Sheplives


Line Drawings Another hidden talent

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.

N.Y. Post June 3, 1962 - "The Young Philosopher Of the Airwaves"

Published Works
Many of his sketches were unpublished but quite a few were used in his books and elsewhere

"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"

"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

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...'

October 7, 1959 Village Voice

February 4, 1959 - Village Voice

Un-Published Works

Drawn on script for "Star Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski"
courtesy - Dan Beach

From the 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

Morosco Theatre
courtesy - Steven Schindler, Author
www.stevenschindler.com

From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy - Rob Stolzer

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.

Cottage
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy Arthur Crispo

Prexy's
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy Arthur Crispo

Apartment
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy Arthur Crispo

Prexy's
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy Arthur Crispo

Apartment
From the Lois Nettleton Estate
courtesy Arthur Crispo

Baby Announcement
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Car and Horse
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Kids / Coat
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Kitchen
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Desk
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 (below) 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.

Lantern (Watercolor)
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Pumpkin on Napkin (Prexy's ?)
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Art
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Morosco Theatre
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

Traffic Light
From the Lois Nettleton Estate

"Can you imagine 4,000 years passing, and you're not even a memory?
Think about it, friends. It's not just a possibility. It is a certainty." - Jean Shepherd - 1975