Thomas B. Allen
American, 1928 - 2004
Thomas Burt Allen (1928 – November 8, 2004) was an influential American painter and illustrator renowned for his expressive style that redefined commercial art in the 1950s and 60s. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he studied at Vanderbilt University and later at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Allen produced hundreds of covers and illustrations for prominent magazines such as The New Yorker, Esquire, and Sports Illustrated. He was part of a groundbreaking group of illustrators, including Robert Weaver and Robert Andrew Parker, who challenged the conventions of the post-war magazine industry. This collective embraced a more radical, journalistic approach to illustration, emphasizing personal style and observational drawing, which would later be recognized as "visual journalism."
In addition to magazine work, Allen made a significant mark in the music industry, designing album covers for country and jazz musicians. He collaborated closely with Earl Scruggs, creating 17 covers for the band Flatt and Scruggs and writing liner notes for their Live at Vanderbilt album. His work for CBS Records, particularly with jazz artists like Jimmy Rushing, allowed him to develop an authentic style grounded in real-life observation.
Later in his career, Allen transitioned to illustrating children's books, including In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot and Grandma's General Store: The Ark by Dorothy Carter. He dedicated much of his time to teaching, initially at the University of Kansas, where he was supported by Hallmark Cards, and later as the head of the illustration department at Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida, a position he held until his passing.
Allen produced hundreds of covers and illustrations for prominent magazines such as The New Yorker, Esquire, and Sports Illustrated. He was part of a groundbreaking group of illustrators, including Robert Weaver and Robert Andrew Parker, who challenged the conventions of the post-war magazine industry. This collective embraced a more radical, journalistic approach to illustration, emphasizing personal style and observational drawing, which would later be recognized as "visual journalism."
In addition to magazine work, Allen made a significant mark in the music industry, designing album covers for country and jazz musicians. He collaborated closely with Earl Scruggs, creating 17 covers for the band Flatt and Scruggs and writing liner notes for their Live at Vanderbilt album. His work for CBS Records, particularly with jazz artists like Jimmy Rushing, allowed him to develop an authentic style grounded in real-life observation.
Later in his career, Allen transitioned to illustrating children's books, including In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot and Grandma's General Store: The Ark by Dorothy Carter. He dedicated much of his time to teaching, initially at the University of Kansas, where he was supported by Hallmark Cards, and later as the head of the illustration department at Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida, a position he held until his passing.
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