Stephen King’s novel IT is getting a new, limited edition (only 500 copies) book from Folio Press that features illustrations from Jim Burns, who is probably best known for his science fiction and fantasy artwork. The limited edition also has an introduction from director Guillermo del Toro. Burns spoke to Cemetery Dance about getting involved with the project, his introduction to IT, working in the horror genre, and more.
(Interview conducted by Danica Davidson)
CEMETERY DANCE: How did you get involved with this project?
JIM BURNS: I was exhibiting some of my work at the Glasgow Science Fiction Convention in late summer 2024. A very nice fellow came up to me and expressed enthusiasm for the work and then told me that he was the publishing director at the Folio Society. This was Tom Walker, and he asked if I might be interested in maybe working with them one day on the illustrations for one of their spectacular, collectable bibliophile editions. I’ve been aware, of course, of the Folio Society for a long time and have indeed thought more than once that it would be very nice to be invited to work with them. So I made appropriately enthusiastic sounds and as he went off I wondered if anything might ever come of this short exchange. Within minutes, as I recall, my agent, Alison Eldred came up to me and said, “Folio would like you to do the art for their upcoming edition of Stephen King’s IT. What do you think, Jim?” Never could a response have been more predictable! I nearly bit their arm off!
What was your introduction to IT?
My initial introduction was watching the old Tim Curry two-part TV miniseries back in 1990. I’d also seen the more recent 2017 movie with Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. Although I’ve read a few Stephen King novels over the last few years, this one was new to me in its novel form. The first thing I did when given this commission was to rewatch both movies and also to listen to the Audible version on my Mac whilst working on other stuff… and indeed whilst I commenced early work on the Folio IT itself. I bought the paperback version too and completely immersed myself in the world of IT.
What was your approach in making the art for this limited edition book?
The rights arrangement for this edition didn’t allow for too much by way of a nice long extended timeline in which to produce the art. It had to be commenced in early October and everything had to be completed by the beginning of February. Christmas fell inconveniently right in the middle. With the understanding that the time wasn’t generous, it was suggested by the head of editorial at Folio, James Rose, that I take the approach of producing the bulk of the work in the style of my quite well-known large “mythical beast” drawings in pencil — which James seemed to be a fan of. This would comprise 10 of the full double spread pieces leaving the remaining 6 spreads to be completed as paintings. So 16 images in all plus a 17th as the title page frontispiece. Drawings I’m able to produce relatively quickly — but paintings are a lot more time-consuming.
I decided that if I was going to complete the work within the tight schedule, rather than producing them one at a time I should basically approach the project on a broad front, cracking on with everything pretty much as one large job… moving between images and bringing them all on together… in particular the six paintings. And whilst the drawings are quite large, the paintings are by necessity a bit smaller than my usual preferred size.
You’re best known as an artist for science fiction and fantasy. What’s it like then working in the horror genre?
I’ve tackled the occasional horror job over the years and I do rather enjoy trying to inject a bit of the “darker side” into my work at times. But this was certainly my first major foray into the genre. I’ve always tried to be flexible in my approach to commissions, happy to have a crack at whatever comes my way (within limits). I’ve never liked the idea of being “typecast” if you like…I’d get very bored with having to repeat myself over and over. And I think it’s this approach, this willingness to take on new things, that has helped to keep me in work for so long… it been 53 years now since my first published bookjacket commission. Which was actually a war novel!
Where can people learn more about you and your work?
My website is not something I really control as it’s attached to that of the agency I work with. But it has some info there. I have an Instagram presence and am fairly active on Facebook with regards to showing new work and trawling back through older stuff too. There are collections of my work out there too…a number of books including most recently Hyperluminal with Titan Books and in earlier times Transluminal and Lightship with Paper Tiger. Titan also published a book of my more erotically-inclined studies and preliminaries in a book called Imago.
