• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recent Additions
  • The Gallery
    • About
    • Browse by Topic
    • eBay
    • Sorry, It’s Sold
  • Guarantee & Policies
    • Guarantee
    • Shipping & Payment
    • Amazon.com Shipping Information
    • eBay Buyer Protection
  • Contact & Social Media
    • E-mail & Phone
    • eBay
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

  • Gallery Blog
  • Golden Gallery
  • Fine & Decorative
  • Illustration & Advertising
  • Paperback & Pulp
  • Pin-Up & Glamour
Sorry, It's Sold

Fit To Be Tied – Preliminary Drawing

Artist:Gil Elvgren
Date:1956
Medium:Graphite on vellum paper
Dimensions:Sight Size: 15" x 21" Matted: 22" x 28"
Condition:Good with losses around the edges and tanning and signs of age
Original Use:Preliminary artwork for the Brown & Bigelow calendar painting "Fit To Be Tied"
Price: SOLD
Detail
“Fit To Be Tied” as a calendar print for Brown & Bigelow (1956)

This is a large preliminary charcoal drawing by Gil Elvgren, a study for the Brown & Bigelow pin-up calendar painting published in 1956 with the title Fit To Be Tied. This comes from a collection of Elvgren preliminary graphite drawings that we acquired which were found in a house in Sarasota, Florida where the artist once lived. Gil Elvgren took, on average, one week to complete each of the 400+ pin-up paintings he created for Brown and Bigelow. With this time frame, it was impossible to use a live model for the actual paintings so Elvgren sketched quick charcoal and/or graphite reference preliminary ideas from life and enlisted Peter Darro (a pin-up artist in his own right) as studio assistant and photographer. Elvgren used these drawings and photographs for reference while at the easel working on his iconic pin-up paintings. Included for reference is a scan of the calendar image. We do not have a copy of the print to include but vintage examples are readily available on eBay.

Professionally matted and shrink wrapped
Sheet before shrink wrapping with losses and wear along the edges

There is some overall tanning to the paper with losses along the edges, handling creases, and signs of age related wear. Most issues are not visible as matted.

Fit To Be Tied – Preliminary Drawing

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  SOLD

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, Brown & Bigelow, Gil Elvgren, Golden Age, original calendar art, original illustration art, pin up, portrait, Preliminary, risque
Added to Gallery: February 27, 2017

 

Contact Grapefruit Moon Gallery



    Primary Sidebar

    Join our mailing list

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery Around the Web

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    Recent Additions

    Gone With the Wind

    Pigeon Feathers

    Packed Dirt, Churchgoing, A Dying Cat, A Traded Car

    Footer

    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]

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery on eBay

     

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery on Instagram

    View on Instagram

    Copyright © 2023