Where did all the time go ?

Today is my birthday, they sure come around quickly these days, time flies, as they say. I've certainly had a lot of luck during the years, starting with my high school art teacher, Margaret Stein, who had worked in a New York art studio, and ran her class that way. She was responsible for producing the Denby High School yearbook and did it professionally. She appointed me as the art director and I had a staff to work with. A group was appointed to handle all of the photography for the book, it was quite an operation and a real learning experience as well. The company that did the engravings for the yearbook, Brophy Engraving Company of Detroit, had an art department but their staff were drafted into the army as World War II was in full swing. They hired me and I went to work every day after school. One day I would design a brochure, another day I would draw a cartoon for a magazine, always different as well as interesting assignments. The Art Director was Jim Donahue, who was great to work with and learn from. He became a big factor in my development as an artist. I later worked for him when he started his great commercial art studio, Allied Artists. I began working for him as a graphic designer and later as an illustrator. Jim sold one of my paintings to Ford Times magazine. The painting was a western scene with a old little red Ford in it. The Art Director, Arthur Lougee, said that they would buy any painting that I did with the little red Ford in it, so I did a great number of paintings for them for several years. A great start for a beginning illustrator. Art Directors at ad agencies would see my paintings in the magazine and then send illustration work to me. I handled many assignments through the years for Jim Donahue when he later worked for Premier Corporation, he even sent me to Japan to take photos for a brochure that we were working on. I really miss both Margaret and Jim, they were great people and wonderful teachers as well as role models.