Albert Dorne
Occupation / Title:Date of birth:07/02/1904
Date of death:15/12/1965
Biography
Dorne’s life was a true “rags to riches” story. He worked as a newsboy, an office boy, a prize fighter, an art studio assistant, and then rose to become a highly respected illustrator, teacher and entrepreneur.
Family and early life
As a poor but enterprising “Dead End Kid,” he grew up New York City’s Lower East Side and left school in the seventh grade to help support his family.
Career outline
1947 – Co-founder of the Code of Ethics and Fair Practices of the Profession of Commercial Art and Illustration 1947 to 1948 – President of the New York Society of Illustrators 1948 – Became founder-director of the Famous Artists Schools in Westport, Connecticut
Personal style
Albert Dorne’s work is easily recognized as complicated illustrations filled with highly animated characters in exaggerated poses. He worked rather small because he believed that in small scale one was less likely to put in unnecessary details, and that the probability of faithful reproduction would be greater. His medium of choice was colored inks, which he applied with great skill after making meticulous pencil drawings in line. According to Alex Toth, Albert Drone could draw from imagination without the need for models or photographs; however he kept a huge cross indexed swipe file of over twenty-four drawer filing cabinets.
Honors and awards
1953 – Gold Medal from the New York Art Directors Club. 1963 – Horatio Alger Award for Achievement from the American Schools and Colleges Association, Inc. 1958 – Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Adelphi College.
References:
- Famous American Illustrators by Arpi Ermoyan
- The Illustrator in America 1880-1980 by Walt and Roger Reed
- Alex Toth edited by Manuel Auad