WOMEN IN ILLUSTRATION

[@blackwingy]

First, I love your videos, and I learn so much from them-thank you! One note about Mary Blair: she started working at Disney much earlier than 1952. She began there in 1940 and was crucial in the story development and design of many features, even traveling with her boss Walt Disney and a few other hand-picked artists on a well-publicized tour of South America(and later Mexico)to gather inspiration for several films including the features "Saludos Amigos" and "Three Caballeros". While she had short periods away and always continued commercial work on her own as you note, she never really completely stopped working for Disney and was one of favorites right up through work she did on Disneyland at Walt's personal request.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation - and correction. Where on earth I got 1952 from I have no idea. All I can say in my defence is that assembling an 'overview' video like this is a bit like trying to do a jigsaw with pieces missing. In this case the pieces missing were from my brain. It's not my first error and sadly it won't be my last. Good job I'm not president of the USA...

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

Sadly, I was 28 before I learned that there were women painters! Because I was born in the 40s, I did know and love women illustrators. But no one had given them the prominence they deserve except you! I love all your videos. Thank you so much for this video in particular. ❤ SayessDesign

[@petebeard]

Hello again and many thanks for your recent trio of comments. It's a source of great pleasure to me that viewers such as yourself take the time to express their appreciation of the channel and its contents. The irony is that when I did run an illustration course there was no time for such historical context - it was all I could manage to get them to hold the pencil the right way round.

[@rjdoodles8337]

I highly appreciate your study Sir...you do a lot of hard work to gather a lot of info for the vids...and for that I want to THANK YOU Sir!

[@petebeard]

Thanks for your positive response to my videos and I took a look at your own channel - very nice inking style.

[@5809AUJG]

Marvelous art! With a few exceptions, I had no idea that these brilliant women ever existed. Their work is superb....beautiful, rich, and truly imaginative. Well done. Thank you, sir, for introducing me to these gifted ladies. Now I can learn even more about them, since I now know about them. Much appreciated.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your recent comments and subscription. Your remarks about Mad highlight was was arguably it's greatest asset - the diversity of styles and humour in its pages. The two illustrators you cite couldn't be further apart but both were masters of their own wildly different techniques. I used to try to emulate Drucker in my youth but of course failed dismally. I hope you continue to find content that's of interest to you.

[@jerrystaley1563]

From the mysterious roulette wheel that is the KZbin algorithms, I received your 6-year-old video of "Women in Illustrations". Assuming that these would be some risque illustrations of attractive women, I eagerly ventured a view. Surprisingly, it turned out to be art from truly talented and clever women. Lucky for me, later in the video the female illustrators profiled produced some great pulp fiction covers and titillating movie posters. I am left speachless now knowing that you are the "one man band" fulfilling all aspects of the production of these incredibly interesting and superbly well done video documentaries. Thanks again for an incredible series portraying such incredible art over the decades. Those illustrators of yesteryear were unbelievedly talented. JJS

[@petebeard]

Sorry your libido was disappointed by the misunderstanding inherent in the title, but it sounds like your intellect at least was stimulated, at least by the content. Your appreciation of my efforts in making these videos is very welcome, and such comments give me great incentive to keep cranking them out.

[@Novacynthia]

Excellent resource I have added this to my playlist Women Art and Consciousness!! Thank You soo much!!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your appreciation.PS I had to laugh when a viewer (male of course) complained that he was expecting pictures of women, not pictures by them.

[@petebeard]

...and why youtube decided to turn that bit into a pointless blue link I have no idea

[@Novacynthia]

@@petebeard Hi Pete, Giggles and smiles, “HE” should find no shortage of those!! Smiles SHE :)

[@clindsay8362]

Fantastic, I still have my Rupert books, had no idea a female illustrator started them! Thanks for a great summary. I can further research some of these.

[@petebeard]

Hi to you and thanks a lot for your favourable comments. More in the pipeline...

[@elizabethoconnor1493]

This is one of the best compiled and well-researched essays on KZbin. Absolutely phenomenal content that is dense but not dull, and the music is perfectly aligned to each illustrator and her time. A masterpiece!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video and I hope you'll watch others on the channel. Your comment is very welcome.

[@elizabethoconnor1493]

@@petebeard catch me binging 6 more today😂

[@petebeard]

@@elizabethoconnor1493 I'm disappointed...only 6??

[@GuillermoAlonsoSotoGomez]

Un bello registro historico de tremendo valor, Estimado Señor! Gracias por compartir

[@petebeard]

Hola y estoy muy agradecido por su apreciación y suscripción. Significa mucho.

[@muffassa6739]

Sir I enjoyed your video very much. It showed me that you have researched the topic and clearly knew what you were presenting. This was a great video.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation.

[@rosemarygilman8718]

What an excellent overview of pioneering female illustrators! Thank you for choosing this topic to research and present. I was completely unaware of many of these women and was very suprised to learn that there were women doing exceptional illustrations of pin up art.!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. I was in two minds about making the video as I didn't want to make a 'special case' for those of the female persuasion. But ultimately it made sense to me to do so if only to highlight the more overlooked exponents.

[@claremaidofthewave251]

Exquisite, thank you, just inspiring and the history is so interesting. I can’t believe how these artists are so totally absorbing and incredible.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks again. Hopefully you've forgiven me for the brisk pace.

[@claremaidofthewave251]

@@petebeard 😂👍🏻

[@Winteryears]

I love your output. So valuable to anyone who loves illustration.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. Your appreciation is very welcome.

[@OkieSketcher1949]

Once again a very well presented piece. I recognized many of the illustrations but had no clue the artists were women. Thanks again for this.

[@petebeard]

Hi again and thanks again. And thanks a lot for leading me to VIP - Virgil Partch - who I had never heard of. Unfortunately he was born too late for inclusion in the unsung heroes series (cut off year of birth is 1910). But I'm pretty sure I'll find a place for him in another context in a future video, and I'm grateful for the information.

[@OkieSketcher1949]

@@petebeard - The one VIP cartoon that I remember has a man sitting on the examination table in a doctor’s office. The doctor has a scope with a light stuck in the patient’s ear, coming out of the patient’s other ear is projected what is on the man’s mind. Yep, on the wall is the image of a nude, overly endowed young, lady.

[@andrewlindhjem9822]

Hi Pete! Great work again! In Australia we all love May Gibbs’ Gumnut babies. Cheers!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. I'm hoping to feature May Gibbs in a future unsung heroes instalment, and I've already featured Ida Rentoul Oithwaite in unsung 69, in case you haven't seen it. Other Aussies on the way down the line.

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Really enjoyed this one. So informative about women illustrators, many of whom I didn't know so happy to be better informed with diversely great images. Excellent. Thank you.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for both your recent comments. It's good to know that some of my older videos are still getting views and favourable responses such as yours.

[@talldrinkomusic]

Thank you for this wondeful video!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.

[@owlfethurz8377]

Thank you so much! I am especially impressed by the work of Joyce Mercer. This was fantastic, I've grown up seeing so many of these but had no knowledge of their lives, except Beatrix Potter.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. Joyce Mercer was completely new to me when I made the video, and her work is tragically under-appreciated I think. She also features in unsung heroes 19 if you'd like to see more by her.

[@therealzilch]

Great work again, thanks. My kids grew up with all the Peter Rabbit books and loved them.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for both your recent favourable comments about the channel content. I'm glad you find it of interest.

[@therealzilch]

@@petebeard The pleasure is mine. I'm a musician with no graphic skills, but I'm a very appreciative audience. Lunch is on me if you're ever in town. Cheers from cool Vienna, Scott

[@SanDiegoArtNut]

Another great presentation! I'll share it for Women's History Month.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your comments. It's a real pleasure when viewers engage with the channel.

[@zanderary]

Thanks again for all the hard work that goes into making these wonderful excursions through illustration history. One woman whose work is highly original, ironically campy, and trippy is MK Brown. I'm sure you'll be impressed.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for leading me to the work of M K Brown. You're right I am impressed, and I'd never previously heard of her. Maybe somewhere down the line I'll have an excuse to feature her. Thanks again for the information.

[@Bitternov]

Terrific! Thanks for these excellent lectures.

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot. It's my pleasure.

[@jackwood2328]

More enlightenment, wonderful work.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your positive response.

[@leighcecil3322]

May Gibbs a very talented Australian artist... & Story book illustrator & writer 🇦🇺

[@petebeard]

Hello and yes I know. These videos aren't intended to be encycopedic and many are left out.

[@ElieBeth___]

Just found your channel and wow really loving these videos. Thank you!

[@petebeard]

Hello and welcome to the channel. I hope you continue to find material that's of interest, and if you know others who might enjoy it please share.

[@teeguy100]

Thanks for the Number. I feel like I am back in collage! I had to complete 4 units on just this subject and the Kewpie Dolls rushed back in memory. One of my Profs. was the women who created the Dole Pineapple "cherubs" from the 60's if you could call them that. Thanks again!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your appreciation. I'm glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

[@dupaul5429]

Netflix, Amazon, and Disney need to make a movie about female illustraters. Instead Hollywood will reboot every show from 40 years ago and ignore true talent that should be in history books.

[@HandleTakenlol]

Hollywood and specifically those three entities are not in the entertainment business. They are in the political propaganda business.

[@muffassa6739]

I totally agree with you 💯, 👍

[@ralphcrosby9622]

I disagree

[@idkjkshdjkhdk]

So true it would genuinely be interesting

[@TheStockwell]

Documentaries like this one, yes - that would be wonderful. But, if you're thinking there are great stories here, worthy of being turned into a motion picture - I disagree. Most illustrators do not lead dramatic or "cinematic" lives. Mr. Beard's videos make this apparent. The lives of most illustrators are about meeting deadlines, providing Artwork to publishers, and looking for career advancement. Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@catzenhouse]

I would love to find out more information on Helen Hyde, Bertha Lum, Adrienne Segur, and Helen Outhewaite as well as Jill Barklem and Marjolein Bastin. Highly recommend the book "Queens of Animation" for information on the Disney female artists/illustrators.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for a couple of names I'd not previously known. So if I can find enough about and by them I'll feature them in a future unsung heroes instalment. Adreinne Segur is in unsung heroes 44 and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (I can find no record of a Helen) in 69. Both Ms. Barklem and Bastin were born way too late to be included in the series, unfortunately.

[@rcmrcm3370]

Gyo Fujikawa might be someone to include if you should revisit the video. Japanese American who worked at Disney pre-WW2 but then became famous as illustrator of children's books.

[@petebeard]

Yes, I'm sorry I missed her when I made the video. At that point I'd never heard of her or seen any work. But she is waiting patiently for her turn to feature in the unsung heroes series before too long.

[@RossOzarka]

Thanks for this video! Nelly Bodenheim's art really spoke to me, going to practice drawing lots of silhouettes now :)

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks fir the appreciation. If you see her other (non-silhouette) work it's not remotely similar. Very loose and textured.

[@charlesmann2042]

I have been enchanted by your videos and have seen at least 15 of them. I was wondering if you touch on Leslie Thrasher in a video since she was not mentioned in this one? I am not an artist, but love illustration and have a small collection of early 20th century illustrations. I wonder if you think there is much future for non-digital illustrators? H

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for watching my videos. Regarding Thrasher - yes I featured him (not her) in Unsung Heroes of Illustration 5 so I hope you enjoy the segment.

[@tonybozzelli287]

Excellent, again. Subscribed.

[@petebeard]

And even more thanks for your subscription. Welcome aboard.

[@level9drow856]

I love your channel, man. As an aspiring artist I look to the older artist for inspiration like Durer, Dulac and Rakham as guiding posts and Burne Hogarth as my teacher. I'll never be able to reach someone like Dore who I believe is one of the greatest technical artists of all human history. But I am mostly self taught with a little bit of training in college. But the biggest problem is trying to clean off the modern style from my own. Being a fan of American and Japanese comic artists like John Buscema in his B&W Conan series and Katsuhiro Otomo in his Akira graphic novels, as well as hybrids like Joe Mad, it's VERY hard not to be influenced by them. I often look like another dime a dozen Deviant Art cartoonist. I look to videos like yours and books that are also under the same theme to drown my senses in the old world fantasy illustrations to sort of "wash" myself of the modern. I want to do stuff like Arthur Rakham and Durer. But I feel I might have had to have been born into that time in order to truly do so and that modern style of art is simply burned into mu noggin. I have to "un-train" myself. But I don't have the slightest idea how to do that. lol

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your particularly insightful comment. We're all the products of our time, but those like yourself (and me for that matter) who look to the past for inspiration can sometimes find ways to re-invent and modify what's gone before into something different from the mainstream at the very least. The truth is you don't know what might work until you try it. I never settled on just one style but managed to make a living for 45 years.

[@Mister.Psychology]

Very interesting. Quite interesting that back in the 40's even a low cut shirt on an actress was hugely controversial and could get a movie banned. But then you also have Zoë Mozert's Bubbels from 1948. So something here is a bit weird. Is it because the art could be shown in places where there were no kids?

[@petebeard]

Hi and thanks for the positive response. My guess would be that the pinups were painted so could always claim to be art even if lowbrow. I think at that time Mozert's picture would have been banned if it had been a photo. Just a guess

[@dupaul5429]

Thank you for making this video.

[@petebeard]

Hi there and thanks for watching. It's the reason that illustrators whether male or female or undecided are so undervalued that I make the videos. There's no real financial incentive for the big broadcasters to get involved.

[@JohnInTheShelter]

I've enjoyed every one of your videos. Have forwarded them to my best friend, a professional illustrator, and he loves them. Keep up the great work. P.S. Are you familiar with the UK illustrator Tony Meeuwisen? I can find very little on him and his work is wonderful.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation. And yes I'm a long time admirer of Tony Meeuwisen's work. But I'm a bit confused - there seem to be quite a lot of hits for him and his work on google, so I'm not sure why you say there is not much about him. There's even a book about his work - and so there should be.

[@JohnInTheShelter]

@@petebeard I just realized my error, sorry for the mistake. (I was thinking of someone else, a writer Meeuwisen illustrated.)

[@petebeard]

@@JohnInTheShelter Hi again and in response to your suggestion that I could feature his work in a video I would love to (and many of his contemporaries) but I'm not sure in what context. I generally confine myself to those who are no longer with us, although the odd living illustrator has found their way into a couple of videos. But I'll give it some thought.

[@TheSanityInspector]

Very enjoyable compilation! How about listing the illustrators by name in the description?

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the appreciation. What I should have done is credit them onscreen, which later videos all do. But if you turn on the subtitles their names all feature there if there's one you want to follow up on.

[@TheSanityInspector]

@@petebeard Ah, didn't think of that, thanks!

[@sadee1287]

I have another illustrator you've missed (unless you've showcased her elsewhere): Tasha Tudor (August 28, 1915 - June 18, 2008). She both wrote and illustrated children's books.

[@petebeard]

Hello and yes there's another I didn't know about.

[@dawnwilson8819]

Peter you forgot about Jackie Ormes was the creator of several popular comic strips in the 1930s-1950s. She was the female #African American syndicated cartoonist. In a male-dominated industry, Jackie captured a national audience with her fashionable and opinionated characters.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. Actually I didn't forget about her - I didn't know about her. A great pity as I would have liked to include her. Maybe if I make a volume 2...

[@dr.OgataSerizawa]

1st timer. Instant sub💥

[@petebeard]

Hello and welcome to the channel. I hope you continue to find material that's of interest to you.

[@kiwitrainguy]

So, the famous (or infamous) Coppertone ad (11:50) that is held up by feminists as the epitome of sexual harassment and subjugation of the female sex was actually drawn by a woman, Joyce Ballantyne. Wonderful series of videos you produce Pete, I am working my way through them and enjoying all of them.

[@petebeard]

Hello and that irony hadn't escaped me, and I'm sure quite a few others, too. Thanks a lot for your appreciation and commitment to the channel.

[@clealinden7755]

"Silk is the least important thing that goes into hosiery" -- wonderful, ha ha!

[@petebeard]

Hi again and my continued gratitude for your appreciation and comments. Thanks a lot.

[@edwardlouisbernays2469]

OMG! Grapette Soda was a Hot Springs , Arkansas company, I lived right behind the Grapette Bottling Company in the 1960's.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comments. I had never heard f the strange Henry Darger before so thanks for the introduction. I hope you'll continue to find more material of interest on the channel.

[@jwrush]

I love your channel I learn soooooo much

[@petebeard]

Hello and it really is good to hear that

[@johnmorgan5495]

Great title music

[@petebeard]

Hello and I had to remind myself what it was - but you can get it as a free download from youtube and it's catchily titled 'smooth funk groove jam in A minor'.

[@lindaking9222]

An imaginative comic genius illustrator

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks as usual for the appreciation. I must admit I'm a bit confused - the thumbnail shown is for Women in Illustration but the comment I suspect is for Bateman. Not that I mind in the least

[@ericmahady3460]

It never occurred to me that anyone was lesser than me. Better. So I strive.

[@gerry343]

Mabel Lucie Attwell influenced by Rose O'Neill?

[@petebeard]

Hello and it's always possible. She was 5 years younger, although it's not all that likely she would have been aware of O'Neill , communications being what they were. To the best of my knowledge she had little to no success in Britain.

[@pattheplanter]

You missed out Maria Sibylla Merian (2 April 1647 - 13 January 1717). Illustrator, author, scientist and explorer. I am not surprised, she is very much an outlier. Her observational detail was ahead of most of her contemporaries. She described and illustrated insect metamorphosis and lifecycles with unprecendented precision. She sold 255 of her paintings to finance a journey in 1699 for herself and her daughter to Dutch Surinam in South America to study the insects and flora. Unlike many such explorers, she was still alive when the resulting book _Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium_ was published in 1705.

[@petebeard]

Hello and of course I had never heard of her previously. What an astonishing talent for wildlife. And although I missed her in this one thanks to you I can feature her work in my history of wildlife illustration (when/if I ever finish it.) Thanks a lot for the information.

[@pattheplanter]

@@petebeard My pleasure.

[@muntox]

Moominvalley creator Tove Jansson seems conspicuously absent, although her work was more singular than a commercial artist per se. Nevertheless, genius!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks. There are necessarily many who get left out with a video that attempts to be comprehensive but raltively brief. I would make them longer and more inclusive but as it is average view time is less than half any video's duration.

[@ulla1921]

Interesting, I would like to add Tove Jansson on the list.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. Infortunately she was one of many who I had to leave out to keep the video a watchable length. Sadly, even at less than 15 minutes average view time is less than half the videos length.

[@futurelegendfilms]

Brilliant!

[@Smallpotato1965]

Edith Holden? Fiep Westendorp?

[@petebeard]

Thanks for the comment. And unfortunately when making videos such as this many more illustrators are inevitably left out than are included. And I try not to feature any one genre more than another - a far from easy balance.

[@Ease54]

Fern Bisel Peat was a HUGE omission.

[@petebeard]

Yes, along with hundreds if not thousands of others. It's called editing and not everyone is American.

[@Ease54]

@@petebeard No dis intended...just a shout out to my gal Fern!

[@petebeard]

@@Ease54 Sorry for being a bit sniffy. I tend to take it badly when it's those who haven't made it into the final edit are focussed on. Anyway you will be pleased to know she gets to feature in greater depth in the unsung heroes series, although I don't know when just yest. It's a long queue.

[@madamedemonsieur]

I just sped through to see if Pauline Baynes was mentioned. The Narnia series would have been nothing without her illustrations imo.

[@petebeard]

Hello and sorry for the omission. Unfortunately when making a video such as this, keeping them at a length those with short attention spans might watch inevitably leaves many worthy illustrators on the cutting room floor.

[@madamedemonsieur]

@@petebeard It highlights just how many great female illustrators there have been when the comments are full of questions about omissions!

[@tracyleal2609]

Thank you

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad to know you appreciated the content of this video.

[@christianbradford8815]

Dorothy McKay...of course gets no mention

[@petebeard]

Sorry you're disappointed by the absence of Ms. McCay. But there were dozens of others who I'd have liked to include but also had to be left out to keep the video a watchable length.

[@christianbradford8815]

@@petebeard ok...keep up the good work!

[@FernandoGomez-hh9jm]

¡ I LIKEIT LIKE IT !

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot for the appreciation.

[@ellenbeverleypascal5363]

Flapper Fanny! Who knew?

[@TrofArtTV]

Wow

[@Colin-Fenix]

Seems very Anglo centric, completely missing Elsa Beskow and Jenny Nyström from Sweden.

[@petebeard]

Frankly I find your comment offensively Swedo-centric. What about all the Poles, Germans, Italians and others I left out?

[@patriciahayes2664]

Back in those times women weren't supposed to be anything other than wives and mothers. Those who broke away from that were scorned and ridiculed and seen as unnatural.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. I like to think that illustration was at least one of the ways women could ultimately assert their independence.

[@garyprice6504]

Its nice to see the female form and its eroticism illustrated by- Women. There is much to be appreciated by the female psyche and its interface with childhood.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your recent favourable comments about some of the videos on my channel. It's a real pleasure to know the content is appreciated.

[@garyprice6504]

@@petebeard I have worked as an illustrator. Suppose I still am if anyone needed anything… My whole style has drawn on certain elements created by individual artists. Its a great channel and will take me yonks to look into the progs on all of them. Interesting to see where modern illustrators have drawn rather obvious inspiration from! Didn’t notice any Richard Scarry- He carved his niche. I suppose a tad too late for your timeline. My American volumes of stuff have been read by my kids, now grown up. Well done mate. Nice to have something narrated by a non robot! lol (I had wanted to write to you in a more general form, not tied to one film- but couldn’t suss out how… You provided it!)

[@rakondite]

I wish you’d included Jill McDonald. Primarily a children’s illustrator, she still has an long reaching influence.

[@petebeard]

Hello and yes I wish I had included her too. But sadly I was completely unaware of her existence until I read your comment. So thanks for the introduction.

[@Khultan]

1000%

[@hunkydorian]

Not as much whining as I expected, thank you very much.

[@petebeard]

How much whining were you expecting?

[@christophermiller3031]

the good old days... when the females were taught how to paint from a young age, and weren't allowed to paint for a living.

[@andysterling9882]

Coming from a Male point of view my opinion of why there’s not so many women In illustration, too Girly, good even when they go ‘Pulp’ it’s feminine bar a small amount. Yes I hear everyone, I’m shallow but like I said, mans opinion I don’t mean to offend at all.. how I see it.... SeedyBananas.....

[@andysterling9882]

@@Broody58 “thank you”😏 don’t ever mean to offend I’m just a bloke being…..open to criticism..while being a bloke..