Thanks to the Google Doodle, I came to understand that today is the 100th birthday of Mary Blair (1911-1978).
The Google Doodle for Friday 21 October, 2011
Illustrator Mary Blair
I had never even heard of Mary Blair before, but a quick Google Image Search of her work was astonishing. I realise I have virtually grown up seeing her style of illustration everywhere, thanks to Walt Disney. I guess when you grow up exposed to a certain style of art, it becomes so familiar that it never even registers at a conscious level. I never thought to wonder about the person behind these illustrations.
Uncle Remus was a cartoon I remember reading as a small child
Even her still life has the same "look-and-feel" to it
She apparently did commercial ads as well
I guess we either hear of "serious" artists or of cartoonists, but illustrators seem to be unsung heroes.
Fortunately, not everyone has been as ignorant of Mary Blair and her work. Mike R Baker is an illustrator who has consciously produced work in her style. He even has her initials.
A very Mary Blair-esque Goddess Kali by Mike Baker
2 comments:
I had heard of Mary Blair but didn't realise these were her illustrations.. Yes Google is a magic wand!
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