John Rigby
Commercial Art & Advertising
Uprooting of lives and families was commonplace in the years of the Great Depression. The route Rigby would have to travel would encompass the fields of sign-writing, cartooning, topographical intelligence for the army, commercial art, advertising and art teaching.
Commercial art would take more than 30 years of Rigby’s life beginning in his teens. To some extent, ‘we are all shaped by those early years’. Rigby was keen to find a place in the art world with a sensible step of formal training. Even so, Rigby had job-seeking advantages in the Brisbane pre-World War II era.
John Rigby
Commercial Art & Advertising
Uprooting of lives and families was commonplace in the years of the Great Depression. The route Rigby would have to travel would encompass the fields of sign-writing, cartooning, topographical intelligence for the army, commercial art, advertising and art teaching.
Commercial art would take more than 30 years of Rigby’s life beginning in his teens. To some extent, ‘we are all shaped by those early years’. Rigby was keen to find a place in the art world with a sensible step of formal training. Even so, Rigby had job-seeking advantages in the Brisbane pre-World War II era.
From The Sunday Mail, Brisbane, Australia 1946 – 1947
Rigby provided comic relief for those around him during the World War II years.
The background being previous years of sign writing and advertising, Rigby developed various media further including army map making.
Rigby sports cartoons were produced in Brisbane during 1946-47 before moving to Sydney. A bygone era though, the topics today are somewhat controversial.
From The Sunday Mail, Brisbane, Australia 1946 – 1947
A Passion for Art
The passion Dad displayed in painting the Australian landscape was no doubt inspired by his growing up in rural Queensland and his love of the bush, a love I also shared with him. Because at heart, we were still simple Aussie lads who enjoyed the great outdoors. All through his life he magically brought those scenes to canvas for all of us to enjoy. Tony Rigby
A Passion for Art
The passion Dad displayed in painting the Australian landscape was no doubt inspired by his growing up in rural Queensland and his love of the bush, a love I also shared with him. Because at heart, we were still simple Aussie lads who enjoyed the great outdoors. All through his life he magically brought those scenes to canvas for all of us to enjoy. Tony Rigby
Gallery
Commercial Art
WWII
Photos & Art
1942 – 1946
Description
The artist maintained the two threads of commercial and fine art after the war. It was hard to find exciting books and art teaching in Australia perhaps due to the drain on the country’s resources. The Italian government scholarship changed everything, quickly.
World War II
Photos & Art
1942-1946
Cartoons & Watercolours
Description
The artist maintained the two threads of commercial and fine art after the war. It was hard to find exciting books and art teaching in Australia perhaps due to the drain on the country’s resources. The Italian government scholarship changed everything, quickly.
Commercial Art & Advertising
Up to 1970s
Description
The ‘bread and butter’ work continues.
We have some examples of Rigby’s commercial and advertising work. Works may be incorporated into products such as book covers, or advertisements such as The Courier-Mail for Castlemaine XXXX beer, mens’s suits at Woulfe and Son Pty Ltd and so on.
Commercial Art & Advertising
Up to 1970s
Commercial Advertising
Description
The ‘bread and butter’ work continues.
We have some examples of Rigby’s commercial and advertising work. Works may be incorporated into products such as book covers, or advertisements such as The Courier-Mail for Castlemaine XXXX beer, mens’s suits at Woulfe and Son Pty Ltd and so on.