I'm not sure what it is that draws me so much to his work, but I have all sorts of calendars and prints and saved images of his work. Sometimes when I'm working on a project, I'll flip through the file just to get a visceral reaction.
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| Gil Elvgren "Easy to Handle" 1948 |
Mr. Elvgren worked as an advertising artist and created illustrations for companies such as Coca-Cola, General Electric and Sealy Mattress Company. He has become widely recognized as the Master of the Pin Up.
But before Gil, there was Charles Dana Gibson, creator of the famous Gibson Girl of the 1900s. His vision of the American female as both beautiful and determined still resonates with people. I love the way his subjects always look so refined and refreshed. Probably the point, huh?
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| Charles Dana Gibson "Gibson Girl" 1900s |
While technically not known as a Pin Up artist, Mr. Gibson's work was featured for over 30 years in weekly magazines as pen and ink drawings.
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| Boris Vallejo "The Egyptian Queen" |
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| Frank Frazetta "The Seduction of Lilith" |
And what would a Pin Up favorites list be with Boris Vallejo? His fantasy works are absolutely astounding. His attention to realistic musculature detail juxtaposed with fantastical images of otheworlds is astounding. His artwork has been featured in paperback fiction on covers for Conan, Tarzan, Doc Savage and a host of others.
Where one finds Boris, one must also give props to Frank Frazetta. Another wildly popular fantasy artist, he, too finds the beauty and sensual in images of horror and unbelievable. A lot of his work is also available in calendar form, but he did many movie posters and album artwork, as well as tons of unattached paintings.
What about you? Have any favorite pin up artists? Any favorite images?
Wishing you deliciously naughty thoughts,
Jennifer
I love the Gibson girls for the same reasons you mentioned, but Vallejo & Frazetta have been long time favs since my days of reading Heavy Metal magazine.
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