Another talent of Shep's that did not gain as
much recognition as his story telling was his love of
doing line drawings. Introduced to the art by his good
friend Shel Silverstein, Shep would often sketch on
napkins and placemats from Prexy's or Schrafft's or in a
sketch book he maintained.
While
Jean Shepherd talks - an activity at which he’s a
virtuoso - he draws pictures of a well-worn chair, a
stylized Coke bottle, a Village pad, a typewriter.
"Artists miss the point by spending time on people’s
faces," mused the radio-TV humorist and raconteur the
other day. "Faces haven’t changed in years! A telephone
reflects 20th century man much more than his face does."
Shepherd clutches a German-made pen with a tip like a
hypodermic needle and draws in a quivery, skeletal
style. His latest art work, he reminds you, adorns the
recently published "Village Voice Reader."
"I like to see the inner-workings of things, to strip
away the externals and get down to basics. That’s the
way to get humor," he said.
Published Works
Many of his sketches were unpublished but quite a few
were used in his books and elsewhere
From the cover of the Village Voice
September 1, 1960
Also used on pgs 216-217 of "Ferrari in the Bedroom"
The left half with lamp post was also used on various other
pages in 'Ferrari...'
"Ferrari in the Bedroom"
There were 15 line drawings by Shep used in this
book, some of which were used several times including a cropped
version of the one on left.
Some were signed and dated in
1959-60
"A Fistful of Fig Newtons"
There were
20 line drawings by Shep used in this book. One of them was used
at the beginning of each chapter. It appears that these were all
done for the book unlike the ones used in 'Ferrari...' which
were drawn years earlier. None were dated although they were all
signed with a small "JS"
Un-Published Works
Drawn on script for "Star Crossed Romance of
Josephine Cosnowski"
courtesy - Dan Beach
Lois Nettleton Estate
Quite a few line
drawings have surfaced from the estate of
Lois Nettleton and were
auctioned off on eBay
Huttons ADLIB
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Eugene Bergmann
Paper Towel Roll
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Eugene Bergmann
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Lowell Thelin
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Rob Stolzer
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Rich Badagliacca
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Rich Badagliacca
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Rich Badagliacca
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - David Howell
The line drawing on the left was drawn
while Shep was in Munich. David Howell not only won the
drawing on eBay, but was able to locate the buildings
and throught the magic of Google Earth was able to
recreated the view!
In the background are the towers of Frauenkirche Dom zu
unserer lieben Frau, "Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady")
It is the largest church in the Bavarian capital of
Munich.
Morosco Theatre
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Apartment
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Apartment
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Cottage
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Baby Announcement
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Desk
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Kids / Coat
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Kitchen
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Prexy's
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Prexy's
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Car and Horse
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Church
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
The drawing of the church on the left was done on
the back of Hotel Taft (New Haven, Ct) stationary. Checking
Google Earth, and Microsoft Maps and assuming Shep had drawn the
church as a view from his hotel window, I was able to 'find'
what may be the church he drew since it is at the right angle
and drawn from the rear. See the view at right.
Latern (Watercolor)
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
Pumpkin on Napkin (Prexy's ?)
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
