Mike Shayne, Never Kill a Client paperback cover 1963

Robert McGinnis made this paperback cover using loose and gestural marks, really embracing the idea that art is a process, a journey, not just a destination. The texture is so interesting here, right? Look at the way he’s built up the background with these vertical strokes. You can almost feel the grain of the wood panel he painted on. Then, bam! The figure pops with smoother, more delicate brushwork. Her expression is so captivating, a mix of vulnerability and mystery, amplified by the contrast in textures. It reminds me of those old noir films, where the lighting and shadows tell as much of the story as the actors. I think the way Robert McGinnis approaches the figure is similar to Patrick Nagel’s style. Both share a streamlined, sleek sensibility, but McGinnis has a certain warmth and vulnerability that comes through his brushwork. It's a reminder that art's beauty lies in these exchanges, embracing uncertainty, and finding new ways to see and feel.