Burne Hogarthe - comic illustrator, his inspiring father

[wheldon]

Burne Hogarthe is widely recognised as the definitive artist of Burrough's Tarzan. He understood that comic books couldn't just be stories with pictures, or merely duplicate the effects of the cinema. He gave his pages a sense of movement and dynamism, the whole page engaged in graphic story telling with a relationship between each panel, with varying distance and point of view, to generate an artwork of magnificent heroism.He was born in Chicago, a home where the family was constantly talking about art, listening to music, reading poetry and philosophy. He would sit under the table fascinated by the discussions about artists' work and lives. Burne's father was a carpenter and cabinetmaker, as was Jesus, and perhaps Jesus' father. His parents refused to allow him to talk in negative or profane ways, they wouldn't allow the harshness of the world outside to reside in their home. His father was always giving, even when times were tough, he would never refuse anyone help or a loan. Burne developed a passion for drawing, starting when he was very young, copying cartoons. His father took him, at the age of 12, to the Chicago Art Institute where he talked to the man at the desk and unwrapped a bundle of paper, dozens of his son's drawings he'd collected, and asked the man if he thought Burne had talent. The man agreed he did and from then on for the next two years, he was taken to the Intstitute every Saturday morning, followed by lunch.His father died when Burne was only fifteen; he was not religious, but what he passed onto his son, his generosity, creativity, discipline, and an unceasing desire to learn, are qualities that inspire me as a father of two young children. To never walk past someone who needs help, to fill the house with a world of wonder and possibilities, to take the time to ensure I see where my children's interests lay, to be always strong for them, to take the lead to help them on the path to a successful life, and, beyond Burne's father's ambitions, to assist them to live their lives, fully alive, to the glory of God.Magnificent heroism grew out of the humbleness of the lives of two carpenters. The illustrations of Tarzan resulted from the actions of a carpenter, a devoted father, who had the love and courage to take his son to an art school one Saturday morning. And Jesus was a carpenter who had the ultimate love and courage to die for us to set us free. God blessWheldonWheldon Curzon-HobsonChristianity, life and art curzonhobson.com