Jean Kluge
Fan | |
---|---|
Name: | Jean Kluge |
Alias(es): | jfkluge, M. Margaret O'Shea, Mary Margaret O'Shea[note 1] |
Type: | fan artist, fan writer |
Fandoms: | The Sentinel, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Professionals, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars |
Communities: | |
Other: | Artwork by Jean Kluge |
URL: | jkluge at LiveJournal |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Jean Kluge is a well-known and highly praised fan artist.
She's been active in many fandoms, but is probably best known for her artwork in Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Professionals, and The Sentinel. Her art has been on the cover of many zines, sold as originals and prints at conventions, and later on the Internet, and recently, sold as t-shirt transfers.
Kluge is also a writer. She wrote the Sentinel Jim/Blair novel Changes, and wrote (and illustrated with Marty Siegrist), the beautiful ST:TNG Data/Tasha novel Pulse of the Machine. In Jun 19, 2001 created the Yahoo!Groups jfkupdate · Jean Kluge's Webpage Update List:
This is an announcement list to notify you of changes to Jean Kluge's website and when new art or special sales are available. This artwork is fandom related. SOME OF THE ARTWORK ON JEAN'S PAGE CONTAINS NUDITY.
Acafandom Book Covers
One of Kluge's Star Trek: The Next Generation drawings is the cover of Textual Poachers, by Henry Jenkins.
In 1995, Jenkins told fans about how he'd wanted to get Kluge's art on his book, Science Fiction Audiences: Watching Star Trek and Doctor Who, but got push back from his publisher. After finally agreeing to have her fanart on the cover, she had a month's deadline to complete it. Kluge was so much in demand that this turn around was too tight.
Jenkins later commented that Kluge's artwork "went up in value within the art hierarchy of fandom because it was associated with the book." He said:
There are T-shirts which have the cover of Textual Poachers on them which circulate in the fan economy, and the work of that artist, Jean Kluge, went up in value within the art hierarchy of fandom because it was associated with the book. She became a more valuable fan artist as a result of that. [1]
the original art: "The Quest" - this became the cover of Textual Poachers
cover of Subspace Chatter #4 (1989)
used as the cover of Textual Poachers (1992)
Profit and Value
During the 1980s and 90s, Kluge's art, like Suzie Lovett and a few other artists, often went for hundreds of dollars at art auctions at conventions, leading to conversations about why it was considered wrong for fan writers and fan publishers to profit from their work, but all right for fannish artists to profit from their work. See letter of comment submitted to the The Hatstand Express on the topic.
Profit was also an issue in her 2009 "re-publication" of her Sentinel fanzine Changes in PDF form. More information about the discussion can be found at the "changes" zine here.
Awards
- Fan Q Award (1989, 1990, 1992, 2003, 2012)
- Friscon Award for "Have You Hugged Your Guide Today?" (Favorite Portrait) (1998)
- Golden Guppy Award (1999, 2000)
- Huggy Award (1999, 2001, 2003, 2007)
- Screwz Award (2004)
Con Guest
Kluge was a guest of honor at:
- CONtinuum (1991)
Opinions Regarding Agent With Style
See Dear Disreputable Zine Publisher.
Stance on Slash Fanworks
[1988]: Somebody's actually gone and done it. I mean, I knew that somebody would—eventually. I was hoping for later rather than sooner. Someone wrote a slash Next Generation story ["Research/Development"]. (They can argue that it isn't, but the semantics really make little difference.) And it's excruciatingly awful. Let me make my position clear on "/" fiction, to set the record straight. I like good slash fiction. I enjoy believable slash fiction. Those, however, are the two operative words—good and believable. K/S that involves one or the other character as a "love slave," or equally "alternate" permutations generally make me go,"Huh? Who are these people?" I've also read slash fiction in numerous other fandoms, some of it wonderful, some of it in the Excruciatingly Awful category. So— I'm not against slash fiction, per se. I am, however, very much against badly written fiction, and this one fits the bill. Picture this: a normal day on the new ENTERPRISE. Riker is making out his list of Things To Do. The laundry. Check on Engineering. Seduce Data. Huh?? Actually, to be fair (although certainly nobody warned me in advance, 'sexually explicit' doesn't cut it), that's not quite how it goes. But it's close... Who are these people? Riker and Data? I can't think of an unlikelier combination. To make this one believable, it'd take a lot of doing, and I doubt that fandom's best writers could pull it off. It just isn't in the characters as we know them.[2]
Kluge created at least two Riker/Data artworks, "Nothing So Strong" and "Evolution," of her own. See those, and some other examples of her slash art, at her web page.
In 2015, a fan wrote about some of Kluge's slash art:
I didn’t even know about slash until the mid-90s, when I saw a piece of Riker/Data kissing artwork from the great fan artist Jean Kluge from across the room I remember thinking *wow, Troi sure looks pale* … until I got up close to it.[3]
Comments on Fanart
In 1988, Kluge wrote about rejection, influence, and perseverance:
First, on the rejection of artwork. I am a firm believer in 'no art is better than poor art.' The problem is, I've seen a great many editors who talk a good line about rejecting artwork that is not up to par, but whose fanzines are littered with numerous examples of just what constitutes 'not up to par.' My own feelings on this are that most editors don't have the time or energy to round up really spectacular art for every piece of prose that they decide to print, or that some of them just don't recognize poor renderings when they see them. In that case, badly-drawn work is inevitable. There are also other sides to this issue. Take a look at some of Connie Faddis's early works in old zines. Or Suzan Lovett's. Or nearly any other artist whose work today is the kind of art that the rest of us attempt to emulate. Those early works may show only the faintest beginnings of the talent that was later brought forth through practice and a gradual improvement in technique. Without encouragement (and criticism) of fellow fans, some of these artists may never pursue their interest in drawing. It would be easy to say that any artist worth the paper she uses would presumably have the burning drive needed to keep practicing despite letters of rejection, but that is generally not the case. I still cringe when I see badly-rendered art work—but then I go back to some of the zines that printed my earlier works, and try to put what I've seen into perspective. It doesn't make the bad art work any prettier, but it at least gives me a measure of tolerance toward the artist who may only now be learning. As I am. I just may happen to be further down the line.[2]
In 1988, Kluge wrote about her Star Trek: TNG story in Vault of Tomorrow #13:
I also did the artwork that accompanies it, and would like to pass on a bit of wisdom that Suzan Lovett and I have both discovered: printing color artwork in black and white is a chancy business. Sometimes it works out wonderfully; most often than not, it doesn't work well at all. Unfortunately, this particular illustration belongs in the latter category. The original won Best of Show by both popular vote and the art show staff at Media West*Con 8—the same illustration printed in black and white looks incredibly awful. Live and learn.[2]
In 2017, Suzan Lovett credited Kluge's influence on her own art and style:
[ Jean Kluge and I] lived close and we got to know each other. She was the one into a decorated borders and Celtic knot work. If it weren't for her, I probably would never have gone into it. Watching her work on that, those things is what got me into it. We were always influencing one another all over the place.[4]
Comments on Fanfiction
[1977]: I don't know the difference between a Good Story and Shit, except in how it makes me feel. I'm a terrific speller. That and grammar are my high points, as far as editorial skills are concerned. But I think I'm learning...[5]
Zines Containing Kluge's Work
Appointment in Georgetown | Artforum | Changes | A Companion for My Death | Datazine #55 | Destiny #4 | Dr. Bellfriar's Memorial Journal | Elusive Lover - Alternate Visions | Elusive Lover | Elusive Lover - Alternate Visions | Entr'Acte | Fantasia (editor) | Forever True | From a Certain Point of View | Galactic Discourse #5 | Gentlemen Never Tell #6 | Guardian #7, #8 | Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine? #3, #4, #5 | Idylls #4 | Leave a Light On for Me | The Machiavelli Factor | Masiform D #5 (article) | Mind Meld | Missing Links #1 | Motet #1, #4 | A New Hope #1, #2| Pegasus #6 |Powerplay #5 | Pulse of the Machine | Rerun #7, #8 | Sanctuary | Sanctuary Moon | Sardonac | A Secret Place #4 | The Sensual World #1 | Shadowstar #23 | Smarm | StarQuest | Subspace Chatter #4 | The Road to Hell and Other Stories | The Sensual World #1 | Smarm | Spinerisms | Treklink #13 | The Wookiee Commode #3, #5 | Those Who Favor Fire | Threshold to Dreams | Variations on the Theme of B and D #1, #2 | Vault of Tomorrow #9, #13 | Vilya | You Could Use a Good Kiss #3
Gallery
1983
the foldout art in Pegasus #6
1985
1986
back cover of Shadowstar #23: "A Peculiar Dream"[6]
from Vault of Tomorrow #9
from Vault of Tomorrow #9
from The Wookiee Commode #3
from A New Hope #1: "Guardian"
from Mind Meld #3
1987
from Brothers in Arms #1, portrays A.J. Simon
from Brothers in Arms #1, portrays A.J. Simon and Rick Simon
from Brothers in Arms #1, portrays A.J. Simon and Rick Simon
from From a Certain Point of View #3, portrays Luke Skywalker and his daughter
from From a Certain Point of View #3
from Galactic Discourse #5
from Galactic Discourse #5, "Meld of Understanding"[7]
1988
Comments about this art:
"Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine! And, uh, elsewhere!"[8] "Hubba Hubba! It's gorgeous! Jean, I want you to know I think your art work is fantastic! I am a Luke fan, so you can imagine my reaction when I saw this."[8] "Jean Kluge, whoever you are, you have made the sun come up, and exactly the right time. I had office troubles, and as I was facing a bunch of miserable deskworms, your picture shone in front of my eyes and poof! everything seemed trifling compared to those breathtaking square inches of skin. Thank you."[8] "I would like to give a special bow to Jean Kluge for her wonderful Luke, appearing on the inside front cover, who took my breath away when I saw it for the first time. In fact, it still does that whenever I open my copy. WOW."[8] "Jean really has a stunning sense of anatomy; she's one of my favorite zine illoers."[8] "What can I say? It's almost enough to make a loyal Solo fan like me falter. That's saying a lot!".[8]
"The Poet" (Beauty and the Beast (TV)
from Guardian #8: "Finding Hope"
from Vault of Tomorrow #13, reprinted in color in Pulse of the Machine (2000) -- "Holodeck Fantasy"
cover of Treklink #13: "Close Encounter of the Third Kind" (reprinted in Pulse of the Machine (1991)
from StarQuest
from Sanctuary
"Fairy Tale," illo for Shimmer from The Wookiee Commode #5
1989
from Those Who Favor Fire: "Magic Man", reprinted in The Road to Hell and Other Stories (1996)
cover of Treklink #15: "Insatiable Curiosity",[7] reprinted in Spinerisms (1990)
the cover of Datazine #55
from Artforum #2: "Wind-Up Boy",[7] reprinted in Pulse of the Machine (1991)
front cover of A New Hope #2
cover of A Companion for My Death: "The Hunted"
Beauty and the Beast zine A Secret Place #4
Blake's 7 zine Powerplay #5
the original art: "The Quest" - this became the cover of Textual Poachers
1990
"Dream Beyond the Mirror" (Beauty and the Beast (TV)) (color version)
"Dream Beyond the Mirror, as printed in Destiny #4 (1990)
from Destiny #4 (1990)
from Dr. Bellfriar's Memorial Journal #4, Roj Blake as "Perseus" and Servalan as "Medusa"
1991
cover of Pulse of the Machine
cover of Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine? #2, Tasha Yar and Data are looking at a copy of Pulse of the Machine
from Sardonac
1992
cover of Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine? #3, "Pas de Deux",[7] also in Pulse of the Machine (1991)
from Threshold to Dreams #2
from Threshold to Dreams #2
1993
cover of Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine? #4: "with apologies to Chris Van Allsburg"
1996
cover of The Machiavelli Factor: "Lightbringer"
1997
cover of Forever True (uncredited): titled "Longing"[7]
cover of Variations on the Theme of B and D #1: "Historical Doyle" and "Historical Bodie"[7]
"Bittersweet" (title on the author's website), "Waiting for Doyle" (in the zine Motet #1)
1998
cover of Missing Links #1
from Smarm
from Smarm
1999
cover of the Sentinel zine changes
interior from the Sentinel zine changes: "Have You Hugged Your Guide Today?"
cover of Variations on the Theme of B and D #1: "Glances - Doyle" and "Glances - Bodie"[7]
cover of Entr'Acte -- The Sentinel illo is titled "Sentinel and Shaman" [9]
2001
from The Sensual World #1: "Courtship Ritual"
2002
cover of Leave a Light On for Me: "Reconciliation"
interior from Gentlemen Never Tell #6 [10]
2003
from Vilya #1
2011
cover of Appointment in Georgetown
Titled Art from Unknown Zines, Dates, Sources
See: Media Art Site,[11] Sentinel Art Page, Slash Art T-Shirts.
Images below (arranged by fandom) are for identification purposes, as well as a hope for better images. If you know more about them, add info? If they are represented elsewhere, remove. If you find a better place for them that involves context, move to other Fanlore pages?
"To Taste the Trade Winds" (1994) From a fan: "Lawrence of Arabia (as portrayed by Ralph Fiennes) and King Faisal (Siddig El Fadil). Slash, slash, slash! And that's how Jean saw it too. She's as much a fan of the movie A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia, as we are. M. Fae and I spent the whole con sneaking peaks at this picture and just as we were starting to haul our stuff out of there and head for the airport, we gave in to lust and admiration and bought a print. I swear never again, never again (until I see more in the series). If you haven't seen A Dangerous Man, you really ought to. It's pure slash with everything except the sex, and that we can write. [12]
Notes
- ^ "Ensign Maggie O'Shea" is one of Kluge's original characters (a red-haired, feisty baseball player) in Pulse of the Machine.
References
- ^ Intensities interviews Henry Jenkins @ Console-ing Passions, University of Bristol, July 7, 2001.
- ^ a b c from Treklink #14.
- ^ "Fandom deplores a vacuum was fanfic any different in the Olden Days". 2015-01-19. Archived from the original on 2022-04-18.
- ^ Media Fandom Oral History Project Interview with Suzan Lovett.
- ^ comments to I (and Sharon) have been backed into a corner defending a single position over quality controls. Frankly, I rather resent this.
- ^ a b Media Art by Jean Kluge at http://jeankluge.kixxster.org/.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Media Art by Jean Kluge at http://jeankluge.ravenshadow.net/
- ^ a b c d e f from an loc in The Wookiee Commode #6
- ^ Sentinel Art by Jean Kluge at http://jeankluge.ravenshadow.net/
- ^ Originally meant to be a cover. Artist's Webpage, via Wayback Machine
- ^ "Media Art". 2012-11-03. Archived from the original on 2022-04-18.
- ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA). #6