from my sketchbook: harry nilsson

In 1968, John Lennon and Paul McCartney held a press conference to announce the formation of Apple Corps, their new multimedia conglomerate. John was asked to name his favorite American artist. He replied, “Nilsson”. Paul was asked to name his favorite American group. He replied, “Nilsson”. In the early 60s, Harry Nilsson pursued his song …

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IF: fast

This week’s challenge word on Illustration Friday is “fast”. It all happened so fast. In September 1949, Howard Unruh walked methodically through his Camden, New Jersey neighborhood, and murdered thirteen people in just under twenty minutes. Unruh is considered the first single-episode mass murderer in U.S. history. Unruh was a decorated hero in World War II. …

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IF: frozen

This week’s word on Illustration Friday is “frozen”. Ted Williams was one of the greatest players in the history of professional baseball. Despite his career being interrupted twice for military service, he was a two-time MVP and a seventeen time All-Star. He was the last player with a single season batting average above .400. Nicknamed …

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DCS: inger stevens

Nine-year-old Inger Stensland moved to the the United States from Sweden after her parents divorced. At 18, she worked in New York City’s Garment District and took drama classes with Lee Strasberg of the Actors Studio. Inger married her agent, Anthony Soglio, who changed her last name to the more American “Stevens.” Their marriage, however, …

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IF: germs

This week’s challenge on Illustration Friday is “germs”. Howard Hughes was an innovative aviator, engineer, industrialist, film producer and director, philanthropist, and one of the wealthiest people in the world. Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee used Hughes as the inspiration for playboy Tony Stark, the alter-ego of Iron Man. Hughes also suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder …

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from my sketchbook: clara bow

Clara Bow was born in a Brooklyn slum. She was the third child; the first two, also daughters, died in infancy. Between 1905 and 1923, the Bows lived at at least 14 different addresses. Aside from being a weak provider, Clara’s father, Robert was often gone, leaving his family without means to survive, forcing Clara’s …

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from my sketchbook: the boy in the box

In 1957, Susquehanna Road was a narrow country lane in the sparsely settled Fox Chase section of northeast Philadelphia. A driveway providing access to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, a religious order which operated a school for “wayward girls,” adjoined Susquehanna Road on the north near Verree Road. Directly across the street from the …

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IF: pattern 1

The current challenge on the Illustration Friday website is “pattern”. ” I thought if only we could take this play pattern and three dimensionalize it, we would have something very special. “ — — Ruth Handler In 1945, Elliot Handler and Harold “Matt” Matson founded a small toy company. They called their new venture “Mattel” by combining part …

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from my sketchbook: jeffrey dampier

Jeffrey Dampier Jr. won a $20-million Illinois Lotto jackpot in 1996. He bought houses and cars for his siblings and parents. In 2001, he bought a half-million dollar home near Tampa, Florida. He also purchased a townhouse for his parents close by. Several family members followed Jeffrey to the Florida Gulf Coast because he liked …

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from my sketchbook: oliver sipple

Oliver Sipple stood in the crowd. He was no different from the other 3,000 people gathered outside San Francisco’s St. Francis Hotel hoping to catch a glimpse of President Ford. As the President emerged from the building, Oliver looked and saw the woman next to him pull out a .38-caliber pistol and aim it at …

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