tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post6440845560105420237..comments2024-03-18T14:05:31.316-04:00Comments on Today's Inspiration: The Merit of Drawing Wellleifpenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-18481060070408314422009-02-24T13:52:00.000-05:002009-02-24T13:52:00.000-05:00Well put, Keith - no apology necessary, but as a c...Well put, Keith - no apology necessary, but as a clarification, VERY well put! :^)leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-45653453820657938262009-02-24T13:25:00.000-05:002009-02-24T13:25:00.000-05:00I wanted to officially apologize for my calling th...I wanted to officially apologize for my calling the frogs a "bad drawing". I sometimes get caught up in the idea that more realistic drawing is being steadily devalued in our society, but that's not really fair. In reality I think people can appreciate any type of art as long as it speaks to them in some way.<BR/><BR/>What I should have said about the frogs is that I personally don't connect with that drawing, but that doesn't make it "bad". I need to remember that as artists we are all confronted with the same pressures, insecurities, and judgements, and we should show everyone else the respect we would hope to receive.Keith Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17254228396627625307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-24698025220327498762009-02-20T11:19:00.000-05:002009-02-20T11:19:00.000-05:00Ladies and Gentlemen, that's my best pal! :^)Ladies and Gentlemen, that's my best pal! :^)leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-47615989192839548752009-02-20T09:25:00.000-05:002009-02-20T09:25:00.000-05:00I would second Tom Watson's comments. There is...I would second Tom Watson's comments. There is little stomach anymore for the hard work that good draftsmanship requires. And more disheartening, to distinguish twixt good & bad draftsmanship requires a good eye and that is something that money can't buy … nor good connections … nor the latest Mac setup.Mahendra Singhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15308770582240496910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-78703378970207523602009-02-20T00:46:00.000-05:002009-02-20T00:46:00.000-05:00Smorgasbords forever! Allow me to quote three ico...Smorgasbords forever! Allow me to quote three icons of truth and wisdom: Lisa Minelli....'Life is a smorgasbord, old friend'...(well, close!). Pete Segar and 'Popeye' in the 30's....'I yam what I yam'. Finally, Dr. Seuss.... <BR/> 'And I will eat them in a rain' <BR/> And in the dark. And on a train <BR/> And in a car. And in a tree <BR/> They are so good, so good, you see! <BR/> I do so like <BR/> Green eggs and ham!<BR/> Thank you, thank you<BR/> Sam-I-am!'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-75335342675241619722009-02-19T10:51:00.000-05:002009-02-19T10:51:00.000-05:00Leo Lionni was also an art director (I believe for...Leo Lionni was also an art director (I believe for Fortune Magazine).Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246196432986734587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-10125456983468873282009-02-19T08:06:00.000-05:002009-02-19T08:06:00.000-05:00Hm. I don't think the frog drawing is very impress...Hm. I don't think the frog drawing is very impressive on any of these counts.... <BR/><BR/><I>ground-breaking</I> -- Simple drawing had already been popularized by such artists as Ralph Barton, James Thurber, Garrett Price, Gluyas Williams, Peter Arno, etc, many years before this drawing appeared. <BR/><BR/><I>eye-catching</I> -- The bold reds, stark blacks, and pretty legs in the Bundy drawing add up to a more eye-catching image.<BR/><BR/><I>congruity with the headline</I> -- It doesn't require prize-worthy insight to illustrate a "frog wooing" headline with a picture of frogs wooing. <BR/><BR/><I>humor</I> -- The image falls short of its humorous potential. Imagine what Chuck Jones any number of Mad artists might have come up with. <BR/><BR/>I'd have to go with the "sentimental or political reasons" David hypothesized as to why they chose this image. Maybe the judges welcomed its light romance in that tense, pre-war climate? Maybe they grew desensitized to the sea of more ambitious drawings and saw this one as a breathe of fresh air, mistaking its novelty for merit? <BR/><BR/>Makes me wonder what won the following year.Jesse Hammhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02253641550766389238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-81556828298691564422009-02-19T06:52:00.000-05:002009-02-19T06:52:00.000-05:00Tris Mast & Kyle2 have a point.In the end it i...Tris Mast & Kyle2 have a point.<BR/>In the end it is all about catching the eye.<BR/>As far as iconic goes though, the frogs hold zero point zero interest.Mark Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898299574797827415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-7404747675704051132009-02-19T01:13:00.000-05:002009-02-19T01:13:00.000-05:00On page 76 of that same annual, one can see all th...On page 76 of that same annual, one can see all the illustrations in the context of the ad they appeared in. After looking at that page, I would have voted for the frogs, too, based on its ability to catch the eye, its congruity with the headline "A Frog , He Would A-Wooing Go", and its humor. <BR/><BR/>Leo Lionni, the illustrator, also won four Caldecott Honors for his children's books.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, if I had to choose one picture from that annual not for its ability to communicate but for its ability to beautify my wall, it would be a Melbourne Brindle.Tris Masthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06625287657848839278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-36830445483091377552009-02-18T19:21:00.000-05:002009-02-18T19:21:00.000-05:00I find the last couple of Society of Illustrators ...I find the last couple of Society of Illustrators annuals have been consistent but not the Bologna Fair annual or the Spectrum annual.<BR/><BR/>As for the frogs I think there is a tendency for juries to get excited about trends in illustration, or maybe Kyle2 is right and it was groundbreaking at the time.<BR/><BR/>There is an interesting thing going on in comic books right now where people are trying to remove all emphasis on drawing skills and place all the emphasis on storytelling. Young artists are still being discouraged from developing strong drawing skills.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375615378259386972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-72856554453330516172009-02-18T05:51:00.000-05:002009-02-18T05:51:00.000-05:001940? I didn't realize crack had been invented yet...1940? I didn't realize crack had been invented yet. Live and learn!Jesse Hammhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02253641550766389238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-21411907985615043852009-02-17T23:11:00.000-05:002009-02-17T23:11:00.000-05:00There's simple and there's banal.But ask yourself ...There's simple and there's banal.<BR/>But ask yourself this, which of these illustrations was the more ground-breaking at the time?<BR/>And BTW this wasnt a drawing contest was it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-40617016873855364832009-02-17T22:50:00.000-05:002009-02-17T22:50:00.000-05:00Thirteen is unlucky....so, must make it fourteen! ...Thirteen is unlucky....so, must make it fourteen! Right on, with all those 'judgmental' comments....and Tom, as usual, has eloquent commentary on the foibles of the 40's and NYAD judging. My take, ALL judging is subjective....think of Olympic diving, gymnastics, skating, et al. The 'Idol' series, 'Dencing around with the stars', whatever. I never seem to agree with the judges....in fact, accuse most as biased. Bottom line....just do the very best you can, and ignore the pundits!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-37133326113525562922009-02-17T19:32:00.000-05:002009-02-17T19:32:00.000-05:00It doesn't surprise me that a bunch of A.D.s, even...It doesn't surprise me that a bunch of A.D.s, even in the 40s, would choose a design oriented drawing over a full blown traditional literal illustration for an award. Lets face it, they're generally not into draftsmanship or portraying "in the box" reality for their awards. They have always been more design oriented. However in the 90's, art students learned how to produce computer art, but most couldn't draw worth a damn. After they graduated, they couldn't find good jobs in the ad agencies, because of their lack of communication skills in drawing. As a result, myself and other working illustrators were asked to teach basic drawing classes part time at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Every student had to take it, regardless of their major. Half the students in class were whiney cry-babies that didn't have a clue why they needed to learn some basic drawing skills... and complained about every assignment. Many art schools were so dumbed down that they no longer had portfolio requirements to enter their schools... just show up with their tuition.<BR/><BR/>In the past, good draftsmanship was EXPECTED from the successful illustrators of the day, and not something that was unique or remarkable... but simplistic design oriented drawings were considered more "arty" and out of the norm. I was part of a group of 3 judges for an art show, and the other two judges placed little importance on good drawing or traditional painting skills. Actually, if it was well drawn and the more it resembled a recognizable subject, the less interest they had in giving it an award. They were drawn to the "arty" pieces. Unfortunately change alone often trumps substance.<BR/><BR/>Tom WatsonTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237565169344311948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-29992163100346901832009-02-17T17:54:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:54:00.000-05:00i like the frogs. i love all the great illustrator...i like the frogs. i love all the great illustrators out there but sometimes you gotta go with what's more interesting to the eye.Kyle Kershnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12921408140176019528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-8395252715793044942009-02-17T17:23:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:23:00.000-05:00That last image is killing me... and I'm not tryin...That last image is killing me... and I'm not trying to say that only representational art should be admired. However... there's such a thing as simple, stylized, graphic images...which can be great, and then there's just a bad drawing.<BR/><BR/>But I guess you also have to take into account the climate of the industry at the time, so who knows.Keith Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17254228396627625307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-20417648379947007722009-02-17T17:00:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:00:00.000-05:00...art directors!!...art directors!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-84251027492192801092009-02-17T16:17:00.000-05:002009-02-17T16:17:00.000-05:00I'm sure you're right that Bundy's "lovely, sensit...I'm sure you're right that Bundy's "lovely, sensitive" drawing quality was a reason for singling his picture out, but knowing the NY Art Directors of 1940, I'll wager that glimpse of thigh didn't hurt either.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that the choice of the frogs is baffling, but I figure that a certain percentage of those awards were for sentimental or political reasons. I am equally baffled by some of the recent "Hall of Fame" votes by the Society of Illustrators. There will soon be more illustrators in the hall of fame than out of it. In both cases it's just weird group dynamics that will mystify future generations.David Apatoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11293486149879229016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-77854553210491221522009-02-17T15:48:00.000-05:002009-02-17T15:48:00.000-05:00haha! Good post. I'm with Francis on this too.haha! Good post. I'm with Francis on this too.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246196432986734587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-31298123597418058752009-02-17T15:30:00.000-05:002009-02-17T15:30:00.000-05:00There goes my blood pressure....There goes my blood pressure....Mark Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898299574797827415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-25899755860222255442009-02-17T15:10:00.000-05:002009-02-17T15:10:00.000-05:00So,..nothing ever really changes......So,..nothing ever really changes......Jeff Norwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03370637228338154686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-24429767160955446752009-02-17T15:02:00.001-05:002009-02-17T15:02:00.001-05:00Agree with Francis, I wonder how long it took to d...Agree with Francis, I wonder how long it took to draw the frogs!René Milothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07752456838075819592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-24823410722936569272009-02-17T15:02:00.000-05:002009-02-17T15:02:00.000-05:00I like the frogs better, actually. But I'm surpris...I like the frogs better, actually. But I'm surprised the jury did back then.Er-Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445669839883214746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-63186581808702461832009-02-17T14:53:00.001-05:002009-02-17T14:53:00.001-05:00I'm with Francis on this one...I'm with Francis on this one...Kyle T. Websterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09768153715979280662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-88461223964636014312009-02-17T14:53:00.000-05:002009-02-17T14:53:00.000-05:00Sometimes simple communicative drawings say more.....Sometimes simple communicative drawings say more....but in this case it's just a banal drawing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com