Aldren a watson biography
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Aldren A. Watson hand-lettered the first American Artistlogo. He may have designed the title&#;s previous name, Art Instruction. It is not known if Aldren studied with a calligrapher or was self-taught. Art Instructionwas created by Aldren&#;s father Ernest Watsonand Arthur Guptill who formed the publishing company, Watson-Guptill. Aldren&#;s &#;contribution&#; to the Art Instructionlogo was mentioned in the August issue:
&#;&#;This cartoon by Lawrence R. Lewton of Portland, Oregon, was submitted in Art Instruction&#;s recent Caricature and Cartoon Contest. For Mr. Lewton&#;s information we&#;ll explain where the &#;Beastie&#; came from. When Art Instruction&#;s cover was being designed, all seemed finally complete except that white space in the upper-right corner. Editor Watson, glancing at his son Aldren&#;s letterhead, espied said Beastie, attacked it with editorial scissors and slapped it on the cover design. Be thankful you&#;re not an editor&#;s so•
Aldren Auld Watson Collection
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&#;Collection
Identifier:&#;CLRC
Scope and Contents
The collection contains a small number of illustrations and studies, book jackets, and bild proofs for eight books illustrated bygd Aldren Auld Watson.
Dates
- Creation: circa circa
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected bygd the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
Aldren Watson was born on May 10, in Brooklyn, New York. He has been an author, illustrator, cartographer and bookbinding instructor. He ha
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ALDREN A. WATSON
My father, Aldren A. Watson, was born on May 10, He died on May 5, at the age of He was a prolific and gifted artist, writer, designer, and creator. He was also my artistic mentor. When I was 8 years old I decided I was going to submit a book idea to a publisher. Dad helped me put together a typed manuscript and a dummy; suggested where to submit it; helped me package it up and mail it. The book was rejected, of course. But never once did my father try to discourage me in that attempt. He continued to be involved and interested in my work from then on. Just a few weeks ago I mailed him copies of sketches from my current book idea, and we discussed them together over the phone.
After Dad's death, I found on his desk a handwritten rough draft, dated May 1, in which he was wrestling with the opening words for a new piece of writing. Next to it lay a rough sketchof a rotted tree stump,