Leif Peng has been reviewing cartoonists & illustrators from the 40s & 50s @ his Today’s inspiration blog for years… when his many other blogs and commercial artistic tasks allow him to. Harrison Fisher, Joe Bowler, Charlie Allen, Tina Cacciola…sharing the knowledge pretty much every day with extensive analysis & essays on famous figures, old classics, “top” lists and even historical business comparisons on the illustration business (to which he belongs).
One of his latest posts focused on the Marvin Friedman figure, someone who besides being one of the best American illustrators of the mid-XX century, had to experience himself the decline of the publishing industry and budget constrains new technological advancements (popularity with colour TV’s, photography…) brought to the magazine market.
Illustration stopped being amazingly lucrative all of a sudden, and prices froze. Many of you probably keep experiencing it right now. A matter of discussion Lief will be taking to Toronto’s The Nook next Wednesday from 7-9pm. He’ll be talking not only about Friedman but about many other mid-century American & Canadian illustrators… stories, anecdotes… so if you happen to be around Toronto have a drink or two while listening to Lief will you? (via Drawn). More images on his flickr page.
