The brilliant Mort Drucker had the world's greatest arsenal of faces.
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Where did all those incredible faces come from?
Drucker said that when his wife went shopping for clothes, she'd take him along to sit outside the dressing room with other husbands while she tried on different outfits. As long as he was stuck there, he took advantage of the time to study faces and sometimes sketched them for future use.
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There's no guarantee that, if you remain constantly observant and draw on every available surface, you too will be able to draw great faces. But it sure couldn't hurt.
In ancient times, I used to sit there bored out of my mind while my wife was trying on clothing. Alas, I knew not what Drucker'd done till now.
ReplyDeleteAnd in recent times, I can surf the Internet on my cellphone while the lady shops. And be too distracted to do art. Such behavior is indicative why I never really was an artist.
Unlike me, Drucker was a true professional. And not bored.
Awesome.
ReplyDeleteHe was someone for whom art wasn't a job, but a compulsion. He couldn't "not" draw. A true artist in every sense, and deeply missed.
ReplyDeleteFun post David!
ReplyDeleteDo you own the bag?
I like the way he drew the faces in and around the letters spelling out Nordstrom, revealing the simple organizing principal of symmetry.
Donald Pittenger-- It was a different era. Today it is not uncommon for significant others to accompany their loved one into a private changing room and um help them change.
ReplyDeleteMORAN-- Agreed.
Jason Chatfield-- So true! I know you were a great fan, and Mort knew it too.
Tom-- This bag is in the family's great collection of his personal work. I understand that Mort's daughters are thinking of selling some of those pieces, which will be a great day for collectors.
Entertaining post David, thanks!
ReplyDelete"Arsenal of faces' sounds amusing to my British ears - we spell the word 'ass' as arse - maybe I could draw faeces on toilet paper...
chris bennett-- If you do, you'll be following in the footsteps of James Bingham.
ReplyDeleteAnd in recent times, I can surf the Internet on my cellphone while the lady shops. And be too distracted to do art. Such behavior is indicative why I never really was an artist.
ReplyDeleteNeither mental sovereignty nor concentration can coexist with intense and ever-present temptation.
I liked your James Bingham article David. You should share those links more often!
ReplyDeleteMe too Tom, I was expecting an article on the likes of someone who duct tapes bananas to a gallery wall!
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