Knee Deep In Art

Unfortunately a number of my co-workers read this blog...that means they’ll know when I play hooky. I took today off and spent it going through the permanent collection at the Society of Illustrators. Cleaning house a bit -- deaccessing a few works that we no longer feel fit the collection’s needs, placing aside items that can use a new frame or a good cleaning, and just being sure that everything is where we think it is. What a treat to be able to spend the day so intimately involved with J. C. Leyendecker, Howard Pyle, Robert McGinnis, Joseph Clement Cole, Leo and Diane Dillon, Vin Di Fate, John Berkey, and the like! As much as possible, I would take a minute to enjoy the work, but, there was something equally exciting about simply working with all those amazing paintings. “Pass me that Cornwell.” “Sure...wait, I just have to move this McGinnis first”....I mean, that’s just cool!

The Society owns about 2000 paintings and drawings. They put together a number of permanent collection shows each year. Some are exhibited in their galleries in New York, others travel around the country to various galleries and schools. Someday I’d like to curate an “adventure” exhibit from the collection -- there are so many great narrative paintings of pirates, shipwrecks, horse chases, and all kinds of swashbuckling antics. It’s still in the daydream phase...but it wouldn’t be too hard to make it happen.


Harold Anderson


Joseph Bowler

Towards the end of the day, we came across a stack of WWI posters. The art was amazing but what really floored me was the printing. These things are nearly 100 years old and the color is as vibrant as an original painting done today. Sadly, all I had was my cell phone camera with me to take these shots.