Brad W. Foster
Encyclopedia
Brad W. Foster is an American illustrator
, cartoonist
, writer
and publisher. He is a fixture at the Hugo Award
s, where he holds the record for most awards for "Best Fan Artist
." As of 2011, since 1984 he has been nominated 23 times, and won 8. He has also been Artist Guest of Honor at multiple conventions such as Conestoga 9, Archon 35, and NASFiC 2010
.
. In 1977, he received a Bachelors degree in environmental design
from Texas A&M University
, then continuing his studies for two more years at the University of Texas at Austin
, concentrating on techniques of fine and commercial art.
In 1976, he founded the small press publishing company Jabberwocky Graphix, initially to print and distribute his own art and comics, although he has subsequently published the work of over 300 other artists from around the world. Among the Jabberwocky Graphix publications were some of the early minicomic
format booklets, ranging from the standard 8-pager up to the thick, 375 page "One Year's Worth". Between 1987 and 1988, he wrote and drew four issues of the comic book Mechthings, which were published by Renegade Press
. In the early 1990s he worked on Shadowhawk
for Jim Valentino
at Image Comics
. For that comic he was listed in the credits as the "Big-Background Artist", which referred to his role in both penciling and inking the larger and more detailed background designs only on certain select panels and pages, rather than throughout.
From 1987 to 1991 he was a regular contributing illustrator to the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories
. In 2008 he began producing illustrations for the newsletter Ansible, published by British author David Langford
, creating a full color version for the on-line edition, and a different black-and-white version for the print edition.
in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Foster was the artist guest of honor for the 2010 NASFiC
, ReConStruction
, Conestoga 9 in 2005, and Archon 35 in 2011.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and publisher. He is a fixture at the Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
s, where he holds the record for most awards for "Best Fan Artist
Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist
The Hugo Awards are presented every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
." As of 2011, since 1984 he has been nominated 23 times, and won 8. He has also been Artist Guest of Honor at multiple conventions such as Conestoga 9, Archon 35, and NASFiC 2010
ReConStruction
ReConStruction is the 10th occasional North American Science Fiction Convention. It was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on August 5–8, 2010, at the Raleigh Convention Center, Marriott City Center, and the Downtown Raleigh Sheraton...
.
Biography
Brad Foster was born in 1955 in San Antonio, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 1977, he received a Bachelors degree in environmental design
Environmental design
Environmental design is the process of addressing surrounding environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products...
from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, then continuing his studies for two more years at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, concentrating on techniques of fine and commercial art.
In 1976, he founded the small press publishing company Jabberwocky Graphix, initially to print and distribute his own art and comics, although he has subsequently published the work of over 300 other artists from around the world. Among the Jabberwocky Graphix publications were some of the early minicomic
Minicomic
A minicomic is a creator-published comic book, often photocopied and stapled or with a handmade binding. In the United Kingdom and Europe the term "small press comic" is equivalent with minicomic reserved for those publications measuring A6 or less...
format booklets, ranging from the standard 8-pager up to the thick, 375 page "One Year's Worth". Between 1987 and 1988, he wrote and drew four issues of the comic book Mechthings, which were published by Renegade Press
Renegade Press
Renegade Press was an American comic book company, founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. Notable titles published by Renegade include Flaming Carrot, Ms...
. In the early 1990s he worked on Shadowhawk
Shadowhawk
ShadowHawk is a fictional comic book vigilante anti-hero created by Jim Valentino.He was first introduced in the Malibu Sun free promotional magazine in May of 1992...
for Jim Valentino
Jim Valentino
Jim Valentino is an American writer, penciler, editor and publisher of comic books.-1970s - 1992:Valentino began his career in the late 1970s creating small press and mostly autobiographical comics. The early-mid 1980s saw normalman which first appeared as a back-up story in Aardvark-Vanaheim's...
at Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
. For that comic he was listed in the credits as the "Big-Background Artist", which referred to his role in both penciling and inking the larger and more detailed background designs only on certain select panels and pages, rather than throughout.
From 1987 to 1991 he was a regular contributing illustrator to the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
. In 2008 he began producing illustrations for the newsletter Ansible, published by British author David Langford
David Langford
David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible.-Personal background:...
, creating a full color version for the on-line edition, and a different black-and-white version for the print edition.
Awards
Foster has won multiple awards for his artwork at various art festivals and conventions around the country, including twice at The Red River RevelRed River Revel
The Red River Revel is a festival of food, culture, art and music that takes place in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, annually in the month of October. The Revel began in 1976 as a bicentennial celebration, sponsored by The Junior League of Shreveport...
in Shreveport, Louisiana.
- Hugo Award, Best Fan Artist
- 2011 (won)
- 2010 (won)
- 2009 (nominated)
- 2008 (won)
- 2007 (nominated)
- 2006 (nominated)
- 2005 (nominated)
- 2004 (nominated)
- 2003 (nominated)
- 2002 (nominated)
- 2001 (nominated)
- 2000 (nominated)
- 1999 (nominated)
- 1998 (nominated)
- 1998, Chesley Award in 1988, from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy ArtistsAssociation of Science Fiction and Fantasy ArtistsThe Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists, ASFA, is a non-profit, educational association, whose membership is made up of amateur and professional artists, art directors, art show managers, publishers and collectors involved in the visual arts of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology and...
. - 2001, Bill Rotsler Award
- 2004, Cat Writer's Association: Muse Award - Best Series of Illustrations
- 2006, Cat Writer's Association: Muse Award - Best Series of Illustrations
- 2011, Rebel Award for his contributions for Southern fandom at FenConFenConFenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with filk held each year on or around the fourth full weekend of September in or around Dallas, Texas...
/DeepSouthConDeepSouthConThe DeepSouthCon is an annual science fiction convention, which is hosted in different cities in the Southern United States. Site selection is by vote of the membership of a given DSC, for the convention to be held 2 years in the future. DSC is often, but not always, held in conjunction with an...
49
Foster was the artist guest of honor for the 2010 NASFiC
North American Science Fiction Convention
NASFiC, a.k.a. the North American Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention scheduled only during years where the Worldcon is being held outside of the North American continent. NASFiC bids voted on by the Worldcon membership the year after a non-North American Worldcon site has...
, ReConStruction
ReConStruction
ReConStruction is the 10th occasional North American Science Fiction Convention. It was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on August 5–8, 2010, at the Raleigh Convention Center, Marriott City Center, and the Downtown Raleigh Sheraton...
, Conestoga 9 in 2005, and Archon 35 in 2011.
Selected works
- The Adventures of Olivia #1 - 5 (co-writer/artist 1989-1996) Jabberwocky Graphix
- Altered Image #1 (inker, 1998) Image ComicsImage ComicsImage Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
- File 770File 770File 770 is a long running science fiction fanzine and newszine published by Mike Glyer; it is named after the now legendary party held in Room 770 at Nolacon, the 9th World Science Fiction Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, that ran continuously for nearly two days and upstaged all the other...
1984 through present (covers and illustrations) Mike GlyerMike GlyerMike Glyer is both the editor and publisher of the long-running science fiction fan newszine File 770. He holds the record for being nominated the most times for the Hugo Award; he has won 9 times in two categories: File 770 won the Best Fanzine Hugo in 1984, 1985, 1989, 2000, 2001 and 2008, and...
publisher - Fission ChickenFission ChickenFission Chicken is a comic book and webcomic character created by J.P. Morgan . Fission Chicken is a short-tempered superhero chicken who can fly, is extremely strong, bulletproof, and can project power bolts from his hands....
#1 - 4 (color finished art over pencils by J. P. Morgan) Fantagraphics - Highlights for ChildrenHighlights for ChildrenHighlights for Children is an American children's magazine. It began publication in June 1946, started by Garry Cleveland Myers and his wife Caroline Clark Myers in Honesdale, Pennsylvania...
1983 (hidden pictures page) - Mechthings #1 - 4 (writer/artist 1987-1988) Renegade Press
- Slam BangSlam BangSlam Bang is a small press comic book featuring art, stories, and comics submitted by a variety of contributors. Between 1985 and 1990, thirty-three issues of this digest comic were published. Publication was revived in 2003...
#1 (1985) through present (various covers, comic strips and illustrations) Fan-Atic Press - ShadowhawkShadowhawkShadowHawk is a fictional comic book vigilante anti-hero created by Jim Valentino.He was first introduced in the Malibu Sun free promotional magazine in May of 1992...
#5 - 11 ("Big Background Artist", 1993, 1994) Image ComicsImage ComicsImage Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...