Fantasy artist Robin Wood died about 2 AM this morning. She’d been suffering from cystic fibrosis and cancer, and had been in a great deal of pain.
My wife knew her for a very long time, and even modeled for some of the cards in the Robin Wood Tarot. We have one of her drawings hanging on our wall, depicting my wife holding a small gryphon on her hand, as if it were a falcon. We saw her frequently at conventions.
She was a superb artist and witty, writing The Theory of Cat Gravity . She titled one of her paintings Yonder Lies the Castle of my Father (after the apocryphal Tony Curtis line)
She met Anne McCaffery at a Con in the 80s, and they collaborated on The People of Pern.
I really enjoyed her covers for Dragon magazine, as well as The People of Pern. I’m sorry to hear of her passing, and for the loss of your friend, Cal.
I am sorry to hear that. I met her at a con once, where I purchased her tarot deck and had her autograph one of the cards. Very talented artist, she will be missed.
Damn. I had heard she was ill but didn’t know with what. I got to meet her because we had a mutual friend, and I have a signed copy of The People of Pern.
She was a nice person with a great sense of humor and her artwork was fantastic in many senses of the word.
I don’t know if anyone will read this. When I was a young boy I attended a convention in Boston. I never went to one before or since. I went to see an artist I adored to bring him a battered old copy of one of his books. I had to literally beg my parents to bring me. It was over an hour drive. It took all my birthday money just to get the ticket. I waited in line and the artist told me he didn’t sign old things. I must purchase something. All I could afford was a postcard he had for sale. I brought my sketchbook I had worked so very hard on just to show him that I wanted to draw the way he did. He wouldn’t look. I was a little boy and it broke my heart. As my father waited impatiently. I was on the verge of tears. It killed my heart. Then I wandered into to rental room of Robin. I told her what happened. She held my hand. She looked at my art . She was magically the person who drew my favorite dragon magazine covers I loved. I had no money left but she GAVE me several things and signed them and told me not to worry about him. It was one of the most important moments of my young life. We departed with a hug and encouragement to keep trying. That was 30 years ago. I still hold what she gave me as some of my most prized possessions. She was amazing and took the time for a young artist with his heart broken. Not only was she an amazing artist, she was an amazing person. Thank you Robin