A few years ago I was bummin’ around The Book Thing, a store that gives away free books in Baltimore, looking for old children’s books for illustration purposes. I found Boys’ Life Treasury, which is a selection of stories/articles from the magazine for Boy Scouts of America, published in 1958. I expected the articles to be some Indians vs Cowboys, some knot tying, camping, fishing, etc…but what I found inside is basically all guns, guns, guns and maybe some knives. The illustrations are have that aesthetically pleasing, rough pencil look to them, but really, enough with the guns already. There are some other illustrations though, I particularly like the different types of fish, and the leprechaun kicking an ink bottle. And the article on writing has the helpful suggestion of “no television, radio or conversations while you work.” That’s timeless advice!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Damn, I bet half of this stuff was Burne Hogarth getting his rent money or at least someone who read his book or tried to ape his style, which in some circumstances is a good thing. Look how classy Frank Frazetta turned out.
Oh wait, a female artist.. uhhhrrrr.. Cynthia Martin! Dunno if she read it.