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Drawing set
Drawing set

Drawing set

CultureNorth American
Date1960
Object numberHF.01.14.86
DescriptionGreen and red cardboard box with an image of a man in front of an easel. The front of the box also has images of different art tools, including pencils, chalk and eraser and paper. The top of the box has yellow and white text.
Narrative
As stated by the donor, "In the fall of 1960, Jon Gnagy was seen frequently on TV promoting his Learn to Draw outfit. I never asked for this item for Christmas and my mother usually made a point of not buying us gifts that were trendy or highly hyped but made an exception in this case, as she though I had some artistic ability that would like to encourage. You will notice that the paper in the box has never been used and the other drawing materials are hardly touched. This was because?as children?we were taught to be so highlight respectful of things that I could?not bring myself to be consumptive?of this wonderful drawing set. Instead, I practiced?the drawing exercises shown in the book on old newsprint paper (my mother used to buy end-of-rolls of such stuff for 10 cents at the Guardian office) using regular pencils, so I wouldn't spoil the set.?

I always intended, when practice made me good enough, to use the goof paper and pencils then, but that never happened."

Jon Gnagy?s famous step-by-step television show ran from 1950 to 1955 and was a syndicated series of 15-minute drawing lessons.?