Staff Picks (May 13): The Art of Bob Peak HC

Publisher: Peak Books

A great book cover can make you buy a book and a great movie poster art whether in a newspaper ad or on display at your local movie house will pique your interest in seeing the film.

If there is one artist to be considered the movie poster artist it would be Bob Peak. He worked on over 100 movie campaigns and the list of movies is like an Oscar award show with work on My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Apocalypse Now. He was just as adept handling genre films as his work on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, John Boorman’s Excalibur, Rollerball, Modesty Blaise (great poster, lousy movie), and James Coburn’s In Like Flint series.

Written by his son Tom Peak, The Art of Bob Peak is a true representation of the outstanding career of the artist. This 380-page coffee table book covers his advertising work as well as movie posters, magazine and record cover illustrations from the early 50s, and much more work well into the 80s.

With over 600 images showcasing his work from concept to finished product, we get to see why Bob Peak was inducted into the New York Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame as well as awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hollywood Reporter for his contribution to the film industry.

Bob Peak is the standard bearer and influence for artists like Drew Struzan and Bill Sienkiewicz. If you like their works and the works of artist like Bernie Fuchs then you must get this book. This book is a great addition to any library of art books and books about the movies.

~ Steve Leaf