Richard Pérez Seves's Blog
November 20, 2024
JOHN WILLIE: The Story of John Alexander Scott Coutts
JOHN WILLIE: The Story of John Alexander Scott Coutts
The first comprehensive biography of John Alexander Scott Coutts, known to the world as "John Willie," widely regarded as one of the most influential underground artists of the 20th century. This meticulously researched, 497-page volume, four years in the making, unveils never-before-seen photographs of John Coutts, his wife and muse Holly Anna Faram, and the pioneer of American fetish art, Charles Guyette. Drawing from an array of primary sources—including his revealing Kinsey interview, personal letters, immigration records, birth and death certificates, and military and seaman papers—this biography offers an unparalleled glimpse into the life and legacy of a cultural icon.
John Willie was not just a pivotal underground artist; he was a visionary who redefined the cultural boundaries of his time. Through Bizarre magazine and his creation of Sweet Gwendoline, he provided a space for people with unconventional desires to find community, expression, and acceptance in a society that often sought to repress them. His work balanced humor, fantasy, and artistry, pushing fetish culture into the limelight in a way that was both daring and sophisticated.
Bizarre magazine's legacy extended beyond its artistic merit, serving as a lifeline for readers seeking connection and validation. It fostered anonymous conversations on taboo topics, making Bizarre a precursor to the more open discussions of sexual diversity seen today. Central to Coutts’s legacy was the widely imitated cartoon serial, Sweet Gwendoline, which not only captivated audiences but also inspired a generation of underground artists. The cartoon's influence was evident in the work of Irving Klaw, whose underground serials drew direct inspiration from Sweet Gwendoline, and in the careers of artists like Eric Stanton and Eneg (Gene Bilbrew), who followed in Coutts’s footsteps. Coutts's lasting impact on both art and culture was a testament to his ability to challenge conventions and create a safe space for self-expression. This biography delves into Coutts’s complex life, revealing how his personal and public battles forged an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and provoke.
The first comprehensive biography of John Alexander Scott Coutts, known to the world as "John Willie," widely regarded as one of the most influential underground artists of the 20th century. This meticulously researched, 497-page volume, four years in the making, unveils never-before-seen photographs of John Coutts, his wife and muse Holly Anna Faram, and the pioneer of American fetish art, Charles Guyette. Drawing from an array of primary sources—including his revealing Kinsey interview, personal letters, immigration records, birth and death certificates, and military and seaman papers—this biography offers an unparalleled glimpse into the life and legacy of a cultural icon.
John Willie was not just a pivotal underground artist; he was a visionary who redefined the cultural boundaries of his time. Through Bizarre magazine and his creation of Sweet Gwendoline, he provided a space for people with unconventional desires to find community, expression, and acceptance in a society that often sought to repress them. His work balanced humor, fantasy, and artistry, pushing fetish culture into the limelight in a way that was both daring and sophisticated.
Bizarre magazine's legacy extended beyond its artistic merit, serving as a lifeline for readers seeking connection and validation. It fostered anonymous conversations on taboo topics, making Bizarre a precursor to the more open discussions of sexual diversity seen today. Central to Coutts’s legacy was the widely imitated cartoon serial, Sweet Gwendoline, which not only captivated audiences but also inspired a generation of underground artists. The cartoon's influence was evident in the work of Irving Klaw, whose underground serials drew direct inspiration from Sweet Gwendoline, and in the careers of artists like Eric Stanton and Eneg (Gene Bilbrew), who followed in Coutts’s footsteps. Coutts's lasting impact on both art and culture was a testament to his ability to challenge conventions and create a safe space for self-expression. This biography delves into Coutts’s complex life, revealing how his personal and public battles forged an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and provoke.
JOHN WILLIE: The Story of John Alexander Scott Coutts
JOHN WILLIE: The Story of John Alexander Scott Coutts
The first comprehensive biography of John Alexander Scott Coutts, known to the world as "John Willie," widely regarded as one of the most influential underground artists of the 20th century. This meticulously researched, 497-page volume, four years in the making, unveils never-before-seen photographs of John Coutts, his wife and muse Holly Anna Faram, and the pioneer of American fetish art, Charles Guyette. Drawing from an array of primary sources—including his revealing Kinsey interview, personal letters, immigration records, birth and death certificates, and military and seaman papers—this biography offers an unparalleled glimpse into the life and legacy of a cultural icon.
John Willie was not just a pivotal underground artist; he was a visionary who redefined the cultural boundaries of his time. Through Bizarre magazine and his creation of Sweet Gwendoline, he provided a space for people with unconventional desires to find community, expression, and acceptance in a society that often sought to repress them. His work balanced humor, fantasy, and artistry, pushing fetish culture into the limelight in a way that was both daring and sophisticated.
Bizarre magazine's legacy extended beyond its artistic merit, serving as a lifeline for readers seeking connection and validation. It fostered anonymous conversations on taboo topics, making Bizarre a precursor to the more open discussions of sexual diversity seen today. Central to Coutts’s legacy was the widely imitated cartoon serial, Sweet Gwendoline, which not only captivated audiences but also inspired a generation of underground artists. The cartoon's influence was evident in the work of Irving Klaw, whose underground serials drew direct inspiration from Sweet Gwendoline, and in the careers of artists like Eric Stanton and Eneg (Gene Bilbrew), who followed in Coutts’s footsteps. Coutts's lasting impact on both art and culture was a testament to his ability to challenge conventions and create a safe space for self-expression. This biography delves into Coutts’s complex life, revealing how his personal and public battles forged an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and provoke.
The first comprehensive biography of John Alexander Scott Coutts, known to the world as "John Willie," widely regarded as one of the most influential underground artists of the 20th century. This meticulously researched, 497-page volume, four years in the making, unveils never-before-seen photographs of John Coutts, his wife and muse Holly Anna Faram, and the pioneer of American fetish art, Charles Guyette. Drawing from an array of primary sources—including his revealing Kinsey interview, personal letters, immigration records, birth and death certificates, and military and seaman papers—this biography offers an unparalleled glimpse into the life and legacy of a cultural icon.
John Willie was not just a pivotal underground artist; he was a visionary who redefined the cultural boundaries of his time. Through Bizarre magazine and his creation of Sweet Gwendoline, he provided a space for people with unconventional desires to find community, expression, and acceptance in a society that often sought to repress them. His work balanced humor, fantasy, and artistry, pushing fetish culture into the limelight in a way that was both daring and sophisticated.
Bizarre magazine's legacy extended beyond its artistic merit, serving as a lifeline for readers seeking connection and validation. It fostered anonymous conversations on taboo topics, making Bizarre a precursor to the more open discussions of sexual diversity seen today. Central to Coutts’s legacy was the widely imitated cartoon serial, Sweet Gwendoline, which not only captivated audiences but also inspired a generation of underground artists. The cartoon's influence was evident in the work of Irving Klaw, whose underground serials drew direct inspiration from Sweet Gwendoline, and in the careers of artists like Eric Stanton and Eneg (Gene Bilbrew), who followed in Coutts’s footsteps. Coutts's lasting impact on both art and culture was a testament to his ability to challenge conventions and create a safe space for self-expression. This biography delves into Coutts’s complex life, revealing how his personal and public battles forged an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and provoke.
October 16, 2018
Eric Stanton & the History of the Bizarre Underground on sale now!
Available worldwide: =====-------HERE
Book video: =====-------HERE
The story of Eric Stanton and the rise of American fetish art, featuring Steve Ditko, Bettie Page, John Willie, Charles Guyette, Irving Klaw, and Gene Bilbrew! Heavily illustrated with art by Eric Stanton. Includes an illustrated collector's guide, plus index!
Book Description:
Tracing the rise of commercial fetish art from its shadowy beginnings in the 1940s to its acceptance in the 1970s, this illustrated biography explores the unconventional life and art of Eric Stanton, a pioneering sexual fantasist who helped shape the movement. With more than 400 rare images and interviews with Stanton's family and closest associates, this biography chronicles the infamous circle of patrons, publishers, and cult icons populating his subterranean world, including Irving Klaw, John Willie, Bettie Page, Steve Ditko, and Gene Bilbrew. It is the untold, secret history of a misunderstood culture, the abuses of government authority, social intolerance, and gangsters. But above all, it is a tale about survival against all odds and an artist who had the courage to stay true to himself.
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; 1 edition (October 15, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764355422
ISBN-13: 978-0764355424
Product Dimensions: 7 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
Book video: =====-------HERE
The story of Eric Stanton and the rise of American fetish art, featuring Steve Ditko, Bettie Page, John Willie, Charles Guyette, Irving Klaw, and Gene Bilbrew! Heavily illustrated with art by Eric Stanton. Includes an illustrated collector's guide, plus index!
Book Description:
Tracing the rise of commercial fetish art from its shadowy beginnings in the 1940s to its acceptance in the 1970s, this illustrated biography explores the unconventional life and art of Eric Stanton, a pioneering sexual fantasist who helped shape the movement. With more than 400 rare images and interviews with Stanton's family and closest associates, this biography chronicles the infamous circle of patrons, publishers, and cult icons populating his subterranean world, including Irving Klaw, John Willie, Bettie Page, Steve Ditko, and Gene Bilbrew. It is the untold, secret history of a misunderstood culture, the abuses of government authority, social intolerance, and gangsters. But above all, it is a tale about survival against all odds and an artist who had the courage to stay true to himself.
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; 1 edition (October 15, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764355422
ISBN-13: 978-0764355424
Product Dimensions: 7 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
January 7, 2018
Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art
Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art
** 2018 Expanded Second Edition **
25 additional pages,
30+ newly discovered, uniquely beautiful Guyette images. Many not seen in over 70 years.
* * * *
Charles Guyette was a sexual fantasist, who earned his living as a costumer. He sold photos of his "costume studies" on the sly. He produced custom-made high-heel boots and shoes, sold corsets, opera gloves, and other eccentric accessories. He understood the transformative power of clothing, particularly "bizarre" and theatrical fashion. He is also referenced in the new film on Wonder Woman's creator, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, as the costumer for Wonder Woman's real life inspiration, Olive Byrne.
Available in these countries:
US
UK
Deutschland
France
Italia
España
CA
> >“Peek Inside” 2018 Expanded Second Edition < <
CHARLES GUYETTE (1902 – 1976) is rightly considered the godfather of American fetish art. In fact, his fetish art operation was the first of its kind in America, dealing in what was then generally regarded as “deviant” European-inspired material. In 1935, he was arrested and sent to federal prison. But what should’ve been the end was just the beginning. Although rarely credited by name in his lifetime, he influenced everyone who would follow him, particularly the publishers Robert Harrison, John Willie, Irving Klaw, and Leonard Burtman. The aim of this book was to evoke the spirit of Guyette—to collect surviving fragments of a decimated catalog largely by referencing vintage fetish publications from the 1930s through the 1980s and reconstruct a lost history. This portfolio of images is followed by biographical information seen nowhere else, and serves as a substantial introduction to the birth of American fetish art and the cultural impact of an unrecognized pioneer.
* * * * * * * * *
** 2018 Expanded Second Edition **
25 additional pages,
30+ newly discovered, uniquely beautiful Guyette images. Many not seen in over 70 years.
* * * *
Charles Guyette was a sexual fantasist, who earned his living as a costumer. He sold photos of his "costume studies" on the sly. He produced custom-made high-heel boots and shoes, sold corsets, opera gloves, and other eccentric accessories. He understood the transformative power of clothing, particularly "bizarre" and theatrical fashion. He is also referenced in the new film on Wonder Woman's creator, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, as the costumer for Wonder Woman's real life inspiration, Olive Byrne.
Available in these countries:
US
UK
Deutschland
France
Italia
España
CA
> >“Peek Inside” 2018 Expanded Second Edition < <
CHARLES GUYETTE (1902 – 1976) is rightly considered the godfather of American fetish art. In fact, his fetish art operation was the first of its kind in America, dealing in what was then generally regarded as “deviant” European-inspired material. In 1935, he was arrested and sent to federal prison. But what should’ve been the end was just the beginning. Although rarely credited by name in his lifetime, he influenced everyone who would follow him, particularly the publishers Robert Harrison, John Willie, Irving Klaw, and Leonard Burtman. The aim of this book was to evoke the spirit of Guyette—to collect surviving fragments of a decimated catalog largely by referencing vintage fetish publications from the 1930s through the 1980s and reconstruct a lost history. This portfolio of images is followed by biographical information seen nowhere else, and serves as a substantial introduction to the birth of American fetish art and the cultural impact of an unrecognized pioneer.
* * * * * * * * *
