Art Saaf
Encyclopedia
Arthur "Art" Saaf was an American
comic book artist
from the Golden Age of Comics who also worked in television. He commonly went by Art or Artie.
Saaf developed his art skills working at McFadden Publishing in 1938 and built his first art table using schematics from Mechanics Illustrated. He then majored in pictorial illustration at Pratt Institute
from 1941 to 1942, then attended the School of Arts and Mechanics and the Art Students League of New York
.
During World War II
Saaf worked on titles including Commando Rangers, Clipper Kirk, Phantom Falcons as well as covers for Wings and Jumbo. He also "ghosted" Hap Hopper, providing art credited to Drew Pearson
. After the War Saaf worked for Timely Comics
, Dell Comics
as well as autobiographical comics including "The Clown of Baseball" for Real Life Comics.
While still doing comic book work, Saaf ventured into television. In 1954 he worked for the Kudner Agency as an assistant television director and provided storyboards for The Jackie Gleason Show
, and followed that in 1956 working for Dancer, Fitzgerald and Sample Agency.
Around 1959, Saaf began working at a freelancer, stating "the pace was too fast, and I wanted time to think about what I was doing." Into the 1960s he worked for numerous agencies providing many advertisements for products ranging from Post Cereal, Crest
, Zest
, Maxwell House
, Life Savers
and many others.
In the 1970s, he worked for DC Comics
and Standard Comics
illustrating romance stories until finally leaving comic books. He continued drawing however by providing work for Highlights for Children magazine as well as various newspapers and other publications.
Saaf died in 2007, collapsing from the effects of Parkinson's disease
at age 79.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
from the Golden Age of Comics who also worked in television. He commonly went by Art or Artie.
Saaf developed his art skills working at McFadden Publishing in 1938 and built his first art table using schematics from Mechanics Illustrated. He then majored in pictorial illustration at Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
from 1941 to 1942, then attended the School of Arts and Mechanics and the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Saaf worked on titles including Commando Rangers, Clipper Kirk, Phantom Falcons as well as covers for Wings and Jumbo. He also "ghosted" Hap Hopper, providing art credited to Drew Pearson
Drew Pearson (journalist)
Andrew Russell Pearson , known professionally as Drew Pearson, was one of the best-known American columnists of his day, noted for his muckraking syndicated newspaper column "Washington Merry-Go-Round," in which he attacked various public persons, sometimes with little or no objective proof for his...
. After the War Saaf worked for Timely Comics
Timely Comics
Timely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics....
, Dell Comics
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
as well as autobiographical comics including "The Clown of Baseball" for Real Life Comics.
While still doing comic book work, Saaf ventured into television. In 1954 he worked for the Kudner Agency as an assistant television director and provided storyboards for The Jackie Gleason Show
The Jackie Gleason Show
The Jackie Gleason Show is the name of a series of popular American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970.-Cavalcade of Stars:...
, and followed that in 1956 working for Dancer, Fitzgerald and Sample Agency.
Around 1959, Saaf began working at a freelancer, stating "the pace was too fast, and I wanted time to think about what I was doing." Into the 1960s he worked for numerous agencies providing many advertisements for products ranging from Post Cereal, Crest
Crest (brand)
Crest is a brand of toothpaste made by Procter & Gamble in Germany and in United States of America and sold worldwide. In many countries in Europe, such as Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Romania, it is sold as Blend-A-Med, the name of an established German...
, Zest
Zest
-Food ingredient:*Zest , the outer peel of a citrus fruit**Zester, tool for preparing zest**Twist , a piece of zest-Commercial product:*Zest , a Procter & Gamble trademark...
, Maxwell House
Maxwell House
Maxwell House is a brand of coffee manufactured by a like-named division of Kraft Foods. Introduced in 1892, it is named in honor of the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. For many years until the late 1980s it was the largest-selling coffee in the U.S. and is currently second behind...
, Life Savers
Life Savers
Life Savers is an American brand of ring-shaped mints and artificially fruit-flavored hard candy. The candy is known for its distinctive packaging, coming in aluminum foil rolls....
and many others.
In the 1970s, he worked for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and Standard Comics
Standard Comics
Standard Comics was a comic book imprint of American publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines under a variety of company names that he also used for the comics...
illustrating romance stories until finally leaving comic books. He continued drawing however by providing work for Highlights for Children magazine as well as various newspapers and other publications.
Saaf died in 2007, collapsing from the effects of Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
at age 79.