The Chesley Awards were established in 1985 by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists to recognize individual artistic works and achievements during a given year. The Chesleys were initially called the ASFA Awards, but were later renamed to honor famed astronomical artist Chesley Bonestell following his death in 1986. The awards are presented annually, typically at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon).
Chesley Award for Best Cover Illustration – HardcoverChesley Award for Best Cover Illustration – PaperbackChesley Award for Best Cover Illustration – MagazineChesley Award for Best Interior IllustrationChesley Award for Best Three-Dimensional ArtChesley Award for Best Color Work – UnpublishedChesley Award for Best Monochrome Work – UnpublishedChesley Award for Best Product IllustrationChesley Award for Best Gaming-Related IllustrationChesley Award for Best Art DirectorChesley Award for Artistic AchievementChesley Award for Contribution to ASFA (through 2006)Chesley Award Winners & Nominees for 2014
The following are the winners and finalists for works done in 2013 for the 2014 Awards.
Best Cover Illustration: Hardback Book
Winner: Todd Lockwood – A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan; Tor, Feb. 2013Other Nominees:
Jason Chan – Lost Covenant: A Widdershins Adventure by Ari Marmell; Pyr, Dec. 2013Kekai Kotaki – Quintessence by David Walton; Tor, March 2013Maurizio Manzieri – Book of Iron by Elizabeth Bear; Subterranean Press, Sept. 2013Michael Whelan – A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson; Tor, Jan. 2013Allen Williams – Light Reading, Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling; Tor, March 2013Best Cover Illustration: Paperback Book
Winner: Kerem Beyit – The Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich; Pyr, Sept. 2013Other Nominees:
Jason Chan – Harbinger by Phillippa Ballantine; Ace, July 2013Julie Dillon – Ancient Discovery; Crossed Genres Magazine 2.0 Book One; Crossed Genres Publications, April 2013Justin Gerard – Power Under Pressure (The Society of Steam) by Andrew P. Mayer; Pyr, Jan. 2013Dehong He – Shield of Sea and Space by Erin Hoffman; Pyr, May 2013Best Cover Illustration: Magazine
Winner: Dan Dos Santos – Fables #136 Vertigo, Dec. 2013Other Nominees:
Julie Dillon – Elliptic, Clarkesworld, December 2013Maurizio Manzieri – The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April 2013Cynthia Sheppard – Bull Spec, Spring 2013Best Interior Illustration
Winner: Brian Kesinger – Walking Your Octopus, July 2013; Baby Tattoo BooksOther Nominees:
Robert Hunt – “Fire Above, Fire Below” by Garth Nix; Tor.com, May 2013John Jude Palencar – “A Terror” by Jeffrey Ford; Tor.com, July 2013John Picacio – “The Button Man and the Murder Tree” by Cherie Priest; Tor.com, May 2013)John Picacio – The Good Life; Popular Science Magazine, June 2013Greg Ruth – “Dragonkin” by Lavie Tidhar; Tor.com, July 2013Greg Ruth – The Running of the Bulls, The Running of the Bulls by Harry Turtledove; Tor.com, March 2013Best Three-Dimensional Art
Winner: Devon Dorrity – Cecaelia, Queen of the Ocean, clayOther Nominees:
Thomas Kuebler – Krampus the Yule Lord, mixedDavid Meng – Leatherback, resinMichael Parkes – Goddess of the Hunt, 1/2 life-size bronzeForest Rogers – Goblin Spider, Kato polyclayVincent Villafranca – Star Smith, bronzeBest Unpublished: Color Work
Winner: Donato Giancola – Huor and Hurin Approaching Gondolin, oil on linenOther Nominees:
Rhea Ewing – Ancestor Series – NeanderthalStephanie Pui-Mun Law – Ships Passing in the Night, watercolorDave Leri – Death Squealer, oil on masoniteAnnie Stegg – Lilaia the Naiad, oil on paperBest Unpublished: Monochrome Work
Winner: Ruth Sanderson – The Descent or Persephone, scratchboardOther Nominees:
Justin Gerard – The Fox Princess, pencilRebecca Guay – Tender Morsels, graphiteJohn Picacio – La LunaTravis Lewis – Bone Collector, graphiteBest Product Illustration
Winner: Julie Bell & Boris Vallejo – Jeannie's Kitten, IlluXCon 6 promotional artOther Nominees:
Mitchell Bentley – 2014 Space Art Calendar; Atomic Fly Studios and Alban Lake Publishing, December 2013Julie Dillon – 2014 Llewellyn's Astrology Calendar June 2013Justin Gerrard – “Morzag! Lord of Destruction” posterIain McCaig – Call of the Muse, Spectrum 20 Call for Entries posterJohn Picacio – El Arpa (Loteria Card Illustration from Lone Boy)Best Gaming-Related Illustration
Winner: Lucas Graciano – The Last Stand of Thorin Oakenshield for The Battle of Five Armies Board Game Ares GamesWinner: Ryan Yee – Fruit of the First Tree for Fate Reforged Magic the Gathering WoTC 2016Other Nominees:
Tyler Jacobson – Ruric: Thar the Unbowed (2014 Core Set Magic card) WotC, July 2013Todd Lockwood – Observant Alseid (“Theros” Magic card) WotC, Sept. 2013David Palumbo – Serene Remembrance (“Gatecrash” Magic card) WotC, Feb. 2013Steve Prescott – Prognostic Sphinx (“Theros” Magic card) WotC, Sept. 2013Chris Rahn – Ashen Rider (“Theros” Magic card) WotC, Sept. 2013Best Art Director
Winner: Irene Gallo – Tor & Tor.comOther Nominees:
Lou Anders – PyrLauren Panepinto – Orbit BooksWilliam Schafer – Subterranean PressJon Schindehette – Wizards of the CoastLifetime Artistic Achievement Award
Winner: Jim BurnsOther Nominees:
Kinukyo CraftDiane DillonDrew Struzan