ERIC SLOANE

A widely-known popular artist, author and historian, Eric Sloane (1905-1985) was famous for his books of pen-and-ink illustrations of Americana, especially Colonial-period tools, barns and covered bridges. He may also have been the first television weatherman. Combining his interests in weather and art, he made drawings and paintings of clouds (called "cloudscapes") while flying with Wiley Post, the flamboyant one-eyed pilot who later perished in a crash with Will Rogers. During World War II, Sloane's knowledge of aerial observation undoubtedly contributed to his decision to both write and illustrate Camouflage Simplified, an amazingly thorough account of the theory and practice of camouflage.

Sloane was a remarkable landscape painter - one of his murals graces the walls of the Smithsonian Air and Space museum - but he is best known for his books on various aspects of history, craft and American tradition - books featuring not only his evocative illustrations, but his unique hand-lettered titles and insightful distillations of history and practical philosophy from the perspective of a craftsman.

read his BIOGRAPHY