Customer Reviews

Gonzo: The Art

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
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Often in the shadow of collaborator Thompson, Steadman here gets to be the star & rightly so even though the good Gonzo doc does show up a few times. He has had other volumes out as well but this seems to be his greatest hits package or something, from various eras. Psychedelic spinning eyeballs, dripping blood, pliticians, decay & newspaper cuttings gloriously meshed together into true revelation. His styles do change & themes do too. He recounts that despite people thinking he was present for the escapades in the great Red Shark in Las Vegas, Ralph says he's never be mad enough to get in a car w/ hunter S. Thompson & also the difference w/ him being English & Hunter being extremely American. Anyway this was on the shelf next to Jean-Michel Basquiat & if anyone's getting art books I would thoroughly recommend both. BAD CRAZINESS!

Having had, as many people did, my first taste of Ralph via Hunter S Thompson's books, I found this to be a great introduction to the Hyperactive and frantic style of a dude who is probably my favourite artist. This has a forward by Hunter, gives great colour examples of his works in the realm of Gonzo, and also has many written, poetical works, and songs. My fave piece is 'Stand up and be counted.' IE: The maverick beast will ALWAYS raise his head in the crowd. A perfect definition of Gonzo.

Ralph Steadman has proven to be one the most interesting and inventive artists of the late 20th century. He certainly has a cult appeal amongst Hunter Thompson fans, which is how i got turned on to his art. But upon purchasing this book i was truly amazed at how awesome all of his stuff is, this guy is truly inspirational. He has an original style, or at least as original as it gets. His writings and commentaries are funny and interesting as well. The book also has a great intro by Hunter. I'm an artist myself and this book really got my mind and imagination going. Steadman's got such a definitive look and style, which can only be summed up in one word: 'Gonzo'. I love this book and have looked through it many many times. I believe Steadman is one of the best artists living today, and is an inspiration to anyone trying to create something new and different.

"Only for those with true grit, and we were chuck full of that..."

Ralph steadman's art is second only to Salvador Dahli and M.C. Escher, though they are competely different kinds of art. The best of steadman's cartoons, paintings, coolages, gonzo...stuff..., and anything else he has done is in this book. With a foreword by hunter s. thompson, and many references to the pop culture icon, this book is a must read with anyone for a sense of bizaar art and Thompson fans.

Steadman takes the obscene to the edge with his book "Gonzo: The Art." He recounts his maturation in art from his drawings for Hunter S. Thompson's "The Kentucky Derby is Decadant and Depraved" to his own new ideas on what gonzo is. He even shows a portrait of what he thinks Thompsons parents were like, riding on the outside of the desert, maybe around Barstow, in the Big Red Shark. All in all, Steadman is an affront to your senses and will throw your world for a loop. Enjoy the ride!!

A strange look at the wildly furious and highly detailed works of Mr. Steadman. Pages of brightly colored pictures terrorize the soul and bend the mind. Steadman is one of the greatest artists of our time and his constant collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson only augment his twisted fervor and fury. This book is simply mezmorizing.

This is one of the greatest compendiums of contemporary art I own. It has occupied pride-of-place on my coffee table since two hours after it arrived (had to go through it first), which means every visitor to my home sees it immediately upon sitting down. Reactions have been mixed-nobody disagrees as to Mr. Steadman's talent level, though quite a few have wished that he would choose different subjects to skewer with his warped pen. On the other hand, those who have been introduced to the work of this artist and enjoyed it now have the volume in their own homes. Not for the faint of heart, but rewarding to those who look at things slaunchwise through their own dark mirrors of the soul.

The art of Ralph Steadman is legendary, but to have his gonzo work put together into one volume is a wonderful treat.

Being both a fan of Ralph Steadman and Hunter S. Thompson this book was well written, and goes deep into the dark drawings that most can't come close. The minds of these two individuals are bizarre which make it even more enjoyable when these two were together. The art and the words combined are amazing. Ralph Steadman's work is presented very well.