A very happy birthday to Mort, my boss, the man who gives all of us a run for our money. Most days, we’re lucky if we can keep up with him. His mind goes a mile a minute, and usually he moves and talks just about that fast, too! It’s hard to believe he’s any older, quite frankly, as he’s got the enthusiasm of a little kid. The incredible number of paintings he has done might be the best clue to his age, if they weren’t roughly the amount it would take me three lifetimes to complete.
So with another year turning in the life of Mort Künstler, we sincerely thank you fans for your enthusiasm and support. He has much to celebrate, and in characteristic fashion, he’ll do it in a flurry of action, working hard. He’s locking himself away all day to paint the snow scene!
~K.B.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Mort Künstler by Stephen Doherty 9
By the time Künstler reached junior high school, his interest
in sports began to consume all of his time and energy. “I got in
with a group of boys who spent all their free time playing ball,
and I followed along with them. I was still recognized in school
for my art abilities, but my interest was now focusing in more
and more on sports.”
Künstler entered Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn,
where he soon caught the attention of the school’s outstanding
art teacher, Leon Friend. A dedicated teacher and the
respected author of the classic book Graphic Design (McGraw-
Hill, 1936), Friend nurtured the careers of many of today’s
most successful designers, photographers, and graphic artists.
He certainly had a strong influence on young Mort
Künstler. “He was the first person besides my family and the
Grosses who really guided me in my art development,” says
Künstler. “He taught me skills in handling materials, gave me
an understanding of good design, introduced me to artists
and art concepts, and inspired me to be the best I could be.
For example, he introduced the Bauhaus School to me and
talked about its emphasis on simplified, functional design.
He spoke of the elements that make an effective poster design
(a lesson that helped many of his students win national poster
competitions), and he tried to get me away from thinking just
in terms of realistic images so that I could understand the
abstract principles in painting. He was really a remarkable
man.”
in sports began to consume all of his time and energy. “I got in
with a group of boys who spent all their free time playing ball,
and I followed along with them. I was still recognized in school
for my art abilities, but my interest was now focusing in more
and more on sports.”
Künstler entered Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn,
where he soon caught the attention of the school’s outstanding
art teacher, Leon Friend. A dedicated teacher and the
respected author of the classic book Graphic Design (McGraw-
Hill, 1936), Friend nurtured the careers of many of today’s
most successful designers, photographers, and graphic artists.
He certainly had a strong influence on young Mort
Künstler. “He was the first person besides my family and the
Grosses who really guided me in my art development,” says
Künstler. “He taught me skills in handling materials, gave me
an understanding of good design, introduced me to artists
and art concepts, and inspired me to be the best I could be.
For example, he introduced the Bauhaus School to me and
talked about its emphasis on simplified, functional design.
He spoke of the elements that make an effective poster design
(a lesson that helped many of his students win national poster
competitions), and he tried to get me away from thinking just
in terms of realistic images so that I could understand the
abstract principles in painting. He was really a remarkable
man.”
Monday, August 24, 2009
Mort Künstler by Stephen Doherty 8
It was during his early school years that Mort would
accompany his father to Manhattan on Saturday mornings,
when Tom Künstler, a salesman for Amoco, would call on
his customers. Once they finished their rounds, father and
son would visit Tom’s old friend Dave Gross, a commercial
artist, who shared a studio with his sons Arthur and George,
also artists. The men would set Mort up with art supplies in a
corner and let him sketch while they talked. They would take
time out to give Mort advice, criticism, and encouragement.
“Dave, Arthur, and George became positive influences on me
because they were the first people I met who were really out
there working as artists, and as I watched their assignments
progress from week to week, I began to understand their
business. I also took their criticism and advice very seriously,”
Mort says appreciatively.
accompany his father to Manhattan on Saturday mornings,
when Tom Künstler, a salesman for Amoco, would call on
his customers. Once they finished their rounds, father and
son would visit Tom’s old friend Dave Gross, a commercial
artist, who shared a studio with his sons Arthur and George,
also artists. The men would set Mort up with art supplies in a
corner and let him sketch while they talked. They would take
time out to give Mort advice, criticism, and encouragement.
“Dave, Arthur, and George became positive influences on me
because they were the first people I met who were really out
there working as artists, and as I watched their assignments
progress from week to week, I began to understand their
business. I also took their criticism and advice very seriously,”
Mort says appreciatively.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Mort Künstler by Stephen Doherty 7
Künstler found an unusual way of using his artistic talent to support his boyhood interest in baseball. He enjoys telling this story, about what he jokingly refers to as his first professional job: “I was a rabid Brooklyn Dodger fan and used to see the games for free using the Knot Hole Gang admission tickets given out to kids. Everyone got a card entitling him to see six or seven games during the season, with the color of the card indicating the specific set of games. My friends and I all had different colored cards, which meant that we couldn’t all go to the same games together. It finally occurred to me that I could paint the cards to match each other so that we not only could go to the games together, but we could get into several sets of games. So I started a little business making counterfeit Knot Hole Gang cards with my watercolors. As I recall, I would charge a penny or a nickel to make a card. It was quite a thriving business, although once I did get caught and was thrown out of Ebbets Field. I kept trying to go back in by hiding my face and flashing my card, but the ticket-taker always recognized me. Finally, he gave up in disgust and let me in to see the game.”
Forty years later, this story still brought smiles when Künstler had occasion to meet several members of the counterfeiting department of the Secret Service. The government made a print of one of his paintings depicting the Nazis counterfeiting American currency. The head of the counterfeiting division, Joseph Coppola, invited him down to Washington for a tour of their offices and to receive an award from the Secret Service. At lunch, Künstler started telling the agents the story of how he began his art career as a counterfeiter. He saw faces blanch until he used the term “Knot Hole Gang” and one by one, the men relaxed and started laughing at his
early “caper.”
The Brooklyn Dodgers, 1942 (Autographed by the actual players that year)
Original story illustration for "Hot Money for the Cold War," Argosy, August 1957
Forty years later, this story still brought smiles when Künstler had occasion to meet several members of the counterfeiting department of the Secret Service. The government made a print of one of his paintings depicting the Nazis counterfeiting American currency. The head of the counterfeiting division, Joseph Coppola, invited him down to Washington for a tour of their offices and to receive an award from the Secret Service. At lunch, Künstler started telling the agents the story of how he began his art career as a counterfeiter. He saw faces blanch until he used the term “Knot Hole Gang” and one by one, the men relaxed and started laughing at his
early “caper.”
The Brooklyn Dodgers, 1942 (Autographed by the actual players that year)
Original story illustration for "Hot Money for the Cold War," Argosy, August 1957
Friday, August 14, 2009
Mort Künstler by Stephen Doherty 6
Because young Mort spent so much of his time in bed, his
father insisted that the child, who was small and underdeveloped,
strengthen his body by spending his good days outdoors
exercising. Tom Künstler could ill afford athletic equipment,
but he saw to it that his son had baseballs, a bat, and a football.
Since the Künstlers lived in a rather poor neighborhood
where all the fathers were struggling to keep food on the table,
Mort became the most popular kid on the block. There was
no one else with equipment like his, so all the older boys took
him under their wings. The boy never had to look far for
playmates.
father insisted that the child, who was small and underdeveloped,
strengthen his body by spending his good days outdoors
exercising. Tom Künstler could ill afford athletic equipment,
but he saw to it that his son had baseballs, a bat, and a football.
Since the Künstlers lived in a rather poor neighborhood
where all the fathers were struggling to keep food on the table,
Mort became the most popular kid on the block. There was
no one else with equipment like his, so all the older boys took
him under their wings. The boy never had to look far for
playmates.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Mort Künstler by Stephen Doherty 5
During this period in his life, Künstler developed health
problems and spent many days at home battling a variety
of illnesses. He occupied his time in bed by making highly
detailed pencil drawings of the objects in his room and the
view out his window. Fortunately, many of those drawings are
still in his possession. They demonstrate the keen powers of
observation and advanced technical skills that the young artist
would bring to his later paintings. The luncheon dishes his
mother left on a tray at the end of the dresser are carefully and
accurately rendered in these drawings, as are the architectural
details of the bedroom. Interestingly, Künstler was already
developing an understanding of one-point perspective—a
technical skill that would come in handy years later. It’s easy
to see why the child was referred to as a genius.
problems and spent many days at home battling a variety
of illnesses. He occupied his time in bed by making highly
detailed pencil drawings of the objects in his room and the
view out his window. Fortunately, many of those drawings are
still in his possession. They demonstrate the keen powers of
observation and advanced technical skills that the young artist
would bring to his later paintings. The luncheon dishes his
mother left on a tray at the end of the dresser are carefully and
accurately rendered in these drawings, as are the architectural
details of the bedroom. Interestingly, Künstler was already
developing an understanding of one-point perspective—a
technical skill that would come in handy years later. It’s easy
to see why the child was referred to as a genius.
Mort Kunstler by Stephen Doherty
Because of his unusual abilities, an easel was set up for
Künstler to work in an empty classroom, and the other
children would line up in the hall, file quietly into the room
through one door, watch the youngster paint for a minute,
and then exit through another. Rhoda Gayle, who also showed
artistic promise, remembers being very proud of her younger
brother. However, when Mort’s parents found out, they
objected to their son’s missing other classroom activities, so
the special attention was discontinued.
By the time Künstler reached the fourth grade, he had been
skipped ahead of his schoolmates again and was placed in
a group with other bright children. That group did so well
academically that the entire class was skipped ahead a whole
grade level. “I didn’t do very well in all subjects,” remembers
Künstler, “but my drawing ability still helped me get out of
trouble when I was mischievous. I would do a piece of art
when I got into a jam and that would get me off the hook.”
Künstler’s art education made further progress when his
mother enrolled him in children’s art classes conducted at The
Brooklyn Museum, where he was introduced to the works of
famous painters. “I have a clear memory of my mother taking
me to the museum by subway every Saturday morning. I must
have started at the age of five or six. I would sit in the corridors
and galleries with other children, most of them older,
and draw the artifacts on display and the various details of the
rooms. As I look back, I realize the sacrifice it must have been
for my mother.”
Künstler to work in an empty classroom, and the other
children would line up in the hall, file quietly into the room
through one door, watch the youngster paint for a minute,
and then exit through another. Rhoda Gayle, who also showed
artistic promise, remembers being very proud of her younger
brother. However, when Mort’s parents found out, they
objected to their son’s missing other classroom activities, so
the special attention was discontinued.
By the time Künstler reached the fourth grade, he had been
skipped ahead of his schoolmates again and was placed in
a group with other bright children. That group did so well
academically that the entire class was skipped ahead a whole
grade level. “I didn’t do very well in all subjects,” remembers
Künstler, “but my drawing ability still helped me get out of
trouble when I was mischievous. I would do a piece of art
when I got into a jam and that would get me off the hook.”
Künstler’s art education made further progress when his
mother enrolled him in children’s art classes conducted at The
Brooklyn Museum, where he was introduced to the works of
famous painters. “I have a clear memory of my mother taking
me to the museum by subway every Saturday morning. I must
have started at the age of five or six. I would sit in the corridors
and galleries with other children, most of them older,
and draw the artifacts on display and the various details of the
rooms. As I look back, I realize the sacrifice it must have been
for my mother.”
Monday, August 3, 2009
Is with great sadness we share the news of the passing of our dear friend Ted Sutphen.
OBITUARIES
Edwin Lawrence Sutphen
Published: Friday, July 31, 2009 5:58 AM EDT
Edwin (Ted) Lawrence Sutphen, age 77, of Navarre, Fla., passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
Born in 1932 in Neptune, N.J. and raised in Freehold, N.J. Edwin worked with his father and eventually became owner of the family road contracting business; C.H. Sutphen Inc. Edwin met the love of his life, Mary, in 1954 and they were wed June 22, 1957. They spent 52 years working side by side in business and in everyday life, with many adventures, including living in Grafton, Vt., and opening an antique shop and art gallery, which led to the move to Gettysburg in 1980, where Ted became the leading pioneer in establishing Civil War Limited Edition Prints, and was the finest sought after publisher of Civil War art. The American Print Gallery was owned and operated by Ted and Mary for over 20 years.
Retiring from the publishing field and moving to Navarre, Fla., several years ago, Ted was able to enjoy a slower paced life with his family, as well as sitting in his favorite room overlooking the bayou, watching the wildlife, listening to his favorite music from the ‘40s and enjoying each sunset.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Cort and Hannah (Good) Sutphen; his sister, Jane Sutphen; and his son, Kenneth Lawrence Sutphen.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Mary I. Griffin; his daughter, Susan C. McKinnon; son-in-law, Timothy S. McKinnon; and his grandson, Spc. Aren Jakob Selmer, serving in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne.
The funeral will be a private affair with no viewing.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First United Methodist Church of Freehold, 91 W. Main St., Freehold, N.J. 07728.
Copyright © 2009 - Gettysburg Times
Ted was one of the smartest, well informed men I have ever known. He was always ahead of the curve and a true business visionary. I was fortunate to have known him well enough to enjoy his great sense of humor. My sincerest condolences to his daughter Susan, and Mary, his beloved wife
Mort
Edwin Lawrence Sutphen
Published: Friday, July 31, 2009 5:58 AM EDT
Edwin (Ted) Lawrence Sutphen, age 77, of Navarre, Fla., passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
Born in 1932 in Neptune, N.J. and raised in Freehold, N.J. Edwin worked with his father and eventually became owner of the family road contracting business; C.H. Sutphen Inc. Edwin met the love of his life, Mary, in 1954 and they were wed June 22, 1957. They spent 52 years working side by side in business and in everyday life, with many adventures, including living in Grafton, Vt., and opening an antique shop and art gallery, which led to the move to Gettysburg in 1980, where Ted became the leading pioneer in establishing Civil War Limited Edition Prints, and was the finest sought after publisher of Civil War art. The American Print Gallery was owned and operated by Ted and Mary for over 20 years.
Retiring from the publishing field and moving to Navarre, Fla., several years ago, Ted was able to enjoy a slower paced life with his family, as well as sitting in his favorite room overlooking the bayou, watching the wildlife, listening to his favorite music from the ‘40s and enjoying each sunset.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Cort and Hannah (Good) Sutphen; his sister, Jane Sutphen; and his son, Kenneth Lawrence Sutphen.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Mary I. Griffin; his daughter, Susan C. McKinnon; son-in-law, Timothy S. McKinnon; and his grandson, Spc. Aren Jakob Selmer, serving in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne.
The funeral will be a private affair with no viewing.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First United Methodist Church of Freehold, 91 W. Main St., Freehold, N.J. 07728.
Copyright © 2009 - Gettysburg Times
Ted was one of the smartest, well informed men I have ever known. He was always ahead of the curve and a true business visionary. I was fortunate to have known him well enough to enjoy his great sense of humor. My sincerest condolences to his daughter Susan, and Mary, his beloved wife
Mort
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