Taral Wayne
Encyclopedia
Taral Wayne, is one of Canada
's best known science fiction
fan artist
s, and has been nominated for the field's most prestigious award, the Hugo
, ten times. In October 2008, it was announced that Taral was the recipient of the annual Rotsler Award, honouring the long term accomplishments of graphic artists in amateur publications in the science fiction community by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests, Inc. In recognition of his contributions to science fiction fandom, particularly Canadian fandom, Taral was named Fan Guest of Honour by the 2009 Worldcon
, Anticipation
.
The pen name Taral originated from a fictional synthetic language, Siroihin, that he described in one of his early fan magazines.
During the 1990s Taral focused more on comic book
work. His major achievement was the Furry
comic title Tales of Beatrix (Mu Press
& Vision Comics). Created by Steve Gallacci, the stories were a collaborative effort - drawn by Taral, co-written by creator and artist. Due to generally poor sales in the entire comics industry at the time of the Marvel Comics
bankruptcy, the series was dropped after only a few issues. Thereafter the artist contributed short pieces to other comics as time and inclination permitted. Taral also created many back covers for Gremlin Trouble, a comic published by AB Pixilations.
Significant work he's done within the SF genre includes the illustration of Rudy Rucker
's novel Spaceland (Tor
, 2002), restoration of Vaughn Bodé
art appearing in fanzines for Rare & Well Done Bode, research and illustration for John Robert Colombo
's book Years of Light (Hounslow Press, 1982). He has also made contributions to The Fantasy Showcase Tarot Deck (Bruce Pelz
, 1980) and Tank Vixens Card Game (United Publications, 2004).
In addition to his art, Taral has sold a small number of articles and short stories, worked on TV and cartoon presentations, produced several CDs of art and fan writing, sold tee-shirts, and even designed a postal cancellation for the 1978 Worldcon. The bulk of Taral's career, though, has been the creation of art for private commissions, numbering more than 3,000 inked, coloured, or penciled works to date. He is currently working on private commissions and developing his writing as "retirement" looms.
Taral currently resides in the Parkdale
district of Toronto. While still possessing close ties to science fiction fandom, he is rather an outsider in the comics community.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's best known science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fan 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...
s, and has been nominated for the field's most prestigious award, the Hugo
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...
, ten times. In October 2008, it was announced that Taral was the recipient of the annual Rotsler Award, honouring the long term accomplishments of graphic artists in amateur publications in the science fiction community by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests, Inc. In recognition of his contributions to science fiction fandom, particularly Canadian fandom, Taral was named Fan Guest of Honour by the 2009 Worldcon
Worldcon
Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society...
, Anticipation
67th World Science Fiction Convention
The 67th World Science Fiction Convention , also known as Anticipation, was hosted in Montréal, Québec, Canada, on 6–10 August 2009, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal...
.
The pen name Taral originated from a fictional synthetic language, Siroihin, that he described in one of his early fan magazines.
Career
Taral began his involvement in fandom in 1971 when he joined the local Ontario Science Fiction Club (OSFiC). Over the years he contributed art and writing to a wide variety of amateur and semi-professional publications, as well as publishing his own -- Red Shift, Delta Psi, Synapse, New Toy and others. In the late 1980s he made the jump to professional illustration, by necessity working mainly outside the SF genre. A west coast American magazine called Ruralite was his main client at that time.During the 1990s Taral focused more on comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
work. His major achievement was the Furry
Furry fandom
Furry fandom is a fandom for fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes...
comic title Tales of Beatrix (Mu Press
MU Press
MU Press was an independent comic book publisher based in Seattle, Washington, which operated from 1990–c. 2006. MU Press was one of the industry's most prolific "furry" comic publishers, while its mid-90s imprint Aeon Publications specialized in alternative fare. MU Press was founded by...
& Vision Comics). Created by Steve Gallacci, the stories were a collaborative effort - drawn by Taral, co-written by creator and artist. Due to generally poor sales in the entire comics industry at the time of 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...
bankruptcy, the series was dropped after only a few issues. Thereafter the artist contributed short pieces to other comics as time and inclination permitted. Taral also created many back covers for Gremlin Trouble, a comic published by AB Pixilations.
Significant work he's done within the SF genre includes the illustration of Rudy Rucker
Rudy Rucker
Rudolf von Bitter Rucker is an American mathematician, computer scientist, science fiction author, and philosopher, and is one of the founders of the cyberpunk literary movement. The author of both fiction and non-fiction, he is best known for the novels in the Ware Tetralogy, the first two of...
's novel Spaceland (Tor
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
, 2002), restoration of Vaughn Bodé
Vaughn Bodé
Vaughn Bodē was an artist involved in underground comics, graphic design and graffiti. He is perhaps best known for his comic strip character Cheech Wizard and artwork depicting voluptuous women. His works are noted for their psychedelic look and feel...
art appearing in fanzines for Rare & Well Done Bode, research and illustration for John Robert Colombo
John Robert Colombo
John Robert Colombo, CM is nationally known as the Master Gatherer. He is among Canada's most prolific authors of serious books...
's book Years of Light (Hounslow Press, 1982). He has also made contributions to The Fantasy Showcase Tarot Deck (Bruce Pelz
Bruce Pelz
Bruce Edward Pelz was a US science fiction fan. He was highly active in the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society and a major SMOF, co-chairing the 30th World Science Fiction Convention. He also wrote filksongs and was a master costumer.- Early life :Pelz spent most of his childhood in New York...
, 1980) and Tank Vixens Card Game (United Publications, 2004).
In addition to his art, Taral has sold a small number of articles and short stories, worked on TV and cartoon presentations, produced several CDs of art and fan writing, sold tee-shirts, and even designed a postal cancellation for the 1978 Worldcon. The bulk of Taral's career, though, has been the creation of art for private commissions, numbering more than 3,000 inked, coloured, or penciled works to date. He is currently working on private commissions and developing his writing as "retirement" looms.
Taral currently resides in the Parkdale
Parkdale, Toronto
Parkdale is a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of downtown. The neighbourhood is bounded on the west by Roncesvalles Avenue, on the north by Queen Street. It is bounded on the east by Dufferin Street from Queen Street south, and on the south by Lake Ontario...
district of Toronto. While still possessing close ties to science fiction fandom, he is rather an outsider in the comics community.
External links
- Taral Wayne's bio for The 67th World Science Fiction Convention
- Taral Wayne's deviantART site
- The Art of Taral Wayne
- "I, Fanartist" by Taral Wayne in Challenger 22 fanzine
- Taral Wayne at Fur Affinity