"adventures" contents

rown & Bigelow of Saint Paul, Minnesota, is the largest publisher of calendars in America. Their most famous and popular calendar series is the Boy Scouts of America calendar, painted by Norman Rockwell for more than fifty years. The art director of Brown & Bigelow at the time I began to work for them was Clair Fry, who was himself a brilliant painter. For decades he had worked closely with many great artists, including Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish, Andrew Loomis and many others. About 1965 I began working for Brown & Bigelow, creating paintings for two series. One was the "Go To Church" calendar, for which I painted attractive young families having a great time in church. The other series was for the Cub Scouts division of Boy Scouting. Each year I had to think up some appropriate activity for my Cubs to do. I honestly enjoyed this work, and blithely continued on, year after year, working in the styles of other artists. I continued to paint the two Brown & Bigelow series after I moved to New York. I was seriously studying painting now, and I applied what I was learning to the two calendar series. For awhile the Brown & Bigelow art director (Maury Eichers had now replaced Clair Fry, who retired) went along with what he called my new "soft touch" style. But as my edges got softer and my brushstrokes looser, I sensed that Maury was not as excited about the new style as I was. Eventually, the Cub Scout series was taken away from me and given to another artist who was willing to work in the very tight "Rockwell" style. I was set free from calendar work.

Cub Scouts of America Calendar Paintings
Brown & Bigelow, Inc., Saint Paul, Minnesota

I must have painted at least ten of these annual calendar paintings. Cubs are always shown having a wonderful time at some activity. The painting of the two Cubs bringing flowers to an elderly woman reflects my new painting style after moving to New York.

	"Go To Church" Calendar Painting Brown & Bigelow, Inc., Saint Paul, Minnesota This subject was popular for many years. I painted it annually for perhaps eight years. i had to show a young family enjoying the church experience. Brown & Bigelow's star artist was Norman Rockwell. They encouraged us younger artists, like me, to emulate the great illustrator.

"Go To Church" Calendar Painting Brown & Bigelow, Inc. Saint Paul, Minnesota I continued to paint the "Go To Church" calendar after I moved to New York. In a later chapter, you will see how my painting style began to evolve as I continued to do this series.

"adventures" contents