An Icon in The Illustration Industry
Roger Kastel may not be as noted for his romance cover art as most of the other illustrators I’ve highlighted, but to ignore his artwork would be a shame.
Kastel created a vast catalog of pulp fiction artwork, as well as romance covers. However, his biggest claim to fame is his work on movie posters, notably Jaws.
He also created a memorable poster for 1980’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Roger Kastel and Book Cover Art
Unfortunately, movie posters may have made Kastel famous, but the work did not pay as well as book cover illustration.
Kastel has illustrated about 1,000 book covers for various publishing houses.
His art has been recognized by several elite institutions. He has won myriad awards and is a member of numerous fellowships and associations.
Kastel was innovative in paperback art design, for many genres, including romance. He among one of the first artists to create a stepback cover for a romance novel, Janet Dailey‘s Touch the Wind.
Kastel Posters & Covers
Legacy
Kastel worked for publishers such as Avon, Simon & Schuster/ Pocket Books and Berkley.
Kastel spent over 7 decades working as a professional artist. His artwork is part of Americana.
To read more about Roger Kastel and his romance cover art you can access this page:
Your Opinion
Are you a fan of Roger Kastel’s work? If so, what are your favorite covers or pieces of art painted by Kastel? Drop a comment and let’s talk romance.
LINKS
Here are some great links, including a heartfelt tribute to his father’s career by his son Matthew Kastel: