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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

A Dog Named Oliver

Artist:Jon Whitcomb
Date:1946
Medium:Gouache on illustration board
Dimensions:Sight size 14" by 21" - Framed 19 " by 25"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Interior Story Illustration for The Ladies Home Jounal - November, 1946
Price: Sold
Full view
Full view

 

The artist's signature lower right
The artist’s signature lower right

 

Detail
Detail

 

 

A sentimental nostalgic Americana interior gouache illustration painting for the November, 1946 edition of Ladies Home Journal by Jon Whitcomb, perhaps the most accomplished artist of the era’s mainstream “glossy” illustrators. Commissioned for an interior story about a special puppy titled “A Dog Named Oliver”, with all of the trademark Whitcomb narrative story telling and expressive beauty that set him atop of the field.

Verso notations on Whitman Illustration Board
Verso notations on Whitman Illustration Board

 

Framed and matted behind glass in white maple wood gallery frame
Framed and matted behind glass in white maple wood gallery frame

 

JON WHITCOMB (1906-1988) has made his name synonymous with pictures of young love and glamorous, beautiful young women. During World War II, a series of illustrations for advertisements he created on the theme, “Back Home for Keeps,” became a pin-up fad for women deprived of their husbands or sweethearts.

Jon was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma, and reared in Manitowic, Wisconsin. He attended Ohio Wessleyan University and was graduated from Ohio State where he did pictures for the school publications and worked during the summer painting posters for a theater in Cleveland.

This was excellent training ground for Whitcomb. Although he had majored in English with an ambition to write, Jon switched to art classes. After graduation he was able to obtain work in a series of studios doing travel and theater posters, as well as general advertising illustrations.

In 1934, he moved to New York to combine studio work with free-lance illustration. His first illustrations were for Collier’s, followed by Good Housekeeping,, and then the others in succession as Whitcomb’s pretty girls began to attract enthusiastic readership.

His career was interrupted by World War II when he was commissioned a Lieutenant, j.g. in the Navy. His assignments varied from mine-sweeping duty to off the East coast, to the Public Relations Department in Washington, to the Pacific as a combat artist with the invasions of Tinian, Saipan, and Peleliu. After hospitalization for tropical infections, he was discharged in 1945 and resumed his art career.

Whitcomb’s writing ability became useful when he began to do a monthly series of sketches and articles about motion picture stars for Cosmopolitan, called “On Location with Jon Whitcomb.” He has also written several short stories, two children’s books about poodles, Coco, and Pom Pom’s Christmas, and a book about feminine glamour, All About Girls.

A Dog Named Oliver

Artist: Jon Whitcomb
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, Jon Whitcomb, Ladies Home Journal, original interior illustration, slick magazine
Added to Gallery: September 24, 2014

 

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    About Grapefruit Moon Gallery

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery, based in Minneapolis MN, specializes in vintage pin up and original illustration art.  We are the proud home of the Bunny Yeager archives.

    Since 2003, Grapefruit Moon Gallery has been a leading dealer of exclusive original paintings by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Rolf Armstrong and Henry Clive, as well as vintage photographs, prints, and period decorative arts in ceramic and metal.

    All artworks featured are original, accurately represented, and guaranteed to be the work of the named artist.

    Interested buyers may view pieces by appointment and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. [Contact Us]

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