The versatility of Jan Balet: paintings, ads and picture books
Hi there! How are you doing? We’ve just come out of a long heat wave and it’s been horrendous. Hopefully the weather in your area has been more bearable!
Here is this month's mix: A multifaceted artist, a mid-century modern cartoon, a camera ad, a comic about an octopus, a book about an elephant… in a bathtub! and a bit of a new venture of mine.
Also, I will start adding a portrait of the featured artist whenever I can find one, I already edited and added them to previous issues. Behind these beautiful artworks there’s always a hand and a mind, and in these times we’re living, I think it’s important to not forget about it! :)
✧An illustrator: Jan Balet✧
Where to start with Jan Balet? Easily one of my favorite findings! He was a versatile artist that inspires me in many different ways.
Jan Balet (1913 - 2009) was a painter, graphic designer, and illustrator born in Bremen, Germany.
Balet opened his first independent studio in Munich at 19 years old while also studying illustration with Prof. Olaf Gulbransson at the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste.
In early 1938, Balet was recruited by the German military, but deeply concerned with the military’s treatment of his Jewish friends, a year later he emigrated to New York, where his career as a commercial artist began.
In 1943, Balet assumed the role of art director for Mademoiselle Magazine and also began illustrating award winning children’s books for other authors. Three years later, in 1946, he became an art director for Seventeen Magazine.
Amos and the Moon (check issue 8 to see some more spreads) was his first children’s book published in 1948 and was dedicated to his son, Peter.
After that, he authored-illustrated other books, my favourites being What Makes an Orchestra and The Five Rollatinis.
I love Jan Balet’s work, his paintings feel mysterious and nostalgic but also fun and straightforward, all put together with perfect color choices. Really, really love the color palettes he used in both, paintings and children’s books.
Please do check Jan Balet’s website (links at the end), there’s much more info and more pictures for you to discover :)
✧A short: How Now Boing Boing✧
✧An ad: Pajtas Camera✧
✧A comic: Hatchan the Octopus✧
✧A book: There's an elephant in the bathtub✧
Lovely balance between line-art bits and colored ones, now I want to try that! :)
A while ago I started learning how to sculpt in NomadSculpt (I tried Blender first but I got pretty overwhelmed and left it for… later, I guess) and for my first project I decided to try to turn my logo into 3D. I’m very happy with it, it’s really fun to be able to rotate it and see it from different angles!
For my next project I wanted to make two characters interacting. This time it was a witch I created a couple of years ago and her cat. And now I want this as a collector toy or something like that, I think it would look super cute in front of a shelf with books!
I honestly don’t know where this will go but it’s been fun and refreshing to learn something new!!
What I do know, though, is that this newsletter has arrived to its end.
Hopefully you’ve had the chance to recharge batteries and the rentrée back to work is not too stressful. I wish you well and I’ll see you in the next issue!
✧The links✧
✦ Jan Balet - Official Site
✦ What makes an orchestra - My Vintage Avenue
✦ What makes an orchestra - Marisa Seguin Blogspot
✦ Jan Balet (1913-2009) - Today's Inspiration
✦ Jan Balet Interview - Youtube
✦ There's An Elephant in the Bathtub - Fun All Around Blogspot
✦ Suihō Tagawa - 50 Watts Facebook
How Now Boing Boing is incredible! Thanks for finding all these wonderful things.
The 3d models are amazing. Another great article. Thank you! 🍀👍