Thomas B. Allen (painter) facts for kids
Thomas Burt Allen (1928 – November 8, 2004) was an American painter and illustrator. He was known for his unique and strong style that changed how commercial art looked in the 1950s and 1960s.
Thomas Allen was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He studied at Vanderbilt University and later at the Art Institute of Chicago. He created many covers and drawings for famous magazines like The New Yorker, Esquire, and Sports Illustrated.
A New Way to Illustrate
Thomas Allen worked with other artists like Robert Weaver and Robert Andrew Parker. They wanted to change how magazines looked after World War II. At that time, many illustrations were very sweet and simple.
These artists believed that illustrators should do more than just decorate a page. They thought illustrators should act like journalists. They wanted to observe the world around them and draw what they saw in real life. This helped them create pictures that told a story, almost like a visual essay.
This new way of drawing became known as "visual journalism." It was so important that a special master's degree program was started in 1983. It was called "Illustration as Visual Essay" at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Music and Art
Thomas Allen also became famous for designing album covers. He created covers for both country and jazz music artists.
He worked closely with bluegrass music banjo player Earl Scruggs. Earl Scruggs was part of the duo Flatt and Scruggs. Thomas Allen designed 17 album covers for their band. He even wrote the notes inside their Live at Vanderbilt album.
He also worked a lot for CBS Records, thanks to art director S. Neil Fujita. Thomas Allen would go to actual recording sessions with jazz musicians like Jimmy Rushing. This helped him draw what he saw and make his art feel very real and "authentic."
Teaching and Children's Books
Later in his life, Thomas Allen started drawing for children's books. Some of the books he illustrated include In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot. He also illustrated Grandma's General Store: The Ark by Dorothy Carter.
He also loved to teach young artists. He taught at the University of Kansas. Later, he moved to Florida to lead the illustration department at the Ringling College of Art and Design. He stayed in that job until he passed away.
