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Ralph Steadman: Proud Too Be Weirrd: Limited Edition

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Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of Proud Too Be Weirrd with an Exclusive Print!  Iconoclastic British artist Ralph Steadman has been creating editorial and political illustrations for more than five decades. Steadman is revered for his ink-splattered, anarchic, and often shocking drawings. His well-known illustrations alongside the work of literary legend Hunter S. Thompson have long been celebrated and have achieved a cult-like following. Together, Steadman and Thompson's iconic work has come to be known as Gonzo journalism.  Ralph and Hunter first met in 1970 on an assignment from  Scanlan's Monthly  magazine to cover the Kentucky Derby. Their 40-year friendship included collaborations on seminal books such as  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas  and  The Curse of Lono , as well as numerous articles for Jann Wenner's  Rolling Stone , including the George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali fight and coverage of the Watergate scandal. Proud Too Be Weirrd is the ultimate monograph of this creative genius. Steadman's first-person narrative takes us on a literary and visual journey of his well-known, provocative work and is accompanied by his acerbic wit, heartfelt political views, and unique sense of humor. This must-have limited edition is signed and numbered and includes an exclusive print.

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2013

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About the author

Ralph Steadman

157 books270 followers
Ralph Steadman (born Wallasey, May 15, 1936) is a British cartoonist and caricaturist.

Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.

Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.

Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.

Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."

As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.

Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.

Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Sue.
14 reviews3 followers
October 24, 2018
This is an incredible selection of Steadman's work.
Profile Image for ML.
16 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2016
Gorgeous drawings in line with everything that Steadman produces. But the commentary is nonsensical gibberish. The writing is like the cousin at thanksgiving that you want to be doing well in life -- but he never seems to pull his shit together. We all pull for Steadman -- truly. But like the cousin at Thanksgiving the gibberish leaves us awkwardly moving towards the cranberries.
Profile Image for Robbie Fisher.
9 reviews
March 1, 2016
Bought this for the illustrations, ended up wrapped up in his ramblings quite easily. Extremly enjoyable and quirky (memoir?)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews