Each week in the RetroSupply Secret Society we do a post called From the Archives where we showcase some inspirational art from the past. A few weeks ago, resident illustrator Robin Banks posted some art from a 1952 issue of Boys' Life that was popular in the community.
Enjoy!
A gorgeous cover likely painted in gouache with dry brush techniques for adding details. Gouache dries with a matte finish which makes it excellent for adding colored pencil on top for fine line work and texture. The elephant towards the bottom of the cover shows excellent use of pencil or a small dry round brush to add detail and depth.
Like most magazines, Boys' Life was an advertising paradise. Because the magazine was directed towards such a clear demographic advertisers could create ads that grabbed the readers attention and encouraged them to take action.
Note how the ads can use very direct language directed at the consumer including:
Artists were required to create artwork that could grab a restless kids attentions — often on tight deadlines. This illustration of a worm talking to a boy pulls the viewer in with a close-up of the action, a look of surprise that creates curiosity, and a hit of color.
Notice that the illustration is done with ink and watercolor for fast output.
Online advertisements are often designed to look like content to disarm the reader. The same was true 70 years ago! This colorful comic persuades the reader to sell Christmas cards emphasizing that it's easy and fun to make money.
Okay, I just have to stop here and point out the delicious tactile textures in these pieces. Look at the use of halftones in the RC Cola advertisement! The same shading and halftone effects can be achieved using our DupliTone halftone pack. It was designed to simulate exactly this kind of art!
These are some of my favorite pieces. All the action makes me want to go outside and have some adventures with friends. Swimming, catching frogs, bird watching, and building a campfire. Who could ask for more?
You can achieve this same type of look in your artwork using our Standard Pens for your inking and Paper Boy vintage paper textures.
When we were developing our ColorLab color halftone printing effect kit we referenced a lot of work like the art below. The American football comic shows a traditional use of color printing with both solid hits of color as well as halftone dots and lines. The How to Make it... shows just how much depth of color and texture can be achieved with color halftones.
I just had to finish off this post with this illustration. I wanted to work at the San Francisco Chronicle as a kid (don't as my why I was so specific) and this is sort of how I imagined it might be to work at a newspaper.
Want to see more inspirational images like this, freebies, tutorials, and a growing community of retro-loving creatives? Try the RetroSupply Secret Society FREE for 30 days!
