On this day, July 3, 1896, illustrator Charles Howard Johnson died New York City. Reportedly born in Kansas City and moved to New York around 1889 after a year of study in Cincinnati. Johnson illustrated for Life and Truth magazines and on some daily newspapers. He also created illustrations for books.
On this day, July 2, 1912, Harry Kane was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Largely self-taught, Kane drew animals at the zoo and looked at books by Howard Pyle and N. C. Wyeth. During the Depression Kane went to New York and began working for Street and Smith Publications doing pulp cover illustrations. In the 1960s Kane
On this day, July 1, 1858, illustrator Alice Barber Stephens was born in Salem, New Jersey. Stephens was trained at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, with Howard Pyle at Drexel Institute, and in Paris. Mrs. Stephens’ work appeared in the popular magazines of the day and
On this day, June 30, 1958, comic book artist Shawn McManus was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. Before he was 30, McManus was working for Heavy Metal and DC Comics. He has also worked for Marvel Comics and has illustrated some children’s art.
On this day, June 29, 1858, cartoonist John “Dok” Hager born was born in Terra Haute, Indiana. Hager attended school in Europe and returned home to be a dentist. He moved to Seattle in 1899 still working as a dentist. In 1909 Hager began cartooning for the Seattle Daily Times. He created a cartoon character later
On this day, June 28, 1985, illustrator and artist Lynd Kendall Ward died in Reston, Virginia. Ward studied art at Columbia Teachers College and for a year at the National Academy of Graphic Arts and Bookmaking in Leipzig. His illustrations were primarily produced by woodcuts. In 1929 Ward was inspired to create his own wordless novel,
Fred Ludekens (1900-1982) The Green Hills of Earth, 1947 Story illustration for Robert A. Heinlein’s “The Green Hills of Earth,” in The Saturday Evening Post (February 8, 1947) Oil on canvas Heinlein Society, © Virginia Heinlein Author Robert A. Heinlein was delighted to have sold a science fiction short story to The Saturday Evening Post
On this day, June 27, 1946, illustrator and author Wanda Hazel Gág died New York City. The daughter of artists and photographers, Wanda Gág attended the Saint Paul School of Art in Minnesota and then the Art Students League in New York. Her Newbery award winning book Millions of Cats was published in 1928.
On this day, June 26, 1929, graphic designer Milton Glaser was born in New York City. Glaser attended Cooper Union in New York and in 1954 was a co-founder of Push Pin Studios with other fellow Cooper Union graduates. Glaser’s iconic work (posters, logos, etc.) has become a memorable part of late 20th century American culture.
On this day, June 25, 1920, illustrator Wayne K. Blickenstaff was born in Pomona, California. He studied at Woodbury Business College in Los Angeles, served in the air force during WWII. After the war Blickenstaff studied art at Chouinard Art Institute. He moved to New York and worked for Charles E. Cooper advertising agency and taught