Don Dixon (artist)
Encyclopedia
Born in Easton, Pennsylvania
in 1951, Don Dixon is an astronomical artist practicing space art
in the tradition of Chesley Bonestell
, who believed that scientific accuracy is a fundamental aspect of the esthetic of this genre. Space artists attempt to depict realistically parts of the universe that have not yet been explored by astronauts or robotic probes. Dixon has created cover art for Scientific American
, Sky and Telescope, Omni
, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
, Astronomy Magazine, and many other publications. Dixon's paintings have been used to illustrate the covers of several science fiction books, such as the Mars Trilogy
by Kim Stanley Robinson
and the Galactic Center Saga
by Gregory Benford
. He directed and co-wrote the immersive animated film Centered in the Universe
, which premiered in 2006 at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium at Griffith Observatory
, where he has served as Art Director since 1991. He is a founding member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA) and was elected a Fellow of that organization in 2000. He lives in Long Beach, California
.
Colleague Ron Miller
has described Dixon's work as "softly luminescent." Dixon's early work was executed in oil paints. To obtain the fine detail required for animation projects, however, he has worked in acrylic
and gouache
for most of his career. Dixon's recent purely scientific illustrations incorporate traditional media, such as detailed pencil drawings, which he then scans and manipulates digitally using Adobe Photoshop
, often including renderings created with 3D modeling programs such as Cinema 4D
. Since 2001, he has returned to oil painting for non-commercial projects. An exhibition of his work was held at the 2004 Astrofestival sponsored by the University of Oslo
.
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
in 1951, Don Dixon is an astronomical artist practicing space art
Space art
Space art is a general term for art emerging from knowledge and ideas associated with outer space, both as a source of inspiration and as a means for visualizing and promoting space travel. Whatever the stylistic path, the artist is generally attempting to communicate ideas somehow related to...
in the tradition of Chesley Bonestell
Chesley Bonestell
Chesley Bonestell was an American painter, designer and illustrator. His paintings were a major influence on science fiction art and illustration, and he helped inspire the American space program...
, who believed that scientific accuracy is a fundamental aspect of the esthetic of this genre. Space artists attempt to depict realistically parts of the universe that have not yet been explored by astronauts or robotic probes. Dixon has created cover art for Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
, Sky and Telescope, Omni
Omni (magazine)
OMNI was a science and science fiction magazine published in the US and the UK. It contained articles on science fact and short works of science fiction...
, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
, Astronomy Magazine, and many other publications. Dixon's paintings have been used to illustrate the covers of several science fiction books, such as the Mars Trilogy
Mars trilogy
The Mars trilogy is a series of award-winning science fiction novels by Kim Stanley Robinson that chronicles the settlement and terraforming of the planet Mars through the intensely personal and detailed viewpoints of a wide variety of characters spanning almost two centuries...
by Kim Stanley Robinson
Kim Stanley Robinson
Kim Stanley Robinson is an American science fiction writer known for his award-winning Mars trilogy. His work delves into ecological and sociological themes regularly, and many of his novels appear to be the direct result of his own scientific fascinations, such as the fifteen years of research...
and the Galactic Center Saga
Galactic Center Saga
The Galactic Center Saga is a series of books by author Gregory Benford detailing a galactic war between mechanical and biological life.* In the Ocean of Night -- 1977 Nebula Award nominee, 1978 Locus Award nominee...
by Gregory Benford
Gregory Benford
Gregory Benford is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine...
. He directed and co-wrote the immersive animated film Centered in the Universe
Centered in the Universe
Centered in the Universe is a fulldome presentation that premiered the evening of October 29, 2006 at the "Galactic Gala" which marked the reopening of the renovated Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles...
, which premiered in 2006 at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium at Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest...
, where he has served as Art Director since 1991. He is a founding member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA) and was elected a Fellow of that organization in 2000. He lives in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
.
Colleague Ron Miller
Ron Miller
Ron Miller may refer to:* Ron W. Miller, son-in-law of Walt Disney and CEO and president of Walt Disney Productions in the 1970s and 80s* Ronald H. Miller, author and a professor of religion at Lake Forest College* Ron E...
has described Dixon's work as "softly luminescent." Dixon's early work was executed in oil paints. To obtain the fine detail required for animation projects, however, he has worked in acrylic
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry...
and gouache
Gouache
Gouache[p], also spelled guache, the name of which derives from the Italian guazzo, water paint, splash or bodycolor is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. A binding agent, usually gum arabic, is also present, just as in watercolor...
for most of his career. Dixon's recent purely scientific illustrations incorporate traditional media, such as detailed pencil drawings, which he then scans and manipulates digitally using Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...
, often including renderings created with 3D modeling programs such as Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
CINEMA 4D is a 3D modeling, animation and rendering application developed by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing, rendering, and common features found in 3d modelling applications.- Overview:The...
. Since 2001, he has returned to oil painting for non-commercial projects. An exhibition of his work was held at the 2004 Astrofestival sponsored by the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
.