Bill Koeb
Encyclopedia
Bill Koeb is an American
illustrator
, painter
, and comic-book artist
whose work includes the Marvel Comics
' series Clive Barker
's Hellraiser
and the Vertigo
miniseries
Faultlines. He created the artwork for the character Sarah in the film The Crow: City of Angels
(1996).
, where he attended elementary school
in San Jose
and high school in Livermore
. From 1985 to 1988, he attended but did not graduate from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco
, having majored in Illustration
and studying under and being influenced by artist
and teacher Barron Storey
whom he assisted on Barron's rainforest mural for the American Museum of Natural History. Koeb spent 17 years in San Francisco as a freelance illustrator before moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina
, where he resides as of 2008.
Koeb broke into comics painting the back cover of the satirical
pro-choice
comic book Choices (Angry Isis Press, 1990), alongside such fellow contributors as Garry Trudeau
, Jules Feiffer
, Cathy Guisewite
, Nicole Hollander
, Nina Paley
, Lee Marrs
, Bill Griffith, Howard Cruse
and others.
He did the first of several painted stories and covers for the horror fiction
anthology
Clive Barker
's Hellraiser
, from Marvel Comics
' Epic Comics
imprint
, that same year, beginning with the 17-page story "The Pleasures of Deception", by Philip Nutman, in issue #2 (no date; 1990). In addition to the series, Koeb painted the 18-page story "For My Son", written by Frank Lovece
, for Clive Barker's Hellraiser Summer Special #1 (1992). That story appears in Checker Publishing's Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Collected Best, Volume 1 (ISBN 0-9710249-2-8), though with the last page inexplicably missing; the complete story appears in an authorized, free online version from web publisher Wowio.
Other comics work includes pencil-and-ink
art for writer Lee Marrs' six-issue miniseries
Faultlines (May-Oct. 1997), published by DC Comics
' Vertigo
imprint; and the cover and writer Alan Moore
's eight-page story "The Hair of the Snake That Bit Me" in Caliber Press' Negative Burn #17 (1995), reprinted in the 1998 Caliber one-shot Alan Moore's Songbook. Additionally, Koeb painted the cover and the 28-page story of Marvel/Epic's Interface #7 (Nov. 1990); drew the parody
comic Aesop's Desecrated Morals #1 (Rip Off Press
, 1993); and inked Tom Sutton
on DC Comics
' The Hacker Files
#11-12 (June–July 1993)
From 1998 to 2001 he created over 40 illustrations for a Fireman's Fund national print campaign. In late 2001, with the birth of his son Gabriel, and with fewer jobs coming in as the result of a downturn in the economy, Koeb focused on painting and earned a living primarily from teaching Photoshop and illustration classes at The Academy of Art, San Francisco. In late 2006, he joined Goodwill Community Foundation, doing artwork for interactive lessons for a functional literacy
program.
In 2003, Koeb had his first one man show at Elon College, Elon, NC, and in 2009, his second solo show at Flanders 311 in Raleigh, NC. He currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and son and is pursuing illustration assignments, painting, writing, and preparing materials for a visual essay class to be taught in 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
illustrator
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...
, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and comic-book artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
whose work includes the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' series Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
's Hellraiser
Hellraiser
Hellraiser is a 1987 British and American horror film based upon the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Hellraiser explores themes of sadomasochism and morality under duress and fear. The film spawned a series of sequels...
and the Vertigo
Vertigo (comics)
Vertigo is an imprint of the American comic-book publisher DC Comics. Its books are marketed to a sophisticated audience, and may contain graphic violence, substance abuse, frank depictions of sexuality, profanity, and controversial subjects...
miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Faultlines. He created the artwork for the character Sarah in the film The Crow: City of Angels
The Crow: City of Angels
The Crow: City of Angels is a 1996 action film directed by Tim Pope. It is a sequel to the 1994 cult film The Crow.-Plot:The film is set in Los Angeles, where drug king Judah Earl controls it all...
(1996).
Biography
One of four children, Bill Koeb grew up in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he attended elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and high school in Livermore
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
. From 1985 to 1988, he attended but did not graduate from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, having majored in Illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
and studying under and being influenced by artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and teacher Barron Storey
Barron Storey
Barron Storey is an art teacher and artist. He is famous for his accomplishments as an illustrator and fine artist, and for his influence on several professional illustrators and writers, including Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave McKean, Simon Bisley, Bill Koeb, Kent Williams, George Pratt...
whom he assisted on Barron's rainforest mural for the American Museum of Natural History. Koeb spent 17 years in San Francisco as a freelance illustrator before moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, where he resides as of 2008.
Koeb broke into comics painting the back cover of the satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
comic book Choices (Angry Isis Press, 1990), alongside such fellow contributors as Garry Trudeau
Garry Trudeau
Garretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip.-Background and education:...
, Jules Feiffer
Jules Feiffer
Jules Ralph Feiffer is an American syndicated cartoonist, most notable for his long-run comic strip titled Feiffer. He has created more than 35 books, plays and screenplays...
, Cathy Guisewite
Cathy Guisewite
Cathy Lee Guisewite is the cartoonist who created the comic strip Cathy, about a career woman facing the issues and challenges of eating, work, relationships, and being a mother. As Cathy put it in one of her strips, "The four basic guilt groups."Born in Dayton, Ohio, Guisewite grew up in Midland,...
, Nicole Hollander
Nicole Hollander
Nicole Hollander is an American cartoonist and writer. Her daily comic strip Sylvia is syndicated to newspapers nationally by Tribune Media Services and also can be seen on her blog, BadGirl Chats....
, Nina Paley
Nina Paley
Nina Paley is an Americancartoonist, animator and free culture activist.She directed the animated feature film Sita Sings the Blues. She was the artist and often the writer of comic strips Nina's Adventures and Fluff, but most of her recent work has been in animation...
, Lee Marrs
Lee Marrs
Lee Marrs is an American comic book writer, animator, and one of the first women underground comix creators. She is best known for her comic book series, The Further Fattening Adventures of Pudge, Girl Blimp, which lasted from 1973 to 1978.-Underground comics:Marrs was a frequent contributor to...
, Bill Griffith, Howard Cruse
Howard Cruse
Howard Cruse is an American alternative cartoonist known for the exploration of gay themes in his comics.Cruse was raised in Springville, Alabama, the son of a preacher and a homemaker. His earliest published cartoons were in The Baptist Student when he was in high school. His work later appeared...
and others.
He did the first of several painted stories and covers for the horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
's Hellraiser
Hellraiser
Hellraiser is a 1987 British and American horror film based upon the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Hellraiser explores themes of sadomasochism and morality under duress and fear. The film spawned a series of sequels...
, from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' Epic Comics
Epic Comics
Epic Comics was a creator-owned imprint of Marvel Comics started in 1982, lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.- Origins :...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
, that same year, beginning with the 17-page story "The Pleasures of Deception", by Philip Nutman, in issue #2 (no date; 1990). In addition to the series, Koeb painted the 18-page story "For My Son", written by Frank Lovece
Frank Lovece
Frank Lovece is an American journalist, author, comedy performer and comic book writer. He was additionally one of the first professional Web journalists, becoming an editor of a Silicon Alley start-up in 1996....
, for Clive Barker's Hellraiser Summer Special #1 (1992). That story appears in Checker Publishing's Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Collected Best, Volume 1 (ISBN 0-9710249-2-8), though with the last page inexplicably missing; the complete story appears in an authorized, free online version from web publisher Wowio.
Other comics work includes pencil-and-ink
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
art for writer Lee Marrs' six-issue miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Faultlines (May-Oct. 1997), published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' Vertigo
Vertigo (comics)
Vertigo is an imprint of the American comic-book publisher DC Comics. Its books are marketed to a sophisticated audience, and may contain graphic violence, substance abuse, frank depictions of sexuality, profanity, and controversial subjects...
imprint; and the cover and writer Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
's eight-page story "The Hair of the Snake That Bit Me" in Caliber Press' Negative Burn #17 (1995), reprinted in the 1998 Caliber one-shot Alan Moore's Songbook. Additionally, Koeb painted the cover and the 28-page story of Marvel/Epic's Interface #7 (Nov. 1990); drew the parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
comic Aesop's Desecrated Morals #1 (Rip Off Press
Rip Off Press
Rip Off Press, Inc. is a seminal publishing company that specializes in adult-themed literature and graphic novels, mostly in a specific comic book format known as underground comix.-Overview:...
, 1993); and inked Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton was an American comic book artist who sometimes used the pseudonyms Sean Todd and Dementia...
on DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' The Hacker Files
The Hacker Files
The Hacker Files is a twelve issue DC Comics mini-series published from August 1992 to July 1993. It was written by Lewis Shiner and illustrated by Tom Sutton.-Publication history:...
#11-12 (June–July 1993)
From 1998 to 2001 he created over 40 illustrations for a Fireman's Fund national print campaign. In late 2001, with the birth of his son Gabriel, and with fewer jobs coming in as the result of a downturn in the economy, Koeb focused on painting and earned a living primarily from teaching Photoshop and illustration classes at The Academy of Art, San Francisco. In late 2006, he joined Goodwill Community Foundation, doing artwork for interactive lessons for a functional literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
program.
In 2003, Koeb had his first one man show at Elon College, Elon, NC, and in 2009, his second solo show at Flanders 311 in Raleigh, NC. He currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and son and is pursuing illustration assignments, painting, writing, and preparing materials for a visual essay class to be taught in 2010.
External links
- GCF LearnFree.org: The Everyday Life Project (artwork)
- /Paintings at Flanders Art Gallery (Gallery)
- /Artwork for sale (Artwork for sale)