tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post4808998299138440567..comments2024-03-19T06:12:18.701-04:00Comments on Today's Inspiration: Walter... Mondrian?leifpenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-64591272437135377002007-11-24T08:48:00.000-05:002007-11-24T08:48:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-33297413968898420132007-09-27T16:59:00.000-04:002007-09-27T16:59:00.000-04:00Thanks, Tom - I see a lot of that Japanese woodblo...Thanks, Tom - I see a lot of that Japanese woodblock print influence in Monday's piece by Dorothy Monet in particular.<BR/><BR/>What's interesting to me is how closely the techniques these artists used come to looking like comic book art ( the Skor piece excepted ) - though we know comics were denegrated at the time.<BR/><BR/>I doubt they would have welcomed the comparison...leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-86774391674257674412007-09-27T15:21:00.000-04:002007-09-27T15:21:00.000-04:00Leif, I think your comments are right on the money...Leif, I think your comments are right on the money, and supported by good logical conclusions. <BR/><BR/>After talking with Al Parker in 1959, he alluded to the Japanese wood block prints that became popular with some of the French Impressionists. I then became aware of the influence that it must have had on his work. <BR/><BR/> The stylized Japanese drawings were completely linear, the colors were flat and decorative, and patterns were used to give variety and interest. It was all about color, shapes and design... and little or no depth or dimension to individual elements. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps that is why Al Parker became the great innovator of illustration... because he was influenced by sources that few illustrators thought about. Specifically, the beautiful oriental designs of the past, integrated with modern American illustration. <BR/><BR/>In these experimental editorial illustrations, the illustration, headline, caption, and body copy, together became one harmonious design... an exhilarating visual symphony to lure the audience. <BR/><BR/>Tom WatsonTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237565169344311948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-53170069777841845422007-09-27T11:43:00.000-04:002007-09-27T11:43:00.000-04:00Hey James;That's a great way of putting it. Yes, ...Hey James;<BR/><BR/>That's a great way of putting it. Yes, and as you know, the modern art movements were thoroughly discussed in the Famous Artists Course (Mondrian gets almost two full pages in my volume) so they really did treat it very seriously, I think.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately I did not get to the Parker show... something I'll be kicking myself over for years to come, I know...leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-17861829927252564062007-09-27T11:13:00.000-04:002007-09-27T11:13:00.000-04:00Hey, Leif,From a distance of 50 years you can real...Hey, Leif,<BR/>From a distance of 50 years you can really see how the illustrators were keeping a close eye on the modernist trends. The Parker show at the Rockwell Museum really drives the point home. Have you checked it out?<BR/><BR/>There are nice Whitcombs, Lovells, and Whitmores in the show, too, and they must have had a hard time keeping up with Parker's experimentation. Let me add my vote for more on Gannam.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com