Background

Harris was born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, on September 9, 1911. His parents were Lena Mary (Stevens) and Harry George Harris. The father was a salesman for Ladies Millinery in Kansas City. Robert had a sister, Virginia.

Education

Robert Harris received his early art training at the Kansas City Art Institute, studying under the direction of Monte Crews, a well-known illustrator. Then, he moved to New York in 1930, where he studied Anatomy under George Bridgman at the Art Students League; and Illustration under Harvey Dunn at the Grand Central Art School. He studied with Emery Clarke, John Falter, and Richard Lyon. Harris completed his education in 1932.

Career

In 1933 Harris opened an art studio in New Rochelle, New York. He shared it with Emery Clarke, John Falter, and Richard Lyon. John Scott, Charles LaSalle, and Graves Gladney were also among his neighbours.

Robert George Harris' produced story illustrations for Street & Smith's Western Story. He later painted covers for Complete Stories, Pete Rice Western, Doc Savage, Western Round-Up, Double Action Western, Thrilling Adventures, Western Story, and Wild West Weekly.

In 1937 the artist was signed by American Artists Agency, which helped him to move up from the pulps to illustrating slick magazines. Harris worked for Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Liberty, McCall's, and The Saturday Evening Post.

Harris moved to Larchmont, New York, in 1939, and to Westport, Connecticut, in 1941. During the Second World War he volunteered to join the USO Artists For Freedom Project, which was organized by the New York Society of Illustrators. It was designed to bring together over 200 artists to create thousands of portrait sketches of wounded servicemen recuperating in military hospitals. He visited hospitals in New York, Virginia, Connecticut, and North Carolina.

When the war was over, he continued to paint for the magazines. In addition, he also worked in advertising for Cannon Sheets, Coca-Cola, and other brand-name companies. He moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1953 and continued to work as an illustrator up to 1961, as Harris began to concentrate on a new career as a portrait artist.

In 1970 Robert Harris moved to Carefree, Arizona, and continued to execute important portrait commissions until his retirement in 1989.

Achievements

• Robert George Harris was an outstanding artist of the 20th century. He was known to be an illustrator for a number of leading periodicals, including Cosmopolitan, Western Story, The Saturday Evening Post, Liberty, etc.
  
  Among his most distinguished artworks were the following: Girl with an Orchid, The Telephone Call, Good Housekeeping, A Kiss From Johnny, Summer Bachelor.

Works

More photos

• illustration

  • Wild West Weekly

  • Spring Rain (Ecstacy)

  • Girl with an Orchid

  • unknown title

  • The Telephone Call

  • In the Art Galllery

  • Half Guilty Wife

  • The Irishman Wouldn't Wear Green

  • McCall's Cover

  • A Kiss From Johnny

  • Summer Bachelor

  • The Cabin

  • Too Late to Change

  • Good Housekeeping

  • The Cold-War Blonde

  • Wild West Weekly

  • The Lady Changed Her Style

  • Western Round-Up

  • Thrilling Adventure

  • Western Pulp Cover

  • Doc Savage

  • Doc Savage

  • Doc Savage

  • Doc Savage

  • Doc Savage

  • Pete Rice Western

  • Wild West Weekly

  • McCall's Magazine

  • Saturday Evening Post

  • Young Beauty with Ducks

  • Mirror

  • Western Pulp

  • Nobody Knows

  • The Great Gesture

Membership

Harris was a member of the Society of Illustrators.

Interests

• flying, photography, vintage autos

Connections

In 1935 Robert George Harris married Marjorie Elenora King, who was also a student at the Kansas City Art Institute. The marriage produced two children, Craig and Marcia.

Father:

Harry George Harris

Mother:

Lena Mary Harris (Stevens)

Spouse:

Marjorie Elenora King

Sister:

Virginia Harris

Son:

Craig Harris

Daughter:

Marcia Harris