Jack Kamen
Jack Kamen (/ˈkeɪmən/; May 29, 1920 – August 5, 2008) was an American illustrator for books, magazines, comic books and advertising, known for his work illustrating crime, horror, humour, suspense and science fiction stories for EC Comics, for his work in advertising, and for the onscreen artwork he contributed to the 1982 horror anthology film Creepshow.
Early life
Jack Kamen was born to a
Career
Kamen's first professional job was as an assistant to a sculptor working for the
EC Comics
Artist Al Feldstein also did work for the Eisner & Iger studio, where Kamen and Feldstein became friends. Later, Feldstein brought Kamen into EC Comics, as Kamen recalled in an interview with Ken Smith:
- He called me up, and I went in and met both of them. Al was there. Bill said, 'This boy wonder of mine is recommending you for this work.' I was delighted, because Bill Gaines was always Bill Gaines, and Al was my friend. So I got the work. I was glad to get it. And then, as the popularity increased, Bill one day said, "Look, I don't know what you're getting, but I'll meet anybody's price and I'll keep you busy all of the time. How would you like to be exclusive?" And I said I'd love it![1]
After initially getting EC assignments to illustrate romance comics, he soon became one of the most prolific EC artists, drawing crime, horror, humour, suspense and science fiction stories. He was known for his drawings of attractive women. Describing Kamen's understated style, EC editor Al Feldstein said, "We gave Kamen those stories where the All-American girl and guy are married and then chop each other to pieces."[2] In Tales from the Crypt #31, Kamen drew a semi-autobiographical self-satire, "Kamen's Kalamity", later adapted to HBO's Tales from the Crypt TV series as "Korman's Kalamity". The story depicted the transition from romance to horror by Kamen, who called it "my favourite story".[3][4]
After EC's line of comics fell victim to industry censorship in 1954–55, it was Kamen who suggested to the publisher that the company could avoid the newly imposed Comics Code Authority strictures with a pricier magazine format, which Kamen dubbed Picto-Fiction.[2] However, EC's woes followed the new line of Picto-Fiction titles, including those with stories by Kamen. The magazines were underdistributed and soon canceled.[citation needed]
Advertising art
After leaving EC, Kamen began drawing
, Kamen described one of his unusual painting techniques:- Did you know I used Prismacolor pencils along with an acrylic paint wash to create my paintings? I would use a smooth illustration board and apply my basic color in a very watery wash of acrylic, and after it dried I would start rendering with Prismacolor pencil. Then I would take an electric eraser, with a particular eraser, that when you erased anything before you got down to removing color, you could mix the colour pencil very, very smooth, almost like an oil painting. For instance, I would mix a puddle of acrylic paint flesh color and put that down as a watercolor wash. As soon as it dried, I would add all the details in colored pencil. In areas that needed correction, I would paint opaque white acrylic and then go back and do colored pencils again. The electric eraser blended all the pencils into a smooth look. If you look at a painting of Santa Claus, the beard is opaque white acrylic, put down as a watercolor wash, then the shading and gray tones were added in color pencil, the electric eraser gave the fuzzy look to all that.[5]
He also drew all the comic book artwork for
Personal life
Jack Kamen married his wife, Evelyn, in 1946. They had four children.[citation needed]
His eldest son, Barton, was a director of pediatric hematology/oncology at the
His son
Mitch and Terri are twins and the youngest of the four children. Mitch is a musician in New York and his only daughter Terri is the owner and general manager of an insurance agency in Palm Beach County, Florida.[citation needed]
Kamen died at his home in
References
- ^ Smith, Ken (November 2001). "Interview with Jack Kamen". The Comics Journal #240.
- ^ a b "Jack Kamen Facts". EC Comics from the Fifties. Kari Elkelä. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ a b CBG Xtra: EC Artist Jack Kamen
- ^ Comic Book Attic
- ^ Palmer, Tom (May 29, 2009). "Remembering Jack Kamen". Today's Inspiration.
- ^ Hauman, Glenn (2008-08-07). "Jack Kamen: 1920–2008". ComicMix. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ "Bart Kamen Tribute". FIRST. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ "The FIRST Dean'S List: Honoring FIRST Student Superstars" (PDF). FIRST. 22 February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ "Jack Kamen, 1920–2008". The Comics Reporter. Tom Spurgeon. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-08.