Hood Fashion Illustrator Lord and Taylor

After returning back to NYC in 1958, Mickool was illustrating for various department stores and boutiques, including Lord & Taylor. During this fourth dimension, Mickool met his married woman Valerie Hall and was married in 1960. It was not until 1965 that Mickool truly captured the essence of Hood's technique - producing a more than steady interest in the Lord & Taylor account. Desiring the Lord & Taylor image, Filene's of Boston approached Mickool in the mid 1970's to be their primary artist to replicate this image. He worked successfully with Filene'south through the mid to tardily 1970's until Lord & Taylor expanded into the Boston area; forcing Filene's to abandon the way that was originally created past Lord & Taylor. During this flow of change, many style styles began to transition from wash drawings to the more modern line fashion drawings.

Sensing this new tendency in fashion illustration, Mickool chop-chop created a new portfolio showcasing his adaptability and the diversity of his work. After, again, presenting his new line cartoon portfolio to Lord & Taylor, he was immediately hired. Mickool worked extensively with Lord & Taylor throughout the 1980'south producing a large volume of work out of his home in Rowayton, CT. His illustrations, alongside Fred Greenhill's, developed an iconic identity that was ubiquitous throughout the 1980'south advertising and fashion world.

The year 1991 signaled the end of an era. Following the purchase of Federated Department Stores by the May Co., the art direction shifted from artwork to photography. Needing to adapt further, Mickool pursued another passion in his life – golf game. Not simply did Mickool paint historical events paying homage to the legendary men of the sport, he as well taught the golf swing at a professional level at one of the leading golf centers in Stamford, CT.

In 2014 Mickool began a series of paintings reconnecting himself to the ideal that had been such a focus during his career - The All American Girl. With a new arroyo focusing on colour and texture, Mickool has modernized the archetype fashion analogy and made it beautifully contemporary.

Mickool at present resides in Stratford, CT with his wife Valerie . They have iii children, Lauren, David & Andrew along with six wonderful grandchildren.

Robert L. Mickool was built-in in Autumn River, MA in 1934. He has spent a lifetime pursuing his love of art, however, his first passion was baseball which led to a professional AA contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. Sadly, an injury concise his baseball game career limiting his time professionally to one year. Mickool returned to Fall River to nourish Bradford Durfee Technical College. He was strongly convinced by the newly appointed mode instructor, Gerta Rello, to become a fashion illustrator. Mickool was introduced to and greatly inspired by the fine art of Lord & Taylor's Dorothy Hood. His passion was fueled and it was clear that fine art would go a lifetime pursuit.

Soon afterwards graduation he moved to NYC in 1956 to pursue his career. His start coming together was with then art director, Harry Rodman at Lord & Taylor. Rodman was and then impressed past Mickool's artistic power that he offered him a full page ad to illustrate. The advertisement would appear in the NY Times, however, it was clearly axiomatic that Mickool lacked the experience required to sustain the business relationship. To proceeds the necessary experience, Mickool was hired by Seidenbach'due south in Tulsa, OK in 1957 as their primary way artist. During this time he gained the experience of rendering various textures & patterns, i.e., silks, plaids, furs, etc. However, in 1958 Mickool received his army draft notice and spent half dozen months in active duty and five and a half years in active reserve.

Share this post