Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art

@richardamselmovie.bsky.social

61 followers 42 following 81 posts

The first in-depth feature documentary of illustrator Richard Amsel (1947-1985). All original content © 2024 Adam McDaniel, Cinemalad Productions. All rights reserved. Made through an exclusive arrangement with the Amsel estate; images used by permission.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 7

I'm proud to share that my work on AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART has received a 2025 Communicator Award for Excellence, Social Content Series - Arts, Culture & Entertainment for Social Media

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · 1d

Made from a photo I took the last time I saw Drew.

2 4

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · 3d

New fundraising push to help with the film's post-production. New prints and postcard designs are available, including Amsel's work for PAPILLON, ROY BEAN, and portraits of Robert Redford and Marilyn Monroe!
Donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.
www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr...

1 1 2

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · 14d

Work in progress: a restoration of Amsel's cover for ARGOSY magazine, featuring Robert Redford in THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER. This one is taking me a long, long time, and the colors are especially challenging.

I only saw the film recently, and the aerial stuntwork is jaw-dropping.

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · 15d

R.I.P. to RENATO CASARO, the Italian illustrator behind many hundreds of movie posters, including for films by Francis Ford Coppola, Sergio Leone, Quentin Tarantino, and Franco Zeffirelli.

www.ansa.it/english/news...

2 2

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · 29d

Robert Redford, the megawatt movie star of some of the greatest films of all time, as well as an Oscar-winning director, producer, activist, and godfather of independent cinema through his Sundance Institute and film festival, died today at the age of 89.

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

2 4

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Sep 11

Two prints of Richard Amsel's RAIDERS posters have been donated to a charitable fundraiser, held at the ADVENTURER'S SUMMIT Sept. 12-14. Check here for more info: www.adventurerssummit.de/en/

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Sep 2

Read about Amsel's unused art for PAPILLON and CUBA!

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

Revisiting lost works: PAPILLON and CUBA

I previously wrote about Amsel’s poster work for both PAPILLON and CUBA, neither of which were used for the films’ main marketing campaigns. I’m happy to share some new images I created, following dig...

www.richardamselmovie.com

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Sep 1

Read about Amsel's unused art for PAPILLON and CUBA!

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

Revisiting lost works: PAPILLON and CUBA

www.richardamselmovie.com

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Sep 1

Read about Richard Amsel's work for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN...including a long-lost alternate version that was unused!

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

Finding new life for JUDGE ROY BEAN...

Sorry I haven’t posted any updates in a while. I’ve been busy this summer preparing for a new position at a nearby high school, developing and teaching a new Cinematic Arts elective! It’s been a lot o...

www.richardamselmovie.com

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Aug 17

Correction: This is actually a 1:1 silkscreen print. But I'm still glad and lucky to have it!

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Aug 17

Richard Amsel's art for PAPILLON was only used in a modified version for the film's rerelease.

This is the original piece. Color reproductions always varied wildly. Happily, a recent auction of the original illustration finally allowed me to capture how the work is supposed to appear.

1 4

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Aug 16

Another lost gem now found: Richard Amsel's original art for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN.

Amsel did at least three variants for the poster. The other two designs were in color, but I strongly suspect this B&W piece served as the direct source from which the alternates were modified.

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Aug 16

I've spent 25 years wondering where this piece was, as it was originally auctioned off by Christie's following Amsel's death.

Happily, this final (but unused) piece for the film CUBA has been found -- and it's a nice birthday gift to myself.

1 3

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Jun 12

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK was released on this day in 1981. Read about Richard Amsel's memorable work for two of the film's iconic posters...

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

The Return of the Great Adventure: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK celebrates 40 years!

June 12th marks the 40th anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. To celebrate, I wanted to share some details about the two posters Richard Amsel created for the film. As fate would have it, productio...

www.richardamselmovie.com

1 2

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Jun 9

Oh, David, how I miss you my friend. I can't get through the 1:53 mark without welling up.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NSz...

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Jun 8

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

Silver Winner, Documentary Series at The 2025 Telly Awards!

AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART is now a Silver Winner at this year's TELLY AWARDS.Work done for the forthcoming AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART has received a Silver Award, Series - Documentary...

www.richardamselmovie.com

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Jun 8

www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...

FLASH GORDON’s Melody Anderson / Tonys salute to David Byrd

I’ve written in the past about 1980’s FLASH GORDON, which has grown hugely popular over the years, and whose poster remains one of Richard Amsel’s most enduring works.Some years ago I did a quick inte...

www.richardamselmovie.com

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Jun 5

My friend, artist DAVID BYRD, will be included in the in memoriam section of this Sunday's Tony Awards...

www.gofundme.com/manage/art-l...

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 22

One of my art students knitted this adorable toy sock cat as a goodbye gift during my last few days at the school. I took this picture of it with my cat at home. I think it's one of the nicest gifts I've received in a long time.

1 1 6

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 22

Remembering my mother, Eileen McDaniel, who died 19 years ago today.

cinemalad5.wixsite.com/adammcdaniel...

Goodnight, Eileen (Eileen McDaniel, 1941-2006)

Today marks the 13th year of my mother being gone. So much of my life has changed since, and I wish I could have shared it with her. She was 64 when she died -- less than 20 years older than I am now ...

cinemalad5.wixsite.com

1 2

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 19

Happy 80th birthday to rock legend Pete Townsend. Pictured: Amsel's portrait of Townsend, featured in a deluxe album for TOMMY.

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 14

Sad to read about the death of writer/director ROBERT BENTON, who was behind a number of classic films, including KRAMER VS. KRAMER, NOBODY'S FOOL, PLACES IN THE HEART, as well as scripts for BONNIE AND CLYDE and WHAT'S UP, DOC?

Pictured: Richard Amsel's work for the caper comedy THE LATE SHOW.

2 9

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 11

Hallmark will have a new ornament this year featuring Amsel's poster for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. It's up for sale in October.

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · May 7

I'm proud to share that my work on AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART has received a 2025 Communicator Award for Excellence, Social Content Series - Arts, Culture & Entertainment for Social Media

AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art @richardamselmovie.bsky.social · Apr 17

Don't forget - our SPRING MATCH CAMPAIGN ends this Friday at midnight! Donate any amount and enter to win a MAD MAX poster from Richard Amsel's personal collection!

www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr...