Rick Griffin (Perigee Paper Tiger)

By Gordon McClelland

Rick Griffin was one of the most influential artists to emerge from the late 60s San Francisco art scene, second only perhaps to R. Crumb. His poster art and comix are descended from dada and surrealism, but take unique life in their representation of surf culture, psychedelic realities and religious experience. This book covers the span of Griffin's career and is an excellent retrospective of the work of this magnificent artist. Griffin illustrated top flight album covers for classic rock acts including the Grateful Dead.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399504966
• ISBN13: 9780399504969
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: Perrigree Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Rick Griffin illustrations Review

Really great classic artwork..One of the finest illustrators for many years. If you enjoy this type of art, this will be a fine book for your art collection with an insight into the head of Mr Griffin. Two thumbs up! 5 Stars, and a big YEE HA for this book! mondocain

Griffin Ruled ...

One of the Best in his field, and respected among his peers, Rick Griffin ruled. Great book and just a sample of the great work that came from this man.

A Modern Master

This is a fabulous treat for the eyes. Griffin perfected the late 60s San Fran poster art style in his work for the Dead and others (cover of Aoxomoxoa, for instance, or the immortal surfing eyeball poster for the GD with It's A Beautiful Day), and he was also a phenomenally gifted painter, spraybrush stylist, and pen and ink man. He takes the art deco influence of the SF school and melds it with a classicist's sensibility, creating a beautiful synthesis of mind and Mother Nature. There is no doubt that Michelangelo or DaVinci would smile in appreciation at Rick's Omo Bob Rides South, a six-page black and white masterpiece where each page is an absolutely perfectly composed gem that stands on its own as a true work of art. He exhibits the total control of a master, and his eye for symmetry is astounding, as is the depth of his chiaroscuro. Griffin is also one of the great letterers of all time; it's a real joy to read words written in his inimitable script (but imitated ever since, including almost every decent graffiti artist). To top it off, his writing is genius in Omo Bob, reflecting a deep understanding of life's many paradoxes. If you've never experienced this work, get good and ready in your favorite way (RG was an early fan of Dr. Hof, and that influence is clearly felt) and then spend at least ten minutes on each page, letting your eyes bathe in the serpentine brilliance; you will be endlessly rewarded. I still enjoy it at least once a year, decades after my first exposure to it (in the classic Zap comics), and never tire of its mellifluous lines and incredible detail. The book also highlights some of his early surf work (a surfer through and through, Griffin's work embodies the grace and flow of a true waterman; no one has ever visually conveyed the joy of a wave like RG), his album covers, his paintings, and various pieces. But it is Omo Bob and a couple other pen and ink pieces here that ensure his artistic immortality. Griffin was by all accounts a wonderful friend and a very spiritual man, and those qualities shine through in his art. It is somehow very comforting and reassuring to gaze upon his work; there is proof here that a deep and perfect form lies beyond the seeming chaos of the physical plane. What more can you ask from art than that?

Great bang for the buck

This book was out of print for a while and ebay prices were not cheep. To get it for under $20 seems like a steal. It is exactly as I remember from the late 80's. Beutifully reproduced on nice paper.

simply beautiful

This is an excellent printing on heavy stock of some of the finest works from a master of poster and comic artist from the San Francisco Haight Ashbury era. I think it is a wonderful addition to any collection of psychedelic ephemera, and an admirable part of my own art library.