AMSEL: Illustrator of the Lost Art
@richardamselmovie.bsky.social
The first in-depth feature documentary of illustrator Richard Amsel (1947-1985). All original content © 2024 Adam McDaniel, Cinemalad Productions. All rights reserved.
Made through an exclusive arrangement with the Amsel estate; images used by permission.
Made through an exclusive arrangement with the Amsel estate; images used by permission.
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END OF YEAR GIVING PROMO (AND NEW REWARDS!)
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time I reach out again for support towards the project’s completion funds.
To learn more, go to www.richardamselmovie.com, or check out our donation page at www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr....
Happy Holidays!
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time I reach out again for support towards the project’s completion funds.
To learn more, go to www.richardamselmovie.com, or check out our donation page at www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr....
Happy Holidays!
END OF YEAR GIVING PROMO (AND NEW REWARDS!)
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time I reach out again for support towards the project’s completion funds.
To learn more, go to www.richardamselmovie.com, or check out our donation page at www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr....
Happy Holidays!
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time I reach out again for support towards the project’s completion funds.
To learn more, go to www.richardamselmovie.com, or check out our donation page at www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr....
Happy Holidays!
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
END OF YEAR GIVING PROMO (AND NEW REWARDS!)
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time I reach out again for support towards the project’s completion funds.
To learn more, go to www.richardamselmovie.com, or check out our donation page at www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr....
Happy Holidays!
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time I reach out again for support towards the project’s completion funds.
To learn more, go to www.richardamselmovie.com, or check out our donation page at www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr....
Happy Holidays!
After all these years and struggles, it's nice to finally get some positive buzz!
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
After all these years and struggles, it's nice to finally get some positive buzz!
I'm honored to have recently received a Communicator Award, a Telly Award, and a Davey Award for AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART.
Such recognition is not only professionally gratifying, but feels like something of a personal validation that all that hard work and struggle have been worth it.
Such recognition is not only professionally gratifying, but feels like something of a personal validation that all that hard work and struggle have been worth it.
November 4, 2025 at 6:01 AM
I'm honored to have recently received a Communicator Award, a Telly Award, and a Davey Award for AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART.
Such recognition is not only professionally gratifying, but feels like something of a personal validation that all that hard work and struggle have been worth it.
Such recognition is not only professionally gratifying, but feels like something of a personal validation that all that hard work and struggle have been worth it.
AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART is now a Gold Award Winner at this year's DAVEY AWARDS, in the category of Social Campaigns-Arts, Culture & Lifestyle.
To all of you who have supported this project over the years, I can not thank you enough.
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
To all of you who have supported this project over the years, I can not thank you enough.
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
AMSEL campaign is a 2025 Gold Award Winner at the Davey Awards!
AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART is now a Gold Award Winner at this year's DAVEY AWARDS, in the category of Social Campaigns-Arts, Culture & Lifestyle.While the film itself is still in progress, the...
www.richardamselmovie.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
AMSEL: ILLUSTRATOR OF THE LOST ART is now a Gold Award Winner at this year's DAVEY AWARDS, in the category of Social Campaigns-Arts, Culture & Lifestyle.
To all of you who have supported this project over the years, I can not thank you enough.
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
To all of you who have supported this project over the years, I can not thank you enough.
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
Made from a photo I took the last time I saw Drew.
October 15, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Made from a photo I took the last time I saw Drew.
New fundraising push to help with the film's post-production. New prints and postcard designs are available, including Amsel's work for PAPILLON, ROY BEAN, and portraits of Robert Redford and Marilyn Monroe!
Donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.
www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr...
Donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.
www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr...
October 13, 2025 at 4:10 AM
New fundraising push to help with the film's post-production. New prints and postcard designs are available, including Amsel's work for PAPILLON, ROY BEAN, and portraits of Robert Redford and Marilyn Monroe!
Donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.
www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr...
Donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.
www.richardamselmovie.com/donate-contr...
Work in progress: a restoration of Amsel's cover for ARGOSY magazine, featuring Robert Redford in THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER. This one is taking me a long, long time, and the colors are especially challenging.
I only saw the film recently, and the aerial stuntwork is jaw-dropping.
I only saw the film recently, and the aerial stuntwork is jaw-dropping.
October 2, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Work in progress: a restoration of Amsel's cover for ARGOSY magazine, featuring Robert Redford in THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER. This one is taking me a long, long time, and the colors are especially challenging.
I only saw the film recently, and the aerial stuntwork is jaw-dropping.
I only saw the film recently, and the aerial stuntwork is jaw-dropping.
R.I.P. to RENATO CASARO, the Italian illustrator behind many hundreds of movie posters, including for films by Francis Ford Coppola, Sergio Leone, Quentin Tarantino, and Franco Zeffirelli.
www.ansa.it/english/news...
www.ansa.it/english/news...
September 30, 2025 at 12:46 PM
R.I.P. to RENATO CASARO, the Italian illustrator behind many hundreds of movie posters, including for films by Francis Ford Coppola, Sergio Leone, Quentin Tarantino, and Franco Zeffirelli.
www.ansa.it/english/news...
www.ansa.it/english/news...
Robert Redford, the megawatt movie star of some of the greatest films of all time, as well as an Oscar-winning director, producer, activist, and godfather of independent cinema through his Sundance Institute and film festival, died today at the age of 89.
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
September 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Robert Redford, the megawatt movie star of some of the greatest films of all time, as well as an Oscar-winning director, producer, activist, and godfather of independent cinema through his Sundance Institute and film festival, died today at the age of 89.
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
Two prints of Richard Amsel's RAIDERS posters have been donated to a charitable fundraiser, held at the ADVENTURER'S SUMMIT Sept. 12-14. Check here for more info: www.adventurerssummit.de/en/
September 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Two prints of Richard Amsel's RAIDERS posters have been donated to a charitable fundraiser, held at the ADVENTURER'S SUMMIT Sept. 12-14. Check here for more info: www.adventurerssummit.de/en/
Revisiting lost works: PAPILLON and CUBA
I previously wrote about Amsel’s poster work for both PAPILLON and CUBA, neither of which were used for the films’ main marketing campaigns. I’m happy to share some new images I created, following dig...
www.richardamselmovie.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Revisiting lost works: PAPILLON and CUBA
I previously wrote about Amsel’s poster work for both PAPILLON and CUBA, neither of which were used for the films’ main marketing campaigns. I’m happy to share some new images I created, following dig...
www.richardamselmovie.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Read about Richard Amsel's work for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN...including a long-lost alternate version that was unused!
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
Finding new life for JUDGE ROY BEAN...
Sorry I haven’t posted any updates in a while. I’ve been busy this summer preparing for a new position at a nearby high school, developing and teaching a new Cinematic Arts elective! It’s been a lot o...
www.richardamselmovie.com
September 1, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Read about Richard Amsel's work for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN...including a long-lost alternate version that was unused!
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
Richard Amsel's art for PAPILLON was only used in a modified version for the film's rerelease.
This is the original piece. Color reproductions always varied wildly. Happily, a recent auction of the original illustration finally allowed me to capture how the work is supposed to appear.
This is the original piece. Color reproductions always varied wildly. Happily, a recent auction of the original illustration finally allowed me to capture how the work is supposed to appear.
August 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Richard Amsel's art for PAPILLON was only used in a modified version for the film's rerelease.
This is the original piece. Color reproductions always varied wildly. Happily, a recent auction of the original illustration finally allowed me to capture how the work is supposed to appear.
This is the original piece. Color reproductions always varied wildly. Happily, a recent auction of the original illustration finally allowed me to capture how the work is supposed to appear.
Another lost gem now found: Richard Amsel's original art for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN.
Amsel did at least three variants for the poster. The other two designs were in color, but I strongly suspect this B&W piece served as the direct source from which the alternates were modified.
Amsel did at least three variants for the poster. The other two designs were in color, but I strongly suspect this B&W piece served as the direct source from which the alternates were modified.
August 16, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Another lost gem now found: Richard Amsel's original art for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN.
Amsel did at least three variants for the poster. The other two designs were in color, but I strongly suspect this B&W piece served as the direct source from which the alternates were modified.
Amsel did at least three variants for the poster. The other two designs were in color, but I strongly suspect this B&W piece served as the direct source from which the alternates were modified.
I've spent 25 years wondering where this piece was, as it was originally auctioned off by Christie's following Amsel's death.
Happily, this final (but unused) piece for the film CUBA has been found -- and it's a nice birthday gift to myself.
Happily, this final (but unused) piece for the film CUBA has been found -- and it's a nice birthday gift to myself.
August 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I've spent 25 years wondering where this piece was, as it was originally auctioned off by Christie's following Amsel's death.
Happily, this final (but unused) piece for the film CUBA has been found -- and it's a nice birthday gift to myself.
Happily, this final (but unused) piece for the film CUBA has been found -- and it's a nice birthday gift to myself.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK was released on this day in 1981. Read about Richard Amsel's memorable work for two of the film's iconic posters...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
The Return of the Great Adventure: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK celebrates 40 years!
June 12th marks the 40th anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. To celebrate, I wanted to share some details about the two posters Richard Amsel created for the film. As fate would have it, productio...
www.richardamselmovie.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK was released on this day in 1981. Read about Richard Amsel's memorable work for two of the film's iconic posters...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
www.richardamselmovie.com/single-post/...
Oh, David, how I miss you my friend. I can't get through the 1:53 mark without welling up.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NSz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NSz...
June 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Oh, David, how I miss you my friend. I can't get through the 1:53 mark without welling up.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NSz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NSz...
My friend, artist DAVID BYRD, will be included in the in memoriam section of this Sunday's Tony Awards...
www.gofundme.com/manage/art-l...
www.gofundme.com/manage/art-l...
June 5, 2025 at 3:54 AM
My friend, artist DAVID BYRD, will be included in the in memoriam section of this Sunday's Tony Awards...
www.gofundme.com/manage/art-l...
www.gofundme.com/manage/art-l...
One of my art students knitted this adorable toy sock cat as a goodbye gift during my last few days at the school. I took this picture of it with my cat at home. I think it's one of the nicest gifts I've received in a long time.
May 22, 2025 at 3:57 AM
One of my art students knitted this adorable toy sock cat as a goodbye gift during my last few days at the school. I took this picture of it with my cat at home. I think it's one of the nicest gifts I've received in a long time.
Remembering my mother, Eileen McDaniel, who died 19 years ago today.
cinemalad5.wixsite.com/adammcdaniel...
cinemalad5.wixsite.com/adammcdaniel...
Goodnight, Eileen (Eileen McDaniel, 1941-2006)
Today marks the 13th year of my mother being gone. So much of my life has changed since, and I wish I could have shared it with her. She was 64 when she died -- less than 20 years older than I am now ...
cinemalad5.wixsite.com
May 22, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Remembering my mother, Eileen McDaniel, who died 19 years ago today.
cinemalad5.wixsite.com/adammcdaniel...
cinemalad5.wixsite.com/adammcdaniel...
Happy 80th birthday to rock legend Pete Townsend. Pictured: Amsel's portrait of Townsend, featured in a deluxe album for TOMMY.
May 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Happy 80th birthday to rock legend Pete Townsend. Pictured: Amsel's portrait of Townsend, featured in a deluxe album for TOMMY.