Vintage Portraits - A Stamp of Love

 Art on Romance Book Covers

Book Covers as romantic paintings.

An era passed and an artist remembered.

Hello Friends,

Do you like the new stamp from Canada?

Swoony love.

Imagine Michael Bublé singing in the background, “Dance with me, sway with me…”

Oh yeah, take me there!

In April 2018, Canadian artist, Will Davies was honored posthumously with the issue of a stamp featuring his art from a Harlequin Romance Book Cover.

The artwork has a vintage look to me and with a sprinkle of Hollywood glamour from decades ago. The couple dance intimately, almost cheek to cheek. He’s a tall dark and handsome romance hero wearing a white dinner jacket. He reminds me of actor, Cary Grant with his chiseled face and classy grooming.

She’s a raven-haired beauty, wearing a 1970’s caftan dress, perhaps it’s a holiday outfit for an exotic, Caribbean Island. Her heart-shaped face reminds me of Elizabeth Taylor, while her elfin hair-do is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn.

source; www.goodreads.com

Will Davies’s artwork which was reproduced on the celebratory stamp was originally used as a bookcover for a romance novel called, “Neptune’s Daughter” which was written by Anne Weale and published by Harlequin in 1987.

The author passed away in 2007. She had an adventurous life with her husband and son. She loved setting her stories in the Caribbean and in her beloved Spain. She wrote 88 novels and published her last novel in 2002.

The Blurb from “Neptune’s Daughter”

source; Goodreads.com

I was pleasantly surprised to discover the 31 year old novel was listed on Goodreads, and had some reviews.

“…you might see a stranger across a crowded room…”

When Laurian saw the tall handsome man browsing in the bookshop, the lyrics of the romantic old song came instantly to mind. For this was what it was like: the sudden burst of attraction, the odd sense of recognition.

So when the man followed her out of the store and down the street, Laurian was certain he felt the same way. She wasn’t in the habit of talking to strangers, but this was different. So she did.

And found out his name. Oliver Thornham. A name from her past, and one she had every reason to hate.

Will Davies Artwork
Reminds me of Swedish actress, Britt Ekland and actor, Robert Wagner (husband of Natalie Wood who tragically died.).
source; www.pinterest.com.au

Will Davies produced artwork for 500 Harlequin book covers and he painted 2 or 3 covers each month for years.

“More than anything, he loved women, and it showed – he always painted them with a certain elegance.”                                                                                 

          source;  globalnews.ca

Will Davies Artwork
The Robert Redford look without the red hair.
source; www.pinterest.com.au

The era passed when Harlequin changed artistic direction for their book covers and they went for real life images featuring photographs of models. But as I found out on Pinterest and Goodreads, there's still people on the web collecting Harlequin book covers and also reading the decades old books.

Will Davies Artwork
Long white gloves and a picnic on top of a car.
source; www.pinterest.com.au

From the 1950’s to the early 2000’s, Will Davies had a long career as an illustrator. He also produced commercial art for newspapers and magazines. Other designs he worked on included cars, clothes, and he designed nine stamps.

If you’d like to see more Art of Will Davies, a book has been published and there is a facebook page, see it here .

Have a happy weekend,

♥ Ashlyn 

The Canadian Stamp picture was sourced from, www.canadianpostagestamps.ca