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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 Good Connection – Preliminary Drawing

Artist:Gil Elvgren
Date:1950s
Medium:Charcoal on vellum paper
Dimensions:Sight Size: 16 1/2" x 22 1/2" Matted: 22" x 28"
Condition:Very good with wear around the edges and slight tanning and signs of age
Original Use:Preliminary artwork for the Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company
Price: Sold
Detail

 

Gil Elvgren pin-up for Brown & Bigelow, “Party Line” (1951)

 

Gil Elvgren pin-up from deck of playing cards. “A Good Connection” (1958).

This is a large preliminary charcoal drawing by Gil Elvgren that evokes two calendar works the artist completed for Brown & Bigelow; 1951’s Party Line and 1958’s A Good Connection. This is signed by Gil Elvgren lower right, above a note by the artist for the art director at Brown & Bigelow, Clair Fry (himself a fellow artist and good friend of Elvgren’s). This comes from a collection of Elvgren preliminary graphite drawings 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 are scans of the calendar images. We do not have copies of the prints to include but vintage printed versions are readily available on eBay.

There is slight 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.

Professionally matted and shrink wrapped view.
View of sheet before matting and shrink wrapping.

A Good Connection – Preliminary Drawing

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  Sold

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

 

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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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