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Fitz
and Van's artwork has appeared in nearly every major
magazine in the world, and examples are in car books
and advertising. |
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Began his career designing cars. At 20,
he designed the Darrin Packard 4-door convertible
and hard top sedans, and at 22 was a consulting
designer to General Electric. After World
War II service as a Naval Officer, he turned to
advertising design and illustration, beginning with
8 years of Mercury, including 4 years of Lincoln
ads. Before GM obtained his exclusive services
(20 years worth), he did ads for Nash, Plymouth,
Chrysler, Kaiser and Studebaker. During these
years, he also did art, graphic and product design
for other Fortune 500 clients.
Went from art school to Walt Disney Studios,
where he became a key animator and director.
He served in the Army Air Force in the war, producing
and directing training films. Back to Disney,
he then left to travel and live in Europe for a
while, and then to New York and advertising and
editorial art. In 1951 Fitz, having admired
Van's art for an Italian Line campaign, suggested
him for the backgrounds on the Mercury ads.
That began a 24 year collaboration and a 43 year
friendship that lasted until Van's death in 1995.
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"Most of the original illustrations were
destroyed, but a relative few have survived and
are now prized by automotive memorabilia collectors."
Automotive Hall of Fame Quarterly
"They had a unique style, a look that would
help move the once tired make from last place
in sales among GM cars to number two."
Automobile Quarterly
"...the finest product in their field. Now
the ads are collected as a part of Americana."
Car Exchange
"Both Fitz and Van were successful artists
before they met, but after their collaboration
they reached legendary status."
Automobile Magazine
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"I cannot overestimate your contribution
to Buick's success. We couldn't have done
it without you.
Ivan L. Wiles
General Mgr., Buick; Exec. V.P., GM
"I wish some of your talent could be spread
around our corporation - you guys are the greatest!
I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to tell
you how I feel and my entire staff feel about the
artwork"
William L. Mitchell
V.P. Styling, GM
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"Your efforts played a great part in bringing
us to third place in the industry. Without
them our job of moving Pontiac up the ladder would
have been impossible.
S.E. (Bunkie) Knudsen
General Mgr., Pontiac; Exec. V.P., GM; President,
Ford
"Congratulations on having your work recognized
as "fine art", I always felt that you
and Van met all the criteria."
Robert
A Lutz
Vice-Chairman, GM |
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