MORE COWBOY Illustrations

In the last post I mentioned that one of the characters on one of the book covers looked very much like a friend's husband. I sent her a jpg and she and her daughter were dumbstruck. I am sending them the book. Turns out her husband was also a big Louis L'Amour fan.

This time I've got three more L'Amour covers with what appears to be another "guest star."

I love illustration, much more than I like fine art. I guess it's the graphic designer in me. I'm fascinated by someone working within set parameters and how with a limited amount of time they can turn out work that fills the need and is memorable.

When you think of all the art that has been created for paperback books it's staggering. And when you think about the fact that there's been some seriously good work that once used was relegated to the trash bin, it's heartbreaking. I'll admit to not being a fan of the majority of art used on romance novels, but mysteries and westerns can be very enticing. I'd love to have any of this work to hang on my wall.


Image from 1972 edition.


Image from 1973 edition.

So here we have the "guest star, " though maybe I'm the only one noticing it. Dean Martin. Yes, THE Dean Martin who starred in many Westerns with the likes of John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Robert Mitchum. Now, did the illustrator intend for readers to recognize this as Dean Martin? Who knows. Illustrators often work from photographs. I know of a book done by a famous illustrator who used the wife of a politician to portray the Wicked Witch of the West in his book of Oz. You had to be blind to not recognize her face.


No edition information given.

"A Walk in the City" by ROSEMARY and RICHARD DAWSON

I purchased this old worn out children's book a couple of decades ago at a thrift store in Bandon, Oregon. For those familiar with Bandon, the store was just down the street from the cheese factory. The cheese factory is gone thanks to the people at Tillamook Cheese. I like Tillamook cheese, but I don't like what they did to Bandon.

This book was once part of the library at the local school. I like these old school copies because I think about all the little hands it passed through before being tossed aside.

It's a sweet book with lovely illustrations by Rosemary and Richard Dawson. No, not the Hogan's Hero's Dawson, Family Feud Dawson. Sadly, I can't find anything about this wife and husband team? Or were they sister and brother? Cousins? Who knows?




















Click on any image to see it larger.

Published in 1950, I find the review from Kirkus Reviews a bit on the simple minded side:

A group of sprightly verses about the sights and sounds of the city seen through a child's eyes on a day's outing with his mother. Dogs, coal chutes, playgrounds, fruit stores, houses and icemen are visualized in breezy four color illustrations by the authors; heavily accented chatter of the verse acts as a bouncing accompaniment. Bound in strong board with a full page illustration for each verse. Unfortunately limited in appeal to city youngsters, since the verse merely draws attention to experiences already familiar. (Kirkus Reviews)

I know as a child I would have been fascinated by city or country kids. I didn't need to have already experienced something in order to be interested by it. Let's hope reviewers give kids a bit more credit these days.

The ILLUSTRATORS in 1918...continued

More advertising illustrations from the July 1918 Delineator magazine.

Click on any image to see it larger.








(SOURCE: The Delineator, July 1918)

The ILLUSTRATORS in 1918

I've said before how much I dislike stock photography, specifically of people. I've had to use it over the years and after a few minutes of looking at it, trying to choose the perfect image for the job, I start to feel as if I'm stuck in the town of Stepford. The people all start to look the same. Their clothes are the same. Their smiles all look the same. And their eyes, their eyes look like they're ready for the next pose even before it's happened. They're there to sell product and they know it. They dare not offend. They dare not be original. They are to represent all of us and at the same time none of us. And they're everywhere.

I miss the days when illustration was used throughout magazines. It wasn't just the articles/stories that were illustrated; the advertising was still using illustration.

What follows are images from ads in the July 1918 Delineator magazine. On a few of them you'll see signatures of the artist, but most are nameless. I have removed text for all but one so the product will be unknown.

If anyone has anything to contribute about any of the illustrators I'd be happy to include it.

Click on any image to see it larger.














(SOURCE: The Delineator, July 1918)

Now, try to imagine each of these ads done today; lifeless looking people with perfect smiles. Vacuous. Corporate drones. Yes, I miss seeing illustration in advertising with an illustrators imagination at work.