As the President and only member of the Conrad Freiboe Appreciation Society, I present the first in a series of posts showcasing art by this prolific and underappreciated New Zealand Illustrator. Whether using delicate cross-hatching, paint or washes in his work I consider Freiboe one of the best draughtsman producing commercial during the mid twentieth century in New Zealand.
Lion Hunting - Illustrations by Conrad Frieboe
Another selection of children's reader illustrations by Conrad Freiboe. Freiboe was active as an illustrator for the New Zealand Ministry of Education during the 1940's -1960's and contributed to various New Zealand magazines during these decades.
Other work by Conrad Freiboe:
At Craig Bay Gallery - Illustrations by Conrad Frieboe
As the President of the Conrad Freiboe Appreciation Club, I'm still pleasantly surprised to discover new illustration work by him, above excerpted from a children's reader. I still know virtually nothing about Freiboe other than he was active as an illustrator for the New Zealand Ministry of Education during the 1940's -1960's as well as contributions to various magazines during these decades.
Other work by Conrad Freiboe:
Conrad Freiboe - The World of Tomorrow
Juliet Peter - The Sheep Farm
New Zealand Illustrator Juliet Peter (1915-2010) on her early art education in an interview with Art New Zealand,
We were staying with an aunt and uncle who were still farming in Canterbury, and the aunt - a practical, wonderful person - said to me 'Now dear, what do you want to do?' I mumbled that I didn't know, and she said 'Well dear, you have talent. How would you like to go to the School of Arts in Christchurch?' I probably said that would be just too wonderful. Being a busy, knowledgeable, practical person, she went off to Christchurch and then there was a free, four-year place waiting for me at the School of Art. She found a place for me at a student hostel where someone had to withdraw owing to illness. In no time at all I was embroiled in working for a diploma in fine arts, and, well, that's the end of that part of the story
Juliet Peter's husband Roy Cowan was also a prolific illustrator of the New Zealand School Journal.
Fishink blog have biographical notes and a gallery of Peter's work including some of her ceramic pieces.
Read Art New Zealand's interview with Juliet Peter here.
Below Juliet Peter's illustrations of The Sheep Farm - A Primary School Bulletin.
Tamariki Mataora - Conrad Freiboe
I've shared several examples of New Zealand illustrator Conrad Freiboe's work over the last few years, still a small pile to go under the scanner. I think Freiboe was every bit the draughtsman his fellow NZ illustrator Russell Clark was but sadly nowhere near as high profile. These images come from a Te Reo Maori book published by the Islands Education Division of the Department of Education. The book is not dated but presumably published in the 1960's when Freiboe worked on similar books.
Conrad Freiboe - The World of Tomorrow
