The Cover
The cover of Tennessee Williams: His Life, His Art, His World is as rich in history as the book itself. Its artist is Everett Raymond Kinstler, a native New Yorker who began his career at age sixteen, drawing comic books and hundreds of book and magazine illustrations, as well as covers for paper back books. As one of the “golden age” era of comic book artists, his illustrations for magazines, including The Shadow and Doc Savage, have influenced the pop art school. He studied at the Art Students League, where he later taught from 1969 to 1974. Kinstler ultimately made the transition to portraitist, and soon established himself as one of the nation’s foremost portrait painters. For over four decades, Kinstler also has devoted time to painting landscapes and watercolors.
Kinstler boasts a portfolio of more than 1200 portraits, comprised of well-known and iconic visages. He has painted celebrities from every aspect of American popular culture–from music and film stars such as Tony Bennett and Katharine Hepburn, to government officials such as Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Harry Blackmun and six presidents. He was awarded honorary doctorates by Rollins College in 1983 and the Lyme Academy College of Art in 2002. The National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., has acquired seventy-five of his original works for its permanent collection. He is also represented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Butler Institute of American Art, Brooklyn Museum, etc. Memberships include: National Academy of Design (N.A.), Allied Artists of America, American Watercolor Society, Pastel Society of America (Hall of Fame), Audubon Artists, Copley Society of Boston (life), National Arts Club. In 1999, Kinstler received the Copley Medal from the Smithsonian, National Portrait Gallery, its highest honor. Many PBS stations are airing a recent documentary on his career. Kinstler is currently painting the official mayoral portrait of former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Recently complete portraits include Sen. Robert Dole for the U.S. Senate; Neil Rudenstine, former president of Harvard University; Judith Rodin, former president of the University of Pennsylvania; and Donald Trump.
To learn more about Everett Raymond Kinstler and his work, visit his Web site at http://www.everettraymondkinstler.com/.
