Planet Shandar Columns - November 2000

If you’re a regular reader of my columns you know that I’m a huge fan of pinup art and glamour memorabilia. I’m a collector and admirer of both the art and the artists.

Rusty Rust at work
on our cover

Pop Culture Collecting publisher Bill Miller recently found one of the last living “vintage” pinup artists and decided to commission him to paint a portrait of me.

That’s where our relationship with Donald, “Rusty” Rust began.

Rust is an accomplished and noted artist. His paintings have been published on calendars and plates and reside in collections and museums around the world. His subjects have ranged from Norman Rockwell to Emmett Kelly (Jr. and Sr.) and, now, even me! Speaking of Rockwell, the famed painter once said that Rust’s work was “very good, indeed.”

When Bill originally approached Rusty about a commission, the artist wasn’t overly enthusiastic. “He doesn’t do commissions anymore,” said Bill. “He’ll only do a commission in very rare instances, and he’s extremely picky about whom he paints.” Rust finally said he would consider it and asked Bill to e-mail images. His requirements were strict as to lighting and quality of the images. After a day or two, Rusty wrote back and agreed to do a painting for our cover.”

Bill and I went through a number of photos of me and selected several to submit. Since Rusty is an accomplished pinup artist, we chose photos which would lend themselves to that look. The cover of this month’s magazine is the culmination of those choices and Rusty’s magic.

Rusty Rust, at 67 years young, only paints what he chooses to these days. He’s at a point in his life where he doesn’t need money, so he can pick and choose what he paints. He particularly likes pinup work. As a matter of fact, some of his closest friends have been pinup artists, including the legendary Gil Elvgren. Both Rust and Elvgren are from the so-called “Sunbloom School” of painting. Hadlon Sunbloom was an early artist whose unique style blended both softness and crispness—a style which lends itself well to classic pinup work.

Rust considers Gil Elvgren, his former neighbor in Florida, to be the greatest pinup artist of all time. And, when Elvgren passed away a few years back, Rust was left as the only living artist in the genre to carry the torch – an awesome responsibility, yet one that isn’t at all burdensome for Rust. “I never have painter’s block and I never run out of ideas for new paintings,” he says.

Rust’s work features shapely women posing in the buff or scantily clad. The work is whimsical yet serious. Most of his models are not real people; they’re composites of girls he’s seen or photographed over the many years he’s been painting. And, believe it or not, it’s not the beautiful women that motivate him to paint; it’s the ability to create dramatic composition, color and the planning of it all. And, being a capitalist in addition to being a great artist, Rusty adds, “I do it because there’s a market for it.”

That market has been huge. Especially for Rust’s portraits of important personalities including Norman Rockwell and his wife Molly, James Dean, John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Bill Clinton, to name just a few.

The mass market for Rust’s work has also been significant. His wildlife and clown images have appeared on T-shirts, plates, greeting cards, puzzles, playing cards and mugs and have even been translated into figurines. If you’ve been out in the world, odds are that you’ve run into Rusty’s work at one time or another.

Rust started as a sign painter. Painting signs paid the bills for Rusty and his family for many years. He didn’t mind it, but he knew that he’d enjoy painting real art for people who could in turn enjoy owning and displaying it in their homes.

When Rust first began offering his pinups for sale, he met with a bit of fate. Instead of struggling to promote and build a market for the work, a collector discovered him and literally bought enough art from Rust for him to support himself and his family for a couple of years.

That’s not surprising. Rust’s work is something you want to collect and own. I myself have acquired 30 of Rust’s paintings since Bill and I found him, and I’m nowhere near the end of my Rusty Rust painting quest.

Bill asked that I let him do a short interview with Rusty for this column, since he felt that I might be uncomfortable asking the questions he wanted to ask. Since he’s the publisher, what could I say? Here’s what they discussed.

Bill: “Since you rarely do commissions, why did you agree to paint Shannon?”

Rust: “Number one, her figure is perfect. Everything is nice; the hair, her expressions, I think she’s a great model. She poses well and knows what she’s doing.”

Well, uh, now you can see why Bill wanted to ask the question. I feel a little uncomfortable printing Rusty’s response, but I’ve got to admit, I sure like it! What girl wouldn’t ?! I was just relieved he didn’t say something like, “I didn’t care what she looks like; I did it for the money.” As a matter of fact, though, when it was all said and done, Rusty very graciously declined to charge anything at all as a fee for painting this month’s cover.

Rusty Rust is an American original and the torchbearer for the classic vintage pinup artist. I hope that he’ll be carrying the torch for a long time to come so we can all continue to enjoy the magical art that is uniquely “Rusty” Rust’s.

Until next time, keep those cards, letters and e-mails coming!

Courtesy of Pop Culture Collecting Magazine