 |
 |
 Illustrations are pictures created for reproduction in books, magazines, advertising and posters. Basically, an illustration tells a story, making it different from - but no less important than - "fine art" created for exhibition in galleries and museums.
A classic example of illustration is the work created by Norman Rockwell and other artists for the covers of The Saturday Evening Post and similar magazines in the first half of the 20th century. These memorable images - which told stories entirely through visuals - were the mainstay of American entertainment in the days before television.
|
 |
 |
 |
One of America's most accomplished artists from the golden age of illustration was Stevan Dohanos (1907-1994), who painted hundreds of Post covers, story and ad illustrations, and a wide range of other works in a career that lasted more than 50 years.
The son of Hungarian immigrants, the Ohio-born Dohanos began his interest in art by copying magazine covers, including some by his future friend and colleague Rockwell. He then studied at the Cleveland Art School. He eventually settled in Westport, Connecticut, whose buildings, institutions and people often appeared as characters in his creations.
Always considering himself a realist, Dohanos credited Grant Wood and Edward Hopper as his greatest influences. Like Rockwell, he portrayed slices of life. But his work focused as much on the fads and foibles of mid-century America as on its people - from a man's longing for power tools in a hardware store window, to the scramble for a foul ball at the Polo Grounds. Each scene had its own truth, poking gentle fun at its target.
|
 |
 |
 |
Now see what it's like to be an illustrator yourself! First, choose an incident from a favorite story or novel, and draw a picture illustrating it using Instant Artist. Then try another illustration that tells a complete story only through a picture - like Stevan Dohanos and other cover artists did.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dohanos enjoyed a long career, later adding still lifes and engravings to his repertoire. Today, his work is exhibited in museums and reproduced in prints and collectibles.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The following websites are good sources for Dohanos' art on the Internet: |
|
|
« Back to Art Smart | More Featured Artists »
|
RETURN TO MAIN
CLOSE