An old friend's Dad was an Artist

[SinCity]

Nicolas ****** (1911-1973) was born in Russia, studied in Paris, and emigrated to the United States in 1946, marrying his wife in the same year. He used the pseudonym Nicolas when illustrating children's books. Finders Keepers by William Lipkind and illustrated by Nicolas won the 1952 Caldecott Medal; The Two Beds, also by his friend Lipkind, was a 1951 Caldecott honor book. Nicolas illustrated Hortense the Cow for a Queen by Natalie Carlson and other award-winning books.. Nicolas died on May 5, 1973 in New Jersey.

I don't want to use his last name out of respect for his family. Please don't post his last name if you do a search or know it.
I have pics of his artwork from his home studio. It's some wild stuff.

His son Ed was old friend of mine who I met in the early 80's. Ed moved out of state in the mid 80's. Nicolas took his own life when his son Pete was around 10.

We used to hang out at his home and mostly drink and watch TV. He lived on an estate with his Mom outside of town.
In his home he has paintings of his illustrations from his books and some abstract stuff.
One day we were at Ed's a few years after I met him and asked if we wanted to play some pool or ping-pong. We went to a barn that his Dad had turned into an art studio which I did'ent know about. Well when I walked in the Barn/game room/studio, there was his Fathers dark side of art.....

Here is some of his early illustrations.

Do you want to see his home studio art?

[SinCity]

A couple more

[Umberto]

That is really great stuff!

[ded i]

Wonderful stuff! Yes, I want to see more, please!

[xrayzebra]

The last one, with the girl on the horse, and the little colt on the other side of the fence really has a life of its own. Very animated, despite the highly stylized image. Very nice! Thanks for posting those!

[SinCity]

All these pictures were taken with 1000 speed film with no flash. Kodak started selling 1000 speed film and I believe this was the first roll I used. They are very grainy. I did not use 1000 chrome much after this roll. was Some have a reflection from the lighting on the portrait.

Remember these slides are from around 82'-84' and I was in my 20's.

When I first walked into the studio this mural was on the far wall. The mural is about 15 feet high. I said "Holy shit, your old Man did this,can I take some pics?"
He told me that a few years before he shot himself in the house, he did these paintings. He said the woman in the mural with the flower in her hair is his Mom.

Please do not repost these pics.

[SinCity]

Here is a self portrait. One of the last paintings he did. The woman in the painting is his wife.
Please do not repost pics

[SinCity]

Detroit Lady
Please do not repost pics

[SinCity]

Penelope and the Leper
Please do not repost pics.

[SinCity]

Please do not repost pics.
Man

[ded i]

Wow - consistant body of work there. I really like it - what has happened with the originals?

Lifetime stuff is a sad rendition of that same old song - art gives you life and it takes your life.

[SinCity]

DD,As far as I know there still at the studio and his widow still lives at the estate.

Here is another painting. I have to edit these as I'm posting, there to large.
Please do not repost

[SinCity]

The pool table room.
The painting on the left with the horse and the dude hanging is his last piece of work.
Please do not repost pics.

[SinCity]

Poetic Intercourse
Please do not repost pics.

[SinCity]

Here is one of the last pics.
According to his Son, this is a painting of his Mistress after she died.

He said that a friend that he knew since his children's illustrations died and when his Mistress died, he went off the deep end and did the paintings in the studio.

There was a lot more that I did'ent get pics of.
He had this door in the wall at the studio and you could tell it did not go anywhere. I said "whats this door for", "open it" he said.
I opened the door, a light came on, a doorbell went 'ding-'dong and behind the door painted on the inner wall was a dude sitting on a toilet.
Note; you can see that door in this pic.

That was the only time I was ever in that studio.
Pertty wild and freaky
Please do not repost pics.