Whitcomb, Jon, 1906-1988

American magazine illustrator. Best-known for his drawings of glamorous young women, Whitcomb popularized the beautiful, starry-eyed "Whitcomb girl." His numerous illustrations for short stories, magazine covers and advertisements were featured in leading womens' magazines, chiefly dating from about 1937 to 1962. A 1928 graduate of The Ohio State University, Whitcomb drew movie posters in Cleveland and Chicago early in his career. In 1930, he joined the Fawn Studio of Commercial Art in Cleveland and moved to New York in 1934. After joining with Charles E. Cooper to found the Cooper Studio in 1935, Whitcomb's illustrations began to appear regularly in magazines such as Collier's, Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, Woman's Home Companion, McCall's, Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan. During World War II, Whitcomb served in the U.S. Navy as a combat artist in the Pacific. In 1948, he joined with Norman Rockwell, Stevan Dohanos, Al Parker and others to found the Famous Artists' School, an art correspondence school in Westport, Conn. From 1948 to 1963, he wrote a monthly column for Cosmopolitan on glamour and travel to movie locations. He authored the 1962 book All about girls and wrote two childrens' books about poodles, Pom Pom's Christmas (1959) and Coco (1963). After about 1970, Whitcomb devoted his attention primarily to portraiture. He died in 1988 in Menlo Park, Calif. at the age of 81.

American magazine illustrator. Best-known for his drawings of glamorous young women, Whitcomb popularized the beautiful, starry-eyed "Whitcomb girl." His numerous illustrations for short stories, magazine covers and advertisements were featured in leading womens' magazines, chiefly dating from about 1937 to 1962. A 1928 graduate of The Ohio State University, Whitcomb drew movie posters in Cleveland and Chicago early in his career. In 1930, he joined the Fawn Studio of Commercial Art in Cleveland and moved to New York in 1934. After joining with Charles E. Cooper to found the Cooper Studio in 1935, Whitcomb's illustrations began to appear regularly in magazines such as Collier's, Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, Woman's Home Companion, McCall's, Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan . During World War II, Whitcomb served in the U.S. Navy as a combat artist in the Pacific. In 1948, he joined with Norman Rockwell, Stevan Dohanos, Al Parker and others to found the Famous Artists' School, an art correspondence school in Westport, Connecticut. From 1948 to 1963, he wrote a monthly column for Cosmopolitan on glamour and travel to movie locations. He authored the 1962 book All About Girls and wrote two childrens' books about poodles, Pom Pom's Christmas (1959) and Coco (1963). After about 1970, Whitcomb devoted his attention primarily to portraiture. He died in 1988 in Menlo Park, California at the age of 81.

Jon Whitcomb (1906-1988), American illustrator and poster artist.