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| Jim has done more than any other artist in recent memory
to publicise and popularise Celtic Art. Though
ironically his most famous piece is a portrait of Che
Guevara he drew in 1968 and allowed the world to use
copyright free. (People being people, while Jim never
made any money out of this, and indeed has always been
very decent about allowing his art to be used in good
causes, the Che image he drew has made an awful lot of
money for the unscrupulous by being used on t-shirts,
bags, posters and a whole lot more!). |
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Jim’s evocative and highly detailed art first came to
widespread notice with his beautiful album covers for
Thin Lizzy, including such classics as Jailbreak,
Chinatown, Black Rose, and Johnny The Fox. All fine
albums and Jim’s art is the icing on the cake, he was
great friends with Philo and thus they truly reflect the
music. (Jim tells a lovely story about Philo’s
generosity. While in London, the two were looking at a
display of Lizzy albums in a shop window. Jim admired
the perpetually stylish Lynott’s shirt. Phil promptly
gave it to him, literally gave him ‘the shirt off his
back’!).
Jim also did a comic strip for an Irish newspaper in the
70s which I’d love to have seen. Alas, he got into
trouble for drawing too many well-endowed ladies wearing
not very many clothes! Sadly, this strip (in every sense
of the word!) has never been reprinted. |
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In 1978 he wrote an illustrated The Book of Conquests,
which tells of the coming of the Tuatha dé Dannann to
Ireland, and their battles with the indigenous Fir Bolg.
The book is further enhanced by Celtic scrollwork and
knotwork (very popular on tattoos these days, I have
designed a few in this vein myself). He followed this
book up with another called The Silver Arm, which tells
the story of Nauda of the Silver Arm and the deeds of
Lugh in their epic battle with the Fomors.
He has a third volume The Son of the Sun in preparation,
and a book of his pictures and photographs of women,
which has some truly beautiful images.
Also working checking out is an art collection entitled
Erinsaga.
He has produced a great deal of artwork for cards,
calendars and t-shirt, and was involved in the design of
the short-lived Celtworld project. As well as for Thin
Lizzy, he has produced artwork for music acts, varying
from the appalling (bad joke band The Darkness, My
Little Funhouse) to the worthy Sinead O’Conner.
Jim is a true visionary, a gentleman, and a living
legend!Visit him online at:
www.jimfitzpatrick.ie |
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