Abner Graboff Explained

Abner Graboff
Birth Date:1919 6, mf=yes
Birth Place:East Orange, New Jersey
Death Date:1986
Death Place:U.S.
Spouse:Vivian Linde
Field:illustration, drawing, painting
Training:Parsons School of Design, New York City
Movement:contemporary
Awards:1954 "The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book"

Abner Graboff (June 28, 1919 – 1986) was an American artist and illustrator of Russian origin.

Biography

Early life and beginnings

Abner Graboff's Russian immigrant parents, Joseph and Sonia, owned and ran a laundry business in East Orange, New Jersey.[1] Abner was born on June 28, 1919. He had a brother, Ira, six years younger. His father Joseph died of cancer at the age of 48. After finishing high school Abner Graboff got a scholarship to Parsons School of Design in New York City, and then transferred to another college. During the WWII he enlisted the army signal corps and spent some time in Europe in the UK and France. When the war ended, Abner Graboff met and married Vivian Linde, a classical violinist also from East Orange. They raised three children - Michael was born in 1951 and twins Paul and Jonathan (Jon) in 1954. Jon Graboff became a musician, playing pedal steel guitar with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, and Joan Osborn, among others.[2]

Career

Abner Graboff started his career as a freelance graphic designer. He was active from the 1950s and was a prolific artist and beginning from 1954 children's book illustrator.[3]

In 1949 Graboff took part in the 28th Annual Exhibition of Advertising and Editorial Art of the New York Art Directors Club held at Museum of Modern Art (March 15–April 17, 1949).[4] In the early days of television he did a lot of work on clear celluloid for CBS. Graboff started designing the artwork for record albums published by firms such as MGM Records, Columbia Records, and RCA Victor.[5] He illustrated cookbooks and music books.[6]

In 1954 Abner Graboff illustrated his first book for children, The Sun Looks Down, which was awarded "The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book" by The New York Times.[7] [8] There were many more children's books to come, into the 1970s.

Graboff worked consistently almost until his death in 1986, illustrating in his distinctive style.[9]

In 2020 two of Graboff's children's books (There Was an Old Lady and What Can Cats Do?) were translated into Polish by Emilia Kiereś, a Polish writer and the daughter of Małgorzata Musierowicz, the author of popular books for teenagers.[10]

Works

Books

Source:

Album covers

Source:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Art & Life of Abner Graboff. Ward Jenkins. July 24, 2020. 2009-06-30.
  2. Web site: Interview with pedal guru Jon Graboff. MusicPsych.com. July 24, 2020. 2011-08-01.
  3. Web site: About the Author Abner Graboff. University of Chicago Press. July 24, 2020. 2011-08-31.
  4. Web site: Abner Graboff MoMA. MoMA. July 24, 2020. 2011-08-31.
  5. Web site: Abner Graboff Discography. discogs.com. July 24, 2020. 2011-08-31.
  6. Web site: Abner Graboff. grainedit.com. July 24, 2020. 2009-07-02.
  7. Web site: Book awards: The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book . librarything.com . July 30, 2020.
  8. Web site: The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102184002/http://www.booknixie.com/award/38/New-York-Times-Best-Illustrated-Childrens-Books/1950s . dead . November 2, 2019 . booknixie.com . July 30, 2020 .
  9. Web site: Abner Graboff. Quirky Children’s Illustrator.. fishinkblog. July 24, 2020. 2011-08-31.
  10. Web site: Abner Graboff. WydawnictwoKropka. July 24, 2020. 2020-06-01.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Abner Graboff".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.