Here is an outer space scene drawn in pastels on black paper by Robert E. Gilbert. A small, very detailed spaceship floats among multicolored stars and nebulae, with a large comet near the top. It measures 9 7/8" by 12 3/4", is dated Aug. 5, 1984 on the back, and is in excellent condition.
From the 1950's through the '70's Robert E. Gilbert (or REG, as he often signed himself) was a prolific contributor of art to science fiction fan magazines. He also published several stories, at least one in Galaxy. The work for the fanzines was pen and ink, to show up with the inexpensive reproduction techniques, but he also did a large number of paintings in oil, pastels, and watercolors. In addition, from the 1940's through the 80's he did a lot of non-science fiction art, experimenting with traditional and non-traditional styles.
One of the most striking things about Gilbert's work is the strong sense of the alien. Landscapes are strange and unexpected. Even when humans are depicted, they look eerie somehow, as if they were just one more bizarre species in a weird galaxy. His experimentation with technique is also very interesting, and the detailing, especially of the black and white ink drawings, is fascinating.
REG was a native of Kingsport, Tennessee, and died at age 68 on April, 4 1993. He attended Lafayette College and East Tennessee State University; and was a graduate of Washington School of Art. He was an Army veteran and served in World War II.

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