George Caleb Bingham

Recently I made some illustrations for the Notable Missourian book on the painter George Caleb Bingham.  He was an interesting man in both art and politics.

Young George sits and watches Chester Harding paint a portrait of Daniel Boone.  His love of art was now official.

George went east to study the works in the big museums there.

George was passionate about the plight of the people, and got deeply into politics.

Not only did George enjoy politics, but he used it as a subject of many of his works.

George as an elder teaching a painting class.

Long time no post!

Busy busy!  Now where did we leave off?  Oh yes good old James Cash Penney.  Here are some of the final illustrations for the story of his life, written by Jason Offut and published by Truman State University Press.

Young businessman J.C. Penney raising and selling pigs in his family's yard, much to the chagrin of neighbors.

J.C. as a young man, working at the Golden Rule dry goods store in Wyoming.

J.C also had an interest in raising prize winning livestock.  Now that I look at this illustration for the first time in awhile, I realize both the men look related or like the same guy.  Eesh.  

J.C. going over accounts while his wife does some canning.  Every penny had to count during the depression.

An older J.C. at a department store during the 50s.

JC Penney

Its time to get started on the 2017 Notable Missourian illustrations for Truman State University Press.  The first book features James Cash Penney.  That's right, JC Penney himself.   Here are some of the sketches done for Chapter 1 - They show a young JC in the hog business.

Andrew Taylor Still Rough Sketches

Here are some rough sketch examples for the Notable Missourian book on A.T. Still, the founder of Osteopathy.  The Notable Missourian series is published by Truman State University Press.

Buck O'Neil stuff in progress

Here's some cropped close ups of some Buck O'Neil illustrations currently being worked on.. 

What are these guys looking at?

One of the Homestead Grays makes a mad dash to first base.  Where's Buck?

William Clark chapter 2 illustration

Here's the art for the 2nd chapter of the Notable Missourian book (Truman State University Press) on William Clark.

William Clark, Meriwether Lewis and their interpreter, Sacagawea, meet with Native American tribes on their journey up the Missouri.

Original rough sketch

Alternate rough sketch

Another alternate rough sketch showing the Discovery being pulled along the Missouri, as William Clark prepares to meet the local natives.  In hindsight there are many things wrong with this illustration even as a sketch.

Jeffrey Deroine settles down

This is the chapter 5 header illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Jeffrey Deroine.  

Jeffrey lead a remarkable life.  He was a slave for a fur trapper, gained his freedom and became an interpreter for the Ioway nation, travelled the world with the Ioway, and ultimately was able to purchase some land and settle down.  

This illustration is for the Notable MIssourian book on Jeffrey Deroine, published by Truman State University Press.

Rough sketch

Final art

Young Jeffrey Deroine - a gifted communicator

This was my favorite Notable Missourian book to illustrate out of the 2015 series.  Jeffrey Deroine was a fascinating guy.  Born a slave, Jeffrey had a natural gift for language.  As a teen he was owned by a fur trapper who used Jeffrey's communication skills to negotiate trades with native peoples such as the Ioway tribe.  Starting with simple exchanges such as these, Jeffrey and the Ioway would form a strong friendship.  A friendship that would ultimately help Jeffrey to become a free man, travel the world, and own property - very rare things for a former slave during the early 19th century.  

This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Jeffrey Deroine, published by Truman State University Press.

Young Jeffrey Deroine interpreting for his fur-trapper master.

The Rest of Alphonso

Things are a bit hectic and I'm behind on posts so I'm going to post the rest of Alphonso all at once.  Alphonso was a fascinating guy who continued to have a life full of adventures worth writing about even after he lost his arm in the War of 1812.

These illustrations are for the Notable Missourian book about Alphonso Wetmore, written by Mary Barile and published by Truman State University Press.

Alphonso riding to a fort to bring the soldiers their pay

Alphonso on the Santa Fe Trail recording the days adventures.

Alphonso writing his memoirs or some fiction or maybe a grocery list in his St Louis office.

Marie Meyer Fower, a Missouri Barnstormer

This Notable Missourian book (written by Christine Montgomery and published by Truman State University Press) is about Marie Meyer Fower. Not only was she one of the rare women pilots in the early days of flight, she was also a barnstormer, wing walker, and all around daredevil with a true love of aviation. This first illustration shows Marie playing with the other kids in St Louis and noticing an early airplane flying in the distance.

Rough Sketch

Colors roughly blocked in by hand in acrylic

Finished art, completed in Photoshop

Emmett Kelly on "What's My Line"

Even in his later years Emmett Kelly made appearances on TV shows such as "What's My Line".  In this episode (which can be viewed here) the contestant says it all when she figures out the mystery person is a clown: "The first clown's name that comes to my mind is Emmett Kelly." Everybody of that era knew who Emmett Kelly was to such an extent that his character name "Willie" was rarely used. Emmett's mere presence would make people light up and be ready to laugh.  That's quite an effect!  When I grew up the only clown I knew by name was Ronald McDonald and his presence just made me hungry and want to ask questions about the strange psychedelic crew he was running around with.  Anyways I'm sure the good clowns will have their day again.  So it goes with all things.   Might be awhile though.  I feel like we're still squarely in the middle of a "Clowns are creepy" era.

This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Emmett Kelly, written by Donald McManus and published by Truman State University Press.

Sweeping the Spotlight

Emmett Kelly's most popular skit involved him coming out to sweep the ring between acts. While doing so the spotlight would begin to slyly follow him around the ring.  After some bemused frustration he would sweep at the circle of light cast by the spotlight making it smaller and smaller until he could then sweep it under a rug or out of the tent.  Versions of this skit live on to this day and its another example of something so familiar that I never even stopped to consider who first came up with it. I've had a lot of moments like that with this series.

This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Emmett Kelly, written by Donald McManus and published by Truman State University Press.

Emmett Kelly showing off

As a teen Emmett Kelly was known to be the neighborhood acrobat.  He would climb telephone poles and trees and proved himself quite fearless...all the while scaring the crap out of his mom.  Something I learned from this book was that Emmett Kelly had his start in the circus as an aerial artist - meaning he was on the trapeze. That seems so far from being a clown that it really surprised me.  He was good at it too!  Of course I suppose the fact that he lived to be a clown speaks to that.  I mean, if you're not good at the trapeze...well...splat.

This is an example of an illustration where it didn't turn out as good as I imagined it would in my wee brain, or even as good as the composition sketch hinted at.  I'm fine with it, but not my favorite.

This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Emmett Kelly written by Donald McManus and published by Truman State University Press. 

Troupe Movement

This illustration is for chapter 1 of the Notable Missourian book on Emmett Kelly (Written by Donald McManus, published by Truman State University Press).  Here young Emmett is shown fascinated with a vaudeville troupe disembarking for a performance in his childhood hometown of Cabool Missouri.  Back in those days (late 19th, early 20th century) traveling vaudeville acts were an incredibly popular form of entertainment and nearly every town big and small had a theatre where the entertainers could perform. 

Olive Boone with some Grandchildren

Here is an illustration for the final chapter of the Notable Missourian book on Olive Boone (written by Greta Russell, published by Truman State University Press).  Here Olive is shown enjoying the company of some of her many grandchildren.  Olive's final years had some rough turns after the passing of her husband, Nathan, but her grandkids continued to be a source of joy for her.  A big thank you to my awesome editor Barbara for the help with period clothing throughout this project. If left to my own devices I would've made everybody from the 19th century wear a top hat, a monocle and have their hair in a bun.  

Olive and her kids escape to the neighborhood fort

Another illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Olive Boone (Written by Greta Russell, published by Truman State University Press).

During the War of 1812, many Native American tribes were allied with England and would regularly attack the new settlements in Missouri.  These were especially tense times, especially considering that Olive's husband Nathan was in the army and far away from home.  On two occasions Olive and her children sought refuge at the neighborhood fort, fully expecting an Indian army to attack.  Fortunately for Olive the attack never came.

If you love them, carve them a piroque out of a cottonwood.

This is for Chapter two of the Notable Missourian book on Olive Boone (written by Greta Russell, published by Truman State University Press). Here Nathan and Olive are flirting as he carves a piroque out of a large poplar in preparation for his families move to Missouri. They thought they would never see each other again but all that courting clearly had an effect. Soon after saying their goodbyes and setting out to travel down the river, Nathan landed in a nearby town and bought a marriage license. He returned to Olive by horse and asked her to marry him. Spoiler alert: She said yes.  

First Notable Missourian books complete!

I'm happy to announce the first two books of the Notable Missourian series by Truman State University Press have been printed and they look fantastic!  The books are SAM NIGHTINGALE by Mary Barile and GREAT WALKER by Greg Olson.  Original illustrations by yours truly, including the cover image for Sam Nightingale.  These books look fantastic.  The printing, binding and overall quality are superb.  Yes superb...and I don't bust out that word normally.  Moreover, these stories are very well written and truly bring to life these interesting characters and the time periods in which they lived.  Great stuff!

Olive Boone Sketches

Here's some example sketches for the book on notable Missourian Olive Boone (Published by Truman State University Press, written by Greta Russell).  For the sake of experiment I freehanded these sketches completely on the computer instead of the pencil/computer combination used in the other sketches.  I prefer the other way.

Olive learning how to use a spinning wheel from her mother.

Olive and Nathan Boone flirting while he carves a piroque out of a huge poplar tree.

Olive and Nathan Boone crossing the Missouri in a skiff with all their possessions.

Olive gardening at their new homestead.

Olive and slave girl building a chimney without the help of the men.

Olive and slave girl building a chimney, alternate view.

Olive and her (at the time) seven children rushing to a fort during an Indian raid.

An elderly Olive with some of her grandchildren.

Olive showing her granddaughter how to use a loom.

Sam Nightingale mixing herbal remedies

Here's another illustration from the Notable Missourian book on Sam Nightingale (Truman State University Press).  This one shows him in his later years mixing traditional herbal remedies.