Frank Godwin

Frank Godwin
Born October 20, 1889
Washington, D.C.
Died August 5, 1959 (1959-08-06) (aged 69)
Paterson, New Jersey
Nationality American
Area(s) Illustrator, comic strip artist
Pseudonym(s) Frank
Notable works
 Connie
Rusty Riley
Spouse(s) Grace Congelton (1909), Sylvia Calista Doutney
Children 6 total: 4 with his first wife, 2 with his second
Frank Godwin's Connie (September 1, 1935)

Francis Godwin (October 20, 1889 – August 5, 1959), better known as Frank Godwin, was an American illustrator and comic strip artist, notable for his strip Connie and his book illustrations for Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood and King Arthur. He also was a prolific editorial and advertising illustrator.

Biography

Born in Washington, D.C., Godwin was the son of Harry Godwin, The Washington Star's city editor, and in 1905, at age 16, he began as an apprentice on his father's paper.[1] Studying in New York at the Art Students League, Godwin became friends with James Montgomery Flagg and two shared a studio together. Godwin was influenced by Flagg and Charles Dana Gibson, and reflections of both can be seen in Godwin's work.[1] Illustration historian and critic Jim Vadeboncoeur gave Godwin the highest ranking:

While obviously influenced by Flagg (and Charles Dana Gibson), Godwin managed to create a style that was recognizably his and that stood out from both his idols and the mass of clones that were cropping up everywhere. His ability to create tones, especially facial characteristics, with his pen and brush were equal to and in some ways better than Gibson and, I think, obviously superior to Flagg. His use of pen and brush in the same illustration demonstrated an understanding of the medium that set his work apart from his contemporaries. It, combined with his tonal skills, gave his work a depth and weight that was seldom equaled. Walt and Roger Reed in The Illustrator in America, 1880-1980 credit some of this realism to his modeling of busts in clay for reference. They don't say when he adopted this practice, but it's unlikely that he was doing this so early in his career.[2]

In 1952, Godwin said, "I am a frustrated engineer." In the wood and metal shop on the ground floor of his Bucks County, Pennsylvania, studio, he built a live-steam working model locomotive measuring four feet long. He also built a six-inch telescope with an electrical device which enabled him to follow the paths of stars.[3]

A Society of Illustrators vice-president, Godwin was a member of the National Press Club and the Dutch Treat and Salmagundi clubs.[4]

Comics

Godwin did most of his comic strips for the Ledger Syndicate. Godwin's two major strips, seen over three decades, were Connie (1927–1944) and Rusty Riley (1948–1959). Some sources indicate 1929 as the start date for Connie. In 1938, Godwin stepped in to replace illustrator Kemp Starrett on writer Paul Powell's daily strip Roy Powers, Eagle Scout ("the official strip of the Boy Scouts of America") which continued until 1942.[5]

Hal Foster, Milton Caniff and Alex Raymond continue to be reprinted with regularity, while Godwin's strips are difficult to find. He receives more attention in Europe, specifically France (where Connie is usually called Cora), though even there it is quite sparse.

Godwin's working method is shown in this unfinished Rusty Riley daily.

Godwin also illustrated comic books throughout the 1940s, mostly for Lev Gleason Publications. He drew issues of Wonder Woman in 1943.[6]

Bibliography

  • In Service of the Law[6]
  • Vignettes of Life (Ledger Syndicate, 1924–1927) — later continued by J. Norman Lynd until 1939
  • Follies of Passing Show (1920–1926)[6]
  • Connie (Ledger Syndicate, 1927–1944)
  • Babe Bunting (Ledger Syndicate, 1930–1939)[6]
  • War on Crime (Ledger Syndicate, 1936–1938)[6]
  • Roy Powers, Eagle Scout (Ledger Syndicate, 1938–1942)
  • Rusty Riley (King Features, 1948–1959)

References

  1. 1 2 American Art Archives: Frank Godwin
  2. ↑ Vadeboncoeur, Jim. "Illustrators: Frank Godwin"
  3. ↑ Yesterday's Papers
  4. ↑ Holtz, Allan. "Ink-Slinger Profiles: Frank Godwin," Stripper's Guide (March 07, 2012).
  5. ↑ Godwin entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Accessed Nov. 26, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Godwin entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 23, 2017.
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