Where did Ian get his inspiration for drawings like Bishop Snail? Was it from nature? Was the Bishop Snail a mashup between beautiful but potentially deadly jungle fauna and beautiful but potentially deadly religious personas? Or was it from the glacial rate of change in religious institutions? Perhaps he was inspired by Sir Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods but, instead of a turtle, his god was a snail?
Silly Illo artist Ian Gunn
Ian Gunn, creator of these silly illos (illustrations), was a much-loved award-winning artist based in Melbourne. Cancer took him from us too soon.
Ian left a legacy including lots of great illustrations. Many of these illustrations are available for sale.
Victoria’s science fiction convention, Continuum, occasionally presents the Ian Gunn Memorial Award recognising the ‘unsung heroes’ of fandom: people consistently working in the background who never expect any recognition of their efforts. This commemorates Ian’s selfless efforts to reach out to others, encouraging others and thereby building the science fiction community.
K’rin Pender-Gunn, Ian’s widow, gave Dark Matter Zine permission to republish Ian’s artwork. Thanks, K’rin!
