Comic colourist Junior Tomlin’s art in the spotlight

Junior Tomlin. Image: Velocity Press
Junior Tomlin. Image: Velocity Press

Out now from Velocity Press and the subject of a pop up in Brixton this week is Junior Tomlin: Flyer & Cover Art, showcasing the comics colourist and mastermind behind some of the most iconic rave flyers and record covers of the late 1980s and early 90s.

Junior Tomlin has been an artist for over 35 years, working for comics (his credits spanning work for credits are Marvel, Panini, Titian, 2000AD and DC Comics), record labels, live events and film.

During the 1990s, he designed record covers for Renegade Soundwave and many flyers for raves. The latter have become collectables and have been dubbed the work of “the Salvador Dali of rave”.

He also created art for his own pleasure, some of which features in his official web site.

Flyer & Cover Art by Junior Tomlin

Junior Tomlin: Flyer & Cover Art, released recently, is a comprehensive insight into Junior Tomlin’s incredible back catalogue. It’s the first time his work has been documented and presented in such a comprehensive, cohesive fashion.

“My book is a celebration of 30 years of art and creativity, from airbrushed pieces to vector graphics and the movement of pixels,” says Tomlin.

“It represents two sections of my life: the era when I was creating record covers and, subsequently, my time producing rave flyers. Both stories are intertwined through people, records, labels, rave promoters,

Art by Junior Tomlin
Art by Junior Tomlin

“DJs and MCs, with the ever-changing genres of music, and, of course, the ravers who urged me to create bigger and better vistas stretching their imagination and their perception of the world around them.”

Citing influences that range from Leonardo da Vinci to Jack Kirby, Tomlin says “Reading comics, watching films and listening to music” are key sources of inspiration for him, reflected through his work on show in this new book.

“Everyone has a spark of creativity in them,” he feels, “some on the surface where they can easily access it and others who bury it deep down, perhaps due to a bad creative experience. It is my hope that people who have lost the fire rekindle it through the pages of this book.”

Velocity Press publishes electronic music and club culture books: memoir, history, contemporary, illustrated books, and beautifully produced limited editions. They aim to create a catalogue that feels like a trusted record label in its integrity and vision and delivers exciting and vital voices and stories to serious electronic music fans who enjoy good literature.

Junior Tomlin: Flyer & Cover Art is available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Read an extract here on the Velocity Press web site

A selection of Junior Tomlin’s work will be available soon as prints and t-shirts on his website at juniortomlin.com



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