By no means complete, this page includes Amsel's personal and portfolio projects, book and magazine covers, advertisements, as well as entertainment illustrations outside the realm of album artwork and movie and concert posters. As most of this work comes from Amsel's early career, finding quality images is often difficult -- so, too, is verifying Amsel's authorship when his signature is not easily visible.
I feel this represents an extraordinary period for the artist, as he obviously juggled many different projects for a wide assortment of clients -- including the magazines Time, Argosy, Good Housekeeping, GQ, Ladies Home Journal, and book publishers like Ballantine and Signet. (Where the heck did he find the time?)
As with the other galleries, works are presented in "best guess" chronological order, as a number of pieces are undated, or little information remains accessible after so many years have passed. Please contact me if you have any more information or corrections.
High School Yearbook Illustration - "Enchiridion 1965" 1965 Very special thanks to Marc Walther, a classmate of Richard's, for providing this scan from his original yearbook.
High School Yearbook Illustration - "Enchiridion 1965" 1965 Very special thanks to Marc Walther, a classmate of Richard's, for providing this scan from his original yearbook.
Likely 1966. Ink on paper. 9 x 7 in. Special thanks to Amsel's childhood friend. Michele Voron for access to this illustration.
1966 Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 in.
1966 Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 in.
1966 Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 in.
Circa 1968-1969? Watercolor on pen, with acetate overlay. 12 x 10 1/4 in.
Circa 1968-1969? Watercolor 16 x 14"
Circa 1968-1969? Pencils, ink, and silver marker/paint on glassine 8 x 9 1/2 in. Generous personal gift from Richard Amsel's brother, Michael. It's priceless to me, and I'll always treasure it.
Circa 1968-1969? Pen & ink on paper 18 x 12 in.
Circa 1968-1969? Acrylic on board 22.5 x 15.5", This concept poster is one of my personal favorites among Amsel's early work. While it was not used as a movie poster, Randal Tolbert informed me that this was instead used within an issue of SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE as a tie-in to the film.
1969 Cover for paperback edition. Special thanks to Scot Ryersson for informing me about this.
1969? Book cover.
1969? Book cover
Going All the Way by Dan Wakefield Circa 1970? As with a number of Amsel's paperback book covers, these were released so long ago it's hard to identify which printing this was used for. This title, in particular, was issued in 1969 and 1970 in different formats.
1970 Acrylic and airbrush on board 20.5 x 14", not signed Unpublished poster design.
1970 Watercolor on paper 20 x 14" Unpublished magazine cover, likely used as a portfolio piece.
1970 Size and medium unknown
1970 Acrylic on board, 29.25 x 20" This unpublished poster design was also likely a school or portfolio piece, obviously made while Joe Namath was quarterback for the New York Jets.
Circa 1970? Size and medium unknown. This was on display at the Philadelphia exhibit, and I should have taken a photo of it myself. Fortunately I found this pic posted on Flickr, and will try to get more info soon. Likely used within GOOD HOUSEKEEPING or LADIES HOME JOURNAL.
Circa 1970? Acrylics on board 21 x 13 in. I spoke to the owner of the piece, who had acquired it from a garage sale in New Mexico! Dorian Hannaway verified Richard's authorship, and remembered that Richard's mother originally owned the painting many years ago.Artist Richard Adkins stated that this was done not for a film but a reissue of the source book, ACT ONE by Moss Hart. Looking through Amazon, I suspect it was for Ballantine's 1970 paperback edition, though I'm trying to confirm.
Circa 1970? 20 x 12 in. Likely concept poster for the 1954 film.
Circa 1970? Exact size unknown. Michael kindly provided me with this photo of Amsel's illustration of the 1954 film RIVER OF NO RETURN. (Marilyn Monroe and Rory Calhoun are pictured.) I suspect the illustration was created around 1970, but I'm uncertain if it was ever published. (Was it for an entertainment magazine? A piece for self-promotion?)
Circa 1970-1971 Acrylics 25 x 20.25 in. This concept poster for the David Lean epic was likely a personal portfolio project; I'm not sure if it was used for any tie-ins. (For this reason, I've featured it here instead of the MOVIE POSTERS page.)
The Madams of San Francisco by Curt Gentry 1971 Cover for the Ballentine edition (USA). Image courtesy of Scot Ryersson.
The Madams of San Francisco by Curt Gentry 1971 Cover for alternate printing.
The Madams of San Francisco by Curt Gentry 1971 Original artwork.
Custody of the Cat, magazine illustration 1971 Size and medium unknown. For a story by Jean Kinkhead Martine. Magazine issue unknown; likely GOOD HOUSEKEEPING or LADIES HOME JOURNAL.
Interior illustration for the book "The Geranium on the Window Sill Just Died But Teacher You Went Right On." 1971 Size and medium unknown. Very special thanks to Amsel fan and illustrator Randal Tolbert for identifying this one.
1971 Amsel's art was used for an alternate printing, where the book was rebranded TRIVIA QUIZZES. This cover, however, includes Amsel's original title design.
1971 Book cover image courtesy of Scot Ryersson.
Nijinsky by Romola Nijinsky 1971 Size and medium unknown. Pocket edition paperback book cover. Amsel would later go on to illustrate the film poster, after the project spent years in development. Special thanks to Richard Pastor for this image.
The Earring, magazine illustration 1971 Size and medium unknown. For a story by Winston Graham. Likely within LADIES HOME JOURNAL or GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.
1971 Size and medium unknown. Found this image in a 1971 issue of Playboy. You can see a bit of the Leyendecker influence.
Scott Fitzgerald by Andrew Turnbull (Ballantine edition) 1971 Size and medium unknown. Very special thanks to Ed Edo Dennis, who provided this image.
Social Security - Where Did It Go? magazine illustration 1971 Size and medium unknown. For a story by Eileen Herbert Jordan. Likely LADIES HOME JOURNAL or GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.
1971 Size and medium unknown. Thanks to Paul Devine for this image. Trying to get more information; it was allegedly an unused TV GUIDE cover.
1971 Size and medium unknown. Thanks to Paul Devine for this image. Trying to get more information; it was allegedly an unused TV GUIDE cover.
1971 12 1/2" x 19 1/2" Framed book cover illustration for paperback edition. Michael Danahy was given the artwork by Amsel himself...in exchange for some of Danahy's Disney memorabilia.
1971 Final paperback cover.
Circa 1971-1972? Size and medium unknown. Richard's sister, Marsha, provided me with a photo of a centerfold illustration, made for a GOOD HOUSEKEEPING article. (Marsha herself modeled as the girl in the mirror!) While the original pages are in poor condition, I've digitally touched up the photo to clean it a bit.
Circa 1971-1972? Size and medium unknown. Special thanks to Marsha Amsel Lee for this pic. We're trying to identify the original magazine it's featured in.
1972 Michael Danahy said this portrait, painted in the style of Gustav Klimt, was stolen while on exhibit at the Philadelphia Art College. "The painting was gorgeous," he said. "I was shocked when I found out, and I asked Richard if he was okay. I thought he'd be so upset, but instead he laughed ... he was compensated $147,000, and was thrilled! He told me, 'God, I hope they don't find it, otherwise I might have to give all that money back!'" The painting was found over 40 years later.
Crazy Sundays: F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood by Aaron Latham (Pocket Books edition) Published June 1972 Size and medium unknown. This one took me months to track down.
1972 An Enriched Classics Edition paperback. Very special thanks to Scot Ryersson for this image.
1972 Pocket Books Paperback edition, written by Shirley Hazzard. Special thanks to Randal Tolbert for this image.
Selznick by Bob Thomas (Pocket Books edition) Published August 1972 Size and medium unknown. By chance I happened to find this paperback book within a local used bookstore. Dorian Hannaway informed me that the original artwork resides at the University of the Arts in Philadephia.
"A Walk in the Rain" Short story art for Ladies Home Journal. September 1972 Size & medium unknown
1972 A gorgeous piece inspired by Gustav Klimt.
1972 Acrylics and collage on board. 24 7/8 x 20 1/8" Amsel's original image.
Circa 1972-3? Size, medium unknown. Special thanks to Teresa Ghiretti Amsel for providing this image of W.C. Fields. I'm not sure if it was published or printed anywhere. The source photo was of substandard quality, and I cleaned it up as best I could.
Tarzan Alive 1973 Size and medium unknown. Book cover illustration.
GQ magazine March/Spring 1974 Size & medium unknown. This image looks to be slightly modified and digitally cleaned up from the original magazine.
GQ magazine March/Spring 1974 Size & medium unknown. This image looks to be slightly modified and digitally cleaned up from the original magazine.
Argosy magazine August 1974 issue Featuring Robert Redford as "The Great Waldo Pepper". Image courtesy of Scot Ryersson.
Argosy magazine August 1974 issue. Amsel's original illustration, featuring THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER.
The Autobiography of Will Rogers by Will Rogers 1975 Cover for Avon paperback edition (USA).
1976 Size, medium unknown. Special thanks to Bob Esty for allowing me to take a photo of this print: a J.C. Leyendecker-inspired Bicentennial poster. I'm not sure if (or how) it was published. The source print was seriously worn due to age, and I cleaned it up as best I could.
March 28, 1977 Talk about a killer deadline! Amsel's cover art for TIME, featuring Lily Tomlin, was created in only two or three days. It is now part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection.
March 28, 1977 Found this low-rez textless image of Amsel's portrait of Tomlin.
circa 1980? Watercolor, acrylic, colored pencils on board 30 1/4 x 28 in. This piece, featuring the iconic moment of Marilyn Monroe, a dress, and a pesky subway exhaust vent, was used for the classic film's release on laserdisc. A variation of this artwork was later used for ads by a Hollywood collectibles company.
Amsel's portrait of Marilyn Monroe was repurposed for a Hollywood memorabilia store ad. When I saw this ad as a kid, it prompted me to write to them...and order one of Amsel's RAIDERS posters. (Special thanks to Judy Goldman for this pic.)
Circa 1983-1984? Size & medium unknown.
Circa 1984-1985? Acrylic, watercolor, airbrush, pen, ink, and pencils on board 34 x 17.75 in. Unused display art for Pepsi.
Circa 1984-1985? Details TBD.
