Richard M Powers (sounds like the sort of name a comic book hero would have!) is known for his many cover illustrations for pulp and science fiction paperbacks from the 1940’s to the 1990’s. His striking  imagery caught my eye a few years ago because it came off as playful rather than dry and academic.

Here are some examples of surrealist, almost abstract expressionist paintings or designs which sometimes remind me of Jim Flora’s figurative work. He’s known for his record cover design and worked in the same era but is much more cartoonish and illustrative. Maybe it’s an odd association but I’ve written about Flora before on this blog if you’re interested in checking him out. Other names such as Pollock, Miro and Dali come to mind. The approach seems fairly free form and open ended and is visually very inventive, employing one or any combination of modern (at the time) techniques. Some compositions look like they just want to continue beyond the margins of the cover as if to say ‘you can’t contain me’.

www.richardpowerscoverart.com