Malcolm Smith

(American, c. 1912-1966)

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At age fourteen, Malcolm Smith bought his first pulp issue of Amazing Stories after being a fan of Science and Invention magazine in the 1920s. He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and worked as a display artist but realized there was more money to be made in illustration.

Smith offered his first paintings to Amazing Stories magazine in 1940 and to his delight they were accepted. After establishing himself in the field, he eventually became the art director for the pulp magazines Other Worlds and Fate.

For his illustrations Smith often worked with live models including his own wife and children. He developed a technique to color-dye photo prints, which gave his pieces a unique combination of real and imaginary elements. This technique was used on his cover for Cloak of Aesir.