DRAWSON Blair

 DRAWSON Blair

A person wearing glasses and smiling
Description automatically generated                                          The Special Birthday Book, (Annikin edition). Annick Press Ltd., 1982. Back cover.

“Blair Drawson … has worked as an editorial illustrator for many of North America’s most notable magazines – among them, Time, The New Yorker, Esquire, Rolling Stone and the New York Times Magazine.”                                    Details. 3, March/April 2018.

This Toronto based artist studied drawing and painting at the Ontario College of Art. He has appeared in Canadian publications like Maclean’s, Radio Guide, Saturday Night, Toronto Life and in newspaper inserts like The Canadian, Toronto Star Sunday Magazine and Weekend plus international magazines like Esquire, New Yorker, New York Times, Rolling Stone and Time.

He was part of a group of young Toronto graphic artists in the late 1980’s, which included Jamie Bennett, Jeff Jackson, Anita Kunz, Maurice Vellekoop and Rene Zamic whose work had spread throughout both the North American and European markets. . “I was in New York at a symposium a couple of weeks ago and everyone was talking about what a hotbed of talent Toronto has become.” Said Kunz, “Art directors now seem to be on the look out for people from Toronto.”

In addition, as can be seen below, he was in demand as a book artist.

On 5 April 2018, Canada Post honoured this illustrator with a first day cover and a commemorative stamp.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOKLET GRAPHIC:

The Special Birthday Book, (Annikin edition). Annick Press Ltd., 1982. Originally published in 1977 by Gage Publishing Ltd.

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT:

Cover dust jacket front:

Memoirs of Montparnasse. Writ., John Glassco. Oxford University Press, 1970.

Not Wanted On The Voyage. Writ., Timothy Findley. Viking/Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1984.

Stones. Writ., Timothy Findley. Viking/Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1988.

The Telling Of Lies. Writ., Timothy Findley. Viking/Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1986.

DISC AUDIO 33RPM:

Artwork:

Joy will find a way. Performer, Bruce Cockburn. True North Record. TN 23. 1975.

stealing fire. Performer, Bruce Cockburn. True North Record. TN 57. 1984.

PERIODICAL TEXT ANTHOLOGY:

Content essay:

The Canadian, March 1978: “City Span: Lip Service”. Writ., unidentified: page unidentified.

Macleans, 2, September 2002: “A Good Game Gone Bad”. Writ., James Deacon: 56.

Macleans 17, November 2003: Sex, Sex and Sex”. Writ., Victor Dwyer: 120. The image appeared again on Macleans 8 December 2003.

Weekend, 4, March 1978: “Dressed Up Vegetables”. Writ., Margo Oliver: page unidentified.

Weekend, 29-6, 10 Feb. 1979: “Fear of Loving.” Writ., Don Hammersmith: 15.

Weekend, 29-33, 18 Aug. 1979: 25 Years on the Pill.” Writ., Edward Shorter: 14-15.

Content story:

Radio Guide, 4-10, October 1985: “August 25 1983”. Writ., Jorges Luis Borges: 5

Toronto Life, 23-12, August 1989: “Two Words”. Writ., Isabel Allende: F25.

Cover front:

Graduate University of Toronto Alumni, VIII-2, November/December 1980.

Toronto Star Sunday Magazine: The City, 1, October 1978.

MERCHANDISE:

CARDS:

First Impressions Toronto, Ontario.
“The Mocking Bird” “Hot To Trot “Amorous Robot”

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Details. 3, March/April 2018: “Great Canadian Illustrators”: 6-7. Canada Post Corp.

Article newspaper:

The Toronto Star, 20 Nov.1988: “Vital Designs.” Writ., Christopher Hume: G1.

GALLERY:

A close-up of a restaurant
Description automatically generatedMemoirs of Montparnasse, 1970: Dust jacket front.

A ghost playing a violin
Description automatically generatedThe Special Birthday Book, 1982. Originally published in 1977 by Gage Publishing Ltd.

A cover of a book
Description automatically generatedToronto Star Sunday Magazine: The City, 1, October 1978.

A drawing of a vegetable garden
Description automatically generatedWeekend, 4, March 1978: page unidentified.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\D\DRAWSON Blair, Weekend, 10 Feb, 1979, 15.jpgWeekend, 29-6, 10 Feb. 1979: 15. Also a card published by First Impressions called “The Mocking Bird”

A cover of a book
Description automatically generatedGraduate University of Toronto Alumni, VIII-2, November/December 1980. Front cover.

A book cover with a picture of a ship
Description automatically generatedNot Wanted On The Voyage,1984. Dust jacket front.

A newspaper article with a couple of naked people
Description automatically generatedMacleans 17, November 2003: 120.

A group of people in a car
Description automatically generatedCard, “Hot To Trot” First Impressions, no date.

A person in green outfit in front of a machine
Description automatically generatedCard, “Amorous Robot” First Impressions, no date.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\D\DRAWSON Blair, Canada Post stamp..jpg    Image from Canada Post stamp 5 April 2018.