Thursday, February 8, 2018

The Art of Jon Whitcomb

Jon Whitcomb

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"I'm Proud of You Folks Too!", US Navy poster, 1944
Jon Whitcomb (1906–1988) was an American illustrator. He was well known for his pictures of glamorous young women. He was born in WeatherfordOklahoma and grew up in ManitowocWisconsin. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University and graduated from Ohio State University with a major in English. He is the brother of fashion designer and inventor Merry Hull.[1]
Whitcomb started drawing illustrations for student publications while a student at Ohio State, and worked summers painting posters for a theater in ClevelandOhio. After he graduated, Jon found work making travel and theater posters and advertising illustrations. In 1934 he moved to New York City and joined with Al Cooper to found the Cooper Studio. Whitcomb was a pioneer in the switch from oil to gouache for illustrations. The different qualities of gouache compared to oil led to changes in the design of Whitcomb's illustrations. He zoomed in on people, usually pretty, young city women, and reduced the background to simple design elements. His new style of illustrations soon appeared in Collier's WeeklyGood Housekeeping and other magazines.
During World War II Whitcomb was commissioned a Lieutenant, Junior Grade in the United States Navy. After a variety of duties, he was assigned as a combat artist for the invasions of TinianSaipan, and Peleliu.
After the war Whitcomb produced a series of articles and sketches about Hollywood stars for Cosmopolitan, called "On Location with Jon Whitcomb". He continued to produce story illustrations and covers for magazines, including McCall's and Playboy. He wrote some short stories, two children's books, Coco, and Pom Pom's Christmas, and a book on glamour, All About Girls. He was one of the founding faculty of the Famous Artists School.

This is one of those artists whose work is recognizable, but whose name is not. Jon Whitcomb certainly captured the 1940-1950s era of glamour.





Once again, nothing here is mine I claim nothing. All information is from Wikipedia and Jon Whitcomb's online sites. 

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