Jim Fitzpatrick designed many memorable album covers throughout his career, but perhaps the most iconic were the ones he created for the Irish band Thin Lizzy. And among them, the most famous one was the artwork for Black Rose. An album cover so iconic that it later became an Irish national stamp.
To hear more about the iconic career of Jim Fitzpatrick, watch the full episode on Twos Studio’s YouTube channel and podcast platforms (link in bio).
#jimfitzpatrick #twostalks #thinlizzy #albumcover graphicdesignpodcast
Yep, this is Betsy Gray, brutally murdered after the Battle of Balliahinch in 1798. I am absolutely amazed at how many guessed this was Betsy. Sara O'Neill gave me the idea of adding her to my series on the Rebellion of 1798, when she told me about this amazing young woman. I will try to tell her story tomorrow but the free print does to Siobhan McCallion and an extra print goes to both nhmcclenaghan and Michael Duddy simply because they were all first to get it right. More tomorrow and thank you all for a great response. @eadachbysaraoneill . #1798 #Rebellion #UnitedIrishmen #Ireland #Beauty #art #penandiink #linedrawing #Drawing #Portrait #artist #JimFitzPatrick
The 10th episode of Twos Talks is here 🎉
Full video on YouTube and audio on Apple & Spotify (link in bio).
In this episode, Sajad sits down with Jim Fitzpatrick, the legendary Irish artist and designer behind the iconic Che Guevara poster, to talk about revolutionary graphics, psychedelic design, Celtic art, and the story behind one of the most reproduced images in history.
From unexpectedly meeting Che Guevara in a small pub in Ireland years before designing the famous poster, to creating album covers for Thin Lizzy and embedding hidden signatures inside his artworks, Jim shares the stories, philosophy, and influences behind his decades-long career in art and design.
#jimfitzpatrick #graphicdesignpodcast #twostalks #cheguevara #vivache
'Who Fears to Speak of '98 ?' Time to remember these martyrs. Worked all weekend on this one, a pen and ink drawing digitally coloured. I wanted it to look a bit aged too. Another in my short series honouring all who believed in and fought for the principles of 'Liberty, Equality and Justice' in the 1798 Rebellion. This beautiful young woman died too. Anyone out there have any idea who this is ? She is not in Irish history books or acknowledged anywhere now north or south. A free A4 signed print for the first correct guess. Only my lovely friend Sara O'Neill is excluded since she gave me the idea 🥰 @eadachbysaraoneill . #1798 #Rebellion #UnitedIrishmen #Ireland #Beauty #art #penandiink #linedrawing #Drawing #Portrait #artist #JimFitzPatrick
Headed into town on my new Free Travel pass for the first time to see the wonderful William Blake exhibition in the National Gallery just up from my Dart Pearse street stop. A few cool Turners in it too and this magnificent Romney of Lady Hamilton. Stared at that one for ages but the Blake stuff is amazing and great to see in real life.
Ran into my friend the great photographer and mate of Sam Beckett in Paris, John Minihan, on the way out, he was there with a few old friends for the opening of his show in the gallery, then on to meet Alex for food in Fallon+Byrne.
Been friends with Alex now for decades and we always have a great catchup.
Rarely bother going into town these days but that was a blast.
Walking miles, so great exercise and good for the soul, great art and great company. #WilliamBlake #NationalGalleryIreland #Turner #Romney #JohnMinihan #Art #Painting #songsofinnocence #Mysticism
Back by popular demand! The most requested guest of 2025 returns — and this time, we go deeper, stranger, and more thought-provoking than ever before.
Picking up where we left off, 𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 steps away from the sketchbook and into uncharted territory, asking the question that has haunted storytellers for centuries:
𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘴?
In a wide-ranging discussion that moves far beyond fireside tales, he explores how modern DNA research and cutting-edge archaeology might be rewriting what we once dismissed as fairy stories.
From the Tuatha Dé Danann's mysterious arrival to the ancient migrations that echo through the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Jim examines the hard science now catching up with the old legends.
And, in a moment that will resonate deeply with every fan of his work, he offers — for the first time — a glimpse into his planned "last masterpiece": a final, ambitious work that promises to close the circle on a lifetime spent reimagining Ireland's mythic heritage.
This is the interview you've been waiting for.
Raw, speculative, and utterly compelling — one of those rare conversations that stays with you long after it ends.
Click Link in Bio >> YouTube
#JimFitzpatrick #IrishMythology #TuathaDéDanann #CelticArt #IrishArt
THE MUSIC IS BLACK. THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON. Exhibition now open until January2027. Great news for all Thin Lizzy fans in the UK and Ireland.
This important final pencil drawing from 1979, created for Thin Lizzy's Black Rose, is one of my best works from that period.
Some time ago, I was asked whether I would donate a Thin Lizzy artwork to the permanent collection of the magnificent Victoria and Albert Museum in London — my favourite museum in the UK. I'm delighted to say that I have donated a major Thin Lizzy artwork, entirely free of charge, and all the great UK Lizzy fans will be able to see it on display. I do intend that the full colour cover painting for Black Rose will be on show one day in an Irish museum for Irish Lizzy fans to see up close but so far no interest, so who knows. #ThinLizzy #PhilipLynott #BlackRose #JimFitzPatrick #PencilDrawing #Drawing #albumcoverart #Albumcovers #V+A
INIS. Cover for a board game. Canvas Print. Always nice to get a really interesting commission and this was one of the best. I was approached way back by Arnaud Carpentier and Christian Martinez of French publisher MATAGOT to join them in a new venture, a Celtic fantasy themed board game. I know nothing about board games but I do know plenty of mad gamers, all fanatics, so I replied ‘Count me in’.
It was a lot more work than I imagined as originally I presumed they would only use my already published artwork but we decided to do a cover that was original and as anyone who knows me can testify that when I create an original Celtic work it can take forever so a tight deadline helped and off I went. Besides as always I needed the money and they were prepared to pay properly which they did and on time too. All helps sustain the art and the artist.
We don’t get pensions, we work till we drop… :)
Happy Bealtaine! One of the quarterly ancient Irish days of significance heralding the start of a new season.
ÉRIU AND MacGRÉINE by Jim FitzPatrick
Ériu was a warrior-princess and goddess of the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann who gave her name to the island of Éireann and together with her sister goddesses, Fodhla and Banba, ruled Ireland until the coming of the Milesian invaders.
Her consort, the Sun God MacGréine (Son of the Sun) ruled with her and MacGréines monotheistic sun worship cult survived the Milesian invasion and conquest until the arrival of Saint Patrick and his beautiful, tolerant brand of Irish Christianity.
The Sun God 1972 by Jim FitzPatrick
This poster is a lithograph print, size 20”x30”, printed on high-quality gloss art paper.
This is a rather fanciful artwork depicting the Celtic Sun God MacGréine, the Son of the Sun, riding his winged steed across the sky bathed in the light of the sun.
In Irish Mythology MacGréine is the harbinger of the seasons and the Sun God, the mightiest of all the gods of the Celtic pantheon.
Mac Gréine was a king of the legendary and mystical tribe that invaded and conquered Ireland in ancient times, the Tuatha DéDanann.
His Queen was Ériu who gave her name to the Island of Ireland (Éireann) and to the Irish race, the Éireann.
I added a bright orange for the sun colour simply for dramatic effect and it worked well.
110 years ago tonight, April 28th 1916, The O'Rahilly lay dying in a laneway off Moore Street.
The GPO was burning. There was no way out. He volunteered to lead a charge up Moore Street to clear a route. A British machine gun cut him down. He fell into a doorway. He heard the soldiers marking his position, so he made a run across the road to a laneway.
He took out a letter from his son that he had been carrying in the GPO. He turned it over and wrote to his wife Nancy.
"Written after I was shot. Darling Nancy I was shot leading a rush up Moore Street and took refuge in a doorway. While I was there I heard the men pointing out where I was and made a bolt for the laneway I am in now. I got more than one bullet I think. Tons and tons of love dearie to you and the boys and to Nell and Anna. It was a good fight anyhow. Goodbye Darling."
An ambulance driver tried to reach him. A British officer refused to let them touch him. He lay there all night. He may have still been alive nineteen hours later when the surrender came.
The next afternoon, Elizabeth O'Farrell walked up Moore Street carrying the white flag. She passed the laneway and saw his body.
That laneway is now called O'Rahilly Parade. His home at 40 Herbert Park was demolished by developers in 2020.
Our government wants us to forget. We remember.
The O'Rahilly is one of eight portraits in my 1916 collection, The Heroes, The Unknown and The Erased. Available now at jimfitzpatrick.com. Link in bio.
