Looking for swanky mid-century Art

February 15, 2009 2:03 PM

Artfilter: There's a type of illustration that I think of as "60's Cocktail Party" art. Is there a name for this style of illustration and where can I find more?

Examples of the type I'm talking about are by S Britt and Derek Yaniger

posted by dogmom to media & arts (20 comments total)

I just realized that "art" should not be capitalized in my heading. I am *not* looking for Art Garfunkel.
posted by dogmom at 2:06 PM on February 15

I came across a lot of this type of art when I used to read Juxtapoz magazine. Particular names of artists escape me but you should find it if you search around in there.
posted by who else at 2:11 PM on February 15

Shag.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 2:13 PM on February 15

You can find a ton of it at CSA Images. He's more modern, but Jordi Labanda also comes to mind.
posted by slowfasthazel at 2:21 PM on February 15

For cartoons/illustration, I guess it would be the chronological and stylistic (abstraction, geometry) parallel of modernism in other mediums, so calling it modernist/modernism would make as much sense as anything to me (the guy who wrote this book seems to concur). In moving form, that kind of style is also somewhat associated with the phrase "limited animation," as much of the early, choppily-animated TV cartoons were made in this style.
posted by stleric at 2:24 PM on February 15

Based on your examples, the style seems directly pulled from Jay Ward cartoons of the early 60s.
posted by eschatfische at 2:27 PM on February 15

Sweetie Darling- Shag is awesome!

stleric- very interesting. Do you own said book? does it go into the history of this type of illustration? either way, I'll probably end up buying it.
posted by dogmom at 2:43 PM on February 15

There's plenty to be found out about that type of art in "Beatsville"
posted by bunglin jones at 2:59 PM on February 15

I was thinking Jay Ward too. And Jim Flora's record covers. And old recipe books I found in my grandfather's basement. And cheesy napkins my parents thought were hysterical.

And when I think about that stuff, I hear Esquivel in my head. But that's me.

Shag's a given. One of my favorite current illustrators whose style reminds me of this is Bill Ledger in Britain. I've hired him on a few projects and he's awesome. His illustrations make me happy. Plus he's a good guy.
posted by miss lynnster at 3:10 PM on February 15

Check out Mary Blair to see one of the progenitor-geniuses of this style, and Tim Biskup to see one of her Juxtapoz-featured heirs. Neither is much into cocktail parties, though, if that's important.

More Blair, and many other cartoonists.
posted by dpcoffin at 3:15 PM on February 15

It's one of the styles that Rory Skagen works in.
posted by adamrice at 4:25 PM on February 15

Oh, and also Plan 59, formerly Ephemera Now, where you can buy high-quality blown-up scans of ads and artwork from that era. I have this one and this one in my office.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:59 PM on February 15

Matte Stephens
posted by cazoo at 5:04 PM on February 15

Judging from everyone's excellent links, this style was originally used in children's books, cartoons and advertising. Knowing that, it's a little easier to google the original stuff, but it's harder to find people who are currently working in this style. So if anyone has any more links, please keep 'em coming!
posted by dogmom at 5:36 PM on February 15

The Ward-O-Matic blog is a great source for art and inspiration and information on this topic.
posted by peagood at 5:36 PM on February 15

Mark Frauenfelder is way into this stuff.
posted by abcde at 7:03 PM on February 15

dogmom, I only came across the book on a Google search to check to see if one or several of the Internets agreed with my guess. Looks like an interesting book though - I might actually pick it up myself at some point.
posted by stleric at 8:06 PM on February 15

Also check out Dyna Moe's most excellent Mad Men illustrations.
posted by peachfuzz at 8:34 PM on February 15

Forgot to mention, good links in her intro to the Flickr set - Aurelius Battaglia, the Provensens, Art Seiden, J. P. Miller. And another Flickr group that may be of interest.
posted by peachfuzz at 8:39 PM on February 15

Tiki Art Now! by Otto Von Stroheim and Robert Williams lists many artists who work in this style. This style of drawing is an example of tiki (Polynesian) art. Here’s an Amazon list of books on tiki art.
posted by Jasper Friendly Bear at 10:02 PM on February 15