Art of Atari. The name is enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. As a lot of regular readers will know, I’m an Atari fan through and through. My collection is extensive and I just love everything Atari. That love started way back when I was 7 years old and one of my best mates got an Atari six switch ‘woody’. We’d go on to spend every spare hour we had on that machine. So it follows that virtually every book on the subject of Atari catches my attention. But being an ex-graphic designer who spent years at Art College, one on Atari art was always going to get me excited. I adore the artwork on Atari boxes. It epitomises the era for me and nothing gets the nostalgic juices flowing like a Cliff Spohn illustration.
Fast forward to 2016 and Tim Lapetino takes up the challenge of producing a book called Art of Atari. And he knocks it out of the park. (And yes, this review is a bit late coming!)
Weighing in at a whopping 351 pages, this is a coffee table book in stature and contents. The word comprehensive doesn’t really do the Art of Atari justice. It covers ever aspect of Atari art and then some. Sourced from private collections worldwide, it features over 40 years worth of Atari’s unique artwork as used on their advertisements, packaging, catalogs, arcade machines, merchandise and much more.
It individually features all of the artists reponsible, artists both well known and not-so-well known such as Cliff Spohn, Rick Guidice, Susan Jaekel and Steve Hendricks. All in great detail too I might add. I personally love a book that you can open at random and just know the page will be full of interest. This is that book – in spades.
If you are an Atari fan, this book is a no brainer. In fact, why haven’t you got it already? If you love video games, this book is a no brainer. Atari is the grand daddy of video games companies, this art is part of the history of your hobby. If you have no interest in Atari or video games, this book is a no brainer. The art is beautiful to look at. Regardless of who you are, or what your interests are, I cannot think of a good reason this book shouldn’t be sitting on your coffee table. Convinced yet?
In summary
If ever there was a coffee table book to start a conversation, this is it. Almost everyone I know, interested in video games or not, has picked this book up and commented on “how wonderful the artwork on Atari video games was”. It is a conversation piece. A work of art containing works of art. It really does the subject matter justice in a way no other book ever has or probably ever will. You owe it to yourself to get a copy. Right now.
Art of Atari at Waterstones
Art of Atari at WH Smiths
