Very sad news to give. I had a phone call last night from percyprune - I believe he and Matt Brooker amongst others were phoning round to let people know of the unexpected death of Steve Whitaker.

I don't know many details; apparently he was feeling unwell and was on his way to hospital so it was very sudden.

Steve was someone who I normally only saw sporadically in person, but whose art and words and thoughts I kept up with via Livejournal and Facebook and before those via BAPA and various comics creations. He was always amazing in his creativity and his beautiful art style - flowing graceful depictions of Helen of Troy or other characters from the Odyssey that still managed to have bones and angles and strength. Delicate colours applied sparingly in just the right places. Recently, the playing with the online vector tool that yielded surprising and intriguing results. Previously, the pen-and-ink sketches for friends or APAs that had a sly sense of humour and references to the wide range of music he loved.

In person he was self-deprecating and dismissive of himself and his abilities, but turning the subject onto the things he knew so much about - obscure or weird mainstream comics, eclectic music from tropicalia and jazz to no wave and Charles Wright and the 103rd Street Rhythm Band - and he was warm, open, a great teacher, a great communicator. He introduced me to Os Mutantes, Astor Piazzolla, and drawing with a firm line. His workshops for CAPTION were inspiring - I wish we could have had one more (having planned to ask him to do one this year).

Steemol - you'll be missed.