Thomas B. Allen
Encyclopedia
Thomas B. Allen was an American
painter
and illustrator
known for a moody and expressionist
style that pushed the boundaries of commercial art
in the 1950s and 60s. He was born in Nashville
, Tennessee
, where he was educated at Vanderbilt University
, and later at the Art Institute of Chicago
.
Allen was often associated with fellow illustration mavericks, Robert Weaver
and Robert Andrew Parker, who challenged the saccharine atmosphere of the post-war magazine
scene. This group favored a somewhat radical journalistic approach to their role and firmly opposed an illustrator's role as mere page decorator. They developed personal styles and techniques that made their chosen subjects even more resonant. They favored observing the world, drawing from life, and creating visual essays. This approach would later be termed "visual journalism
" and in 1983 would form the basis of a special masters degree, Illustration as Visual Essay, from the School of Visual Arts
in New York City
.
Allen was widely known for his album covers of country
and jazz musicians. He formed lasting relationships with bluegrass music
legend Earl Scruggs
of Flatt and Scruggs. Another satisfied patron, S. Neil Fujita
, an art director at CBS
Records, gave Allen many assignments for their jazz catalog. Being present at actual recording sessions with Jimmy Rushing
allowed Allen to hone his observation skills and create work that was "more authentic."
Later in his career, he began illustrating children's books. Titles include In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot and Grandma's General Store: The Ark by Dorothy Carter. He also spent much of his time in front of students eager to learn his trade. At the University of Kansas
, Hallmark Cards
funded a teaching position that landed Mr. Allen at that campus. He later moved to Florida
to head up the illustration department at the Ringling College of Art and Design. He remained in that position until his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
known for a moody and expressionist
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
style that pushed the boundaries of commercial art
Commercial art
Commercial art is historically a subsector of creative services, referring to art created for commercial purposes, primarily advertising. The term has become increasingly anachronistic in favor of more contemporary terms such as graphic design and advertising art.Commercial art traditionally...
in the 1950s and 60s. He was born in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, where he was educated at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, and later at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
.
Allen was often associated with fellow illustration mavericks, Robert Weaver
Robert Weaver (illustrator)
Robert Weaver was an American illustrator who was considered the pioneer of a contemporary approach to the field that began in the 1950s. Beginning in 1952, he embarked on a mission to combine the visual ideas found in fine art with the responsibility of journalist...
and Robert Andrew Parker, who challenged the saccharine atmosphere of the post-war magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
scene. This group favored a somewhat radical journalistic approach to their role and firmly opposed an illustrator's role as mere page decorator. They developed personal styles and techniques that made their chosen subjects even more resonant. They favored observing the world, drawing from life, and creating visual essays. This approach would later be termed "visual journalism
Visual journalism
Visual journalism is the practice of strategically combining words and images to convey information.-Universal:Visual journalism is premised upon the idea that at a time of accelerating change, often words cannot keep pace with concepts. Visual journalism incorporates ancient symbols that resonate...
" and in 1983 would form the basis of a special masters degree, Illustration as Visual Essay, from the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Allen was widely known for his album covers of country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and jazz musicians. He formed lasting relationships with bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
legend Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
of Flatt and Scruggs. Another satisfied patron, S. Neil Fujita
S. Neil Fujita
Sadamitsu "S. Neil" Fujita was an American graphic designer known for his innovative book cover and record album designs.-Background:...
, an art director at CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Records, gave Allen many assignments for their jazz catalog. Being present at actual recording sessions with Jimmy Rushing
Jimmy Rushing
James Andrew Rushing , known as Jimmy Rushing, was an American blues shouter and swing jazz singer from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, best known as the featured vocalist of Count Basie's Orchestra from 1935 to 1948.Rushing was known as "Mr...
allowed Allen to hone his observation skills and create work that was "more authentic."
Later in his career, he began illustrating children's books. Titles include In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot and Grandma's General Store: The Ark by Dorothy Carter. He also spent much of his time in front of students eager to learn his trade. At the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
funded a teaching position that landed Mr. Allen at that campus. He later moved to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to head up the illustration department at the Ringling College of Art and Design. He remained in that position until his death.