Today I'm gonna share an amazing find!
Animation/Film Student Daniel Caylor(pictured below), has posted on his blog the contents of the Famous Artists School Correspondence Class 1960. What is the Famous Artists School? The Wiki page desribes it as follows:
"Famous Artists School has offered correspondence courses in art since it was founded in 1948 in Westport, Connecticut, U.S.A. The idea was conceived by Albert Dorne as a result of a conversation with Norman Rockwell. For the founding faculty, Dorne recruited John Atherton, Austin Briggs, Stevan Dohanos, Robert Fawcett, Peter Helck, Fred Ludekens, Ben Stahl, Al Parker, Norman Rockwell, Ben Stahl, Harold von Schmidt and Jon Whitcomb. All were making more than US$50,000 a year at the time, roughly equivalent to US$425,000 in 2006.[1] Later faculty included cartoonists Al Capp, Milt Caniff and Rube Goldberg. Advisory faculty for the school later included Stuart Davis, Ben Shahn, Fletcher Martin, Ernest Fiene, Arnold Blanch and Doris Lee."
The compilation of this course is hard to find. So Daniel Caylor taking the time to purchase, scan and upload it's contents for the betterment of the art community is a huge blessing. Please drop by the blog to offer Daniel your thanks! And enjoy the download from these Masters of our industry!
Enjoy!
-Wilson
P.S. On another historical note in regards to the state of our industry. Looking at the equivalent of what those artists made compared to now is astounding!! Granted there are still some artists that make these amounts, but most not without a significant amount of marketing and licensing. But the other element is that a lot of these artists were Rock-stars, household names in their times. When people saw their artwork they knew who did it and remembered them and talked about them. Kids cut the images out and put them on their walls.
Today people still see and acknowledge beautiful artwork, but they don't care or acknowledge the genius behind their creation. So many amazing artists that only we have the joy of knowing and recognizing their names. Those type of people are my celebrities. And they deserve to be paid and treated like it!
I have fan moments whenever I get an e-mail or response on my blog from someone who's artwork inspires me and gives leaps to my imagination. In a way, some of the changes are to my and your benefit. Were our artists regarded in the same way as Norman Rockwell, I doubt they would have the time to respond to every artist who aspires to be as great as them some day. (They would be over run with letters! Though I don't think they would mind it too much!)
So please make use of the changes that this world has brought. We are closer than ever to our heroes, muses and teachers. Let them know that their hard work and talent is not going unappreciated. That they bring you inspiration with all that they do. Our artists today may not be making six figure salaries, but we can let them know that they are helping to bring in the next generation of artists and visionaries.
Happy New Year guys and ladies!!
1 comment:
Really great post, Wilson. Thank you for finding this and for your heartfelt thoughts regarding appreciating and valuing those in the profession who have given so much to our generation and generations beyond. Well said!
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