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BCR 177: Arthur Singer, American Master

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Paul Singer is one of the two co-author of the truly wonderful book about their father’s Wildlife Art. The book, a biography with illustrations in fact, is titled Arthur Singer, The Wildlife Art of an American Master, by Paul and Alan Singer, RIT Press (Rochester Institute of Technology), 2017. The book is simply stunning, you must hold it in your lap, and page through it and read any section of this book to appreciate the artist and the depth and beauty.

Paul Singer is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art (1968) with a BFA in graphic design. Interested in nature and the outdoors, he has focused on designs for zoos, museums, and botanic gardens. He has also worked as an interpretive sign designer for the National Park Service, state park systems, and greenways in California, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. His illustrations are included in The Knopf Nature Guide series for Audubon, The Audubon Master Guides to Birding, The Knopf Collector Guides to American Antiques and other publications. In his leisure time, he paints seascapes, studies history, and collects antiques. Paul and his wife, Janet, reside in Brooklyn, NY.

Alan Singer is a graduate of the Cooper Union School of Art with a BFA in Fine Art (1972), and an MFA from Cornell University (1975). For nine years, Alan worked with his father, Arthur, on revisions to both of Singer’s field guides to birds, and helped illustrate the State Bird & Flower Stamps for the Postal Service. Alan illustrated the State Bird & Flower first day covers for Unicover Corp. Alan has also illustrated books which include The Total Book of Houseplants and State Birds. Since 1988, he has been an art educator and professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. A painter, printmaker, and author, he has had 27 solo exhibitions and blogs at The Visual Artworker. Alan and his wife, Anna, reside in Rochester, New York.

Show Notes: 

  • Trips to the Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of Natural History, 
  • A student at the Cooper Union Art School in New York City. 
  • Singer produced the caricatures of jazz greats and politicians? What was the fascination with jazz?

    • U.S. Army during World War II and the 603rd Camouflage Engineers.
    • Singer’s watercolors painted during his army years have appeared in the documentary and book entitled, The Ghost Army of World War II, some of the art from this period has been included.
    • 1950s Singer got assignments from Sports Illustrated, World Book Encyclopedia, Reader’s Digest and from The American Home magazine that launched his career as a full time wildlife artist. 
    • The idea of painting all species of North American birds began with John James Audubon.
    • The Golden Years saw the creation and publication of Birds of the World. 
    •  The field Guide to Birds of North America that he illustrated by Chan Robbins and Bertel Bruun.  
    • In 1969 author Dr. Bertel Bruun and Arthur Singer published the Birds of Europe, following year the Hamlyn Guide to Birds or Britain and Europe came out. 

      • Paintings of state birds which were seen by millions when the U.S. Postal Service issued the State Birds & Flowers stamps in 1982. 
      • Singer’s talent was honored when he was issued the Hal Borland Award from the National Audubon Society in 1985 upon the 200th anniversary of Audubon’s birth.
      • Arthur recieves The Augustus St. Gaudens Medal in 1962.
      • Arthur fascination with big cats and what art resulted from this fascination.
      • Vineyard Books and The Life of the Hummingbirds came after Golden. The Birds of the Ocean and Birds of the Seven Continents were planned and started, never published. 
      • Since Singer’s death in 1990, where has his artwork been shown including retrospective exhibitions? 
      • Millpond Press had Peterson’s and Frame House had Arthur Singer.

        • NOTE: Thanks to Paul Singer for the use of all the paintings and photographs in this post are solely used for this specific BirdCallsRadio & Podcast episode BCR 177: Arthur Singer, American Master and this article only. ©Courtsey of Arthur B. Singer Estate, All Rights Reserved. Paintings and Photos may not be used in any form without written permission. Please respect the wishes of the Singer Family.

        Mentioned In Episode:

        Purchase Book: Click link here ➨ Arthur Singer, The Wildlife Art of an American Master, by Paul and Alan Singer. Publisher: RIT Press July 2017 ISBN-13: 9781939125392. Call 585-475-5819 Contact: [email protected]

        Additional Book coming soon:

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