Mid-60s Mitchell Hooks

Here's a mid-1960s Reader's Digest Condensed Books story illustrated by Mitchell Hooks.



You could see hints of this sketchy style in the mid-to-late '50s paperback covers we looked at yesterday, couldn't you?





Frankly, I so love the technique Mitchell used for this series...



... that I had to include several close-cropped excerpts today. I wanted you to be able to see the detail; the lively action in that gorgeous sketchiness.











Also note the riotous use of strong, bright colour. Isn't it fantastic? A reflection of the times, I would guess (it was, after all, the '60s).





So who inspired all this sketchiness and these candy-bright, unnatural colour schemes?



No doubt there were many factors...



But I'll bet one major influence (not just on Mitchell, but on the whole industry) was Bob Peak.



* My Mitchell Hooks Flickr set.