1950's illustrations

In 1950's illustration was at its most popular, the recent rationing of word war two had only just passed, the average wage in America went up by nearly 50% and people were just at awe of what to do with their spare money, shops can now get the non necessities to get more money which is why the 50's were known as the year or the consumer. Advertisement and media was ever growing in popularity and the over flow of methods of transferring Ideas, E.G. Television, Radio, Posters, Billboards, which is where the illustrators came in, using bright colours and a familiar style.

Women were overused on packaging, in my opinion this was not just to do with sexism but because the trusted house wife stereotype was in full blast, when it comes to titles such like "even a woman could do it" funnily enough those products were usually bought for women.

1956 was all about 'the king', Elvis Presley, the boom of pop culture had also started and merchandise was just going crazy! you could have the kings face on bags, shirts, about anything if you had enough money.

Though Illustrators were not only used to advertise ketchup, cigarettes and Elvis Presleys face their was a constant need for propaganda on the cold war which people were constantly blocking out to live this carefree dreamworld where there were no threats.

1958 was a time were the motion picture industry was blooming, with around 10 million homes having televisions and 5,000 drive throughs were opened (which I wish were a bigger thing in Britain but I wont complain), Illustrators were then designing posters for upcoming movies to satisfy the younger generation who always wanted whats 'new' and 'hip'.

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Suess Giesel- or Doctor seuss as he maybe known now, he used to draw political cartoons in the was before moving onto much loved childrens books, In 1955 He published 'the cat in the hat' which was most likely his most recogniseable book, I have yet to find someone who has not even heard the name, his unique style was fresh and easy on the eyes.

Gyo Fujikawa

In 1954 an article was made in an american magazine showing some of Gyo fujikawa life, born in California the article was mostly about what lead to her showing an interest in children books before writing and illustrating around 50, she did later on work at disney studios. In 1932 she went to Japan to learn techniques and just to open her mind.

Earl Oliver Hurts

Are recognisable style, soft.

Born 1898 in Buffalo, New york, he studied at Cleveland's school of art, he started to draw political and fashion illustrations.

His work was mostly associated with books and magazines, but it did not start this way, he got a job as an art director in which he found his book covers were being used in magazines without his knowledge, this of course upset him and on leaving the studio he decided he needed to become more well known as an artist, he tried to teach himself in private to improve however without deadlines or any real need to push himself his art subsequently went down hill as did his money.

An american magazine made an article on him when he started to become more active in his work and quoted that he had said he always made smaller versions of his final illustrations just to make the outcome easier or better than the first, instead of putting all of his effort into making one image right he could just practice, this is because he visited his friend while he was struggling, an art director called Chester Siebold, who told him never to make just one image, but 3 or 4 of the same image.