Kitty Hawk, and with every step of humankind's progression into space Bonestell was able to imagine the next step and display it as a possibility for the masses. This in turn inspired many and spurred the continuation of space exploration. His contributions eventually led to the naming of the Bonestell crater on Mars.
Did you know...
Bonestell designed the art deco exterior and iconic eagles of the Chrysler Building in New York City. |