Howard Pyle: Illustrator (1853-1911)
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Pyle has been called America's foremost illustrator (Reed, 1984). He developed a theory and philosophy of 'picture making' that was powerfully influencial over the students he taught. One can see Pyle's influence in the work of nearly all the great illustrators of the past century, including N.C. Wyeth, Harvey Dunn, Frank Schoonover and later generations of artists who were taught by these greats.
As I look at the work of today's science fiction and fantasy artists, I can see elements of Pyle's ideas and artists copying the style of his pirate pictures. And of course these original 'picture making' ideas: framing the image, intensifying the drama through positioning, subject, angle, and color, and leading the eye around the image, all have found their culmination in today's motion picture work.
It started with Pyle and his new American art movement, breaking away from European fine art in the traditional methods.
Books to learn about Howard Pyle
The following books are good resources if you want to learn more about Howard Pyle:
- Walt and Roger Reed's book, The Illustrator in America, published by the Society of Illustrators.
- Another great source of info is the recent excellent biography of N.C. Wyeth by David Michaelis.
- Also, there is a very good overview of the history of illustration and the impact of Howard Pyle in Inside the Business of Illustration by Steven Heller and Marshall Arisman.