About the Artist
Robert Andrew Parker
Parker attended the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating with bachelor's degree in 1952.
Following a number of showings, capturing the attention of New York art critics, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired Parker in 1956 to assist with the production of Lust for Life, the biographical film of Vincent van Gogh starring Kirk Douglas. The studio's concept was to film Parker's hands, in lieu of Douglas' hands, creating van Gogh's paintings. However, Douglas and Parker only used that technique for Wheatfield with Crows with Parker painting other replicas by himself for use as the film's backdrops.
During his career, Parker painted album covers for jazz musicians Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, and Dave Brubeck. He also illustrated several books written by Melvin B. Zisfein, Marianne Moore, and Sandra Jordan.
His illustrations for Ballet of the Elephants by Leda Schubert was praised by art critics and his illustrations for the children's book Pop Corn and Ma Goodness won him the Randolph Caldecott Medal, the highest honor for illustrating a children's book.
Parker illustrated numerous magazine to include The New Yorker, Playboy, Penthouse, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, Esquire, Time and other magazines.
