WW2 Folk Art "Winged Angel" Trench Art drawn on a Pillowcase Love during Wartime

World War Two Folk Art "Winged Angel" Trench Art drawn on a Pillowcase.  Northeastern United States c. 1945.  Framed behind plexiglass with screws.  Collection Jim Linderman.  Courtesy Natalie Curley Antiques. "Love during Wartime" is a continuing series on Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Bill Guernsey's Pinup Painted Duffel Bag Pacific Theater of World War Two

 

More than a handful of cartoonists, animators and artists of the 20th century got their start painting on duffel bags during World War Two.  They often traded their skills for cigarettes and other essentials.  We will likely never know who painted the pinup on Wild Bill's bag, but he did a fair job.  Bill Guernsey kept track of his travels on the bag, and his visits to unfamiliar islands read like an index to the Pacific.  From Guadalcanal to Guam.  

Interestingly, the duffel bag continued being a part of popular culture after the war.  Surviving soldiers who stayed in the Pacific after serving their country took up surfing, and the bags were soon as much associated with the sport as the war. 

Hand painted and decorated World War Two Duffel Bag, circa 1940 Collection Jim Linderman

Boat Builders! Chris-Craft Women Employees of World War Two

Chris-Craft Rosie Riveters!  A lovely photograph of what is likely World War Two workers at the Employee Parking Lot of the Chris-Craft Boat Manufacturing Company.  Snapshot Splendor.  Chris-Craft factories were in Algonac, Holland and Cadillac Michigan and the company contributed to the war effort by building, among other products,  landing craft out of plywood.  After the war, they resumed manufacturing of the now prized boats like the one pictured in the ad below.    Collection Jim Linderman

Soldier's Pin Up Foot Locker World War Two Collection Victor Minx

Soldier's Pin Up Foot Locker World War Two Collection Victor Minx

Patrotic Peace Parade Plywood Float! World War Two Dove of Peace Folk Art

 

Initially I thought this was a somewhat primitive church piece from a somewhat primitive alter, but it didn't take me long to realize it is a parade float fragment from the end of World War Two.  Over 4 feet long and nearly as tall, the dove of peace would wiggle along the parade route on the wire stand.  Two-sided plywood with creamy white paint on the letters and dove,  a nice red base with a hole to connect it for the slow ride through town.

Peace Plywood Parade Construction circa 1945 Collection Jim Linderman

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The Foxhole Art of Emil P. Hill Uncle Willie in Repose

Click to Enlarge  "Uncle Willie as I Last Saw Him" by E.P. Hill 1943 Collection Laura Levine

Master Photographer Laura Levine sends along a fantastic drawing done by a soldier during World War Two.  Laura found it among a group of other interesting  "foxhole art" drawings apparently produced, and swapped around, from the Pacific front.  Uncle Willie was likely a memory which came to a young soldier as he pondered his own fate.  The small packet of drawings include a few by Emil P. Hill and others which are anonymous.  

There was plenty of time to hone drawing skills.  Thankfully many battles were brief, though brutal…and pencil and paper was frequently available.

I've written about foxhole art before…but mostly for the other blog.  The number of accomplished cartoonists and illustrators who emerged after the war is considerable.  Many had their art careers disrupted by the war, others picked up their skills painting on duffel bags for friends.  Those with talent could trade a pinup for smokes.  For some it was the aluminum media of glamour girls done on the noses of bombers.  Many returning vets enrolled in commercial art programs, others did it by falling for those cheap "Learn to Draw" ads in the back of magazines.

One could look up Emil P. Hill and see if he served with distinction, if he made it home, and if he pursued his art career.  I hope he did all three. 

"Uncle Willie as I Last Saw Him" by Emil P. Hill II  Collection Laura Levine  Pencil on Paper 1943

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A few other examples of Trench Art, or what could also be dubbed "Foxhole Art"  appears HERE HERE HERE HERE