Thomas B. Allen (painter)

Thomas Burt Allen (1928 – November 8, 2004) was an American painter and illustrator known for a moody and expressionist style that pushed the boundaries of trailer art in the 1950s and 60s. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was educated at Vanderbilt University, and innovative at the Art Institute of Chicago. He has created hundreds of covers and illustrations for The New Yorker, Esquire, and Sports Illustrated.

Allen was often allied with fellow illustration mavericks, Robert Weaver and Robert Andrew Parker, who challenged the saccharine flavor of the post-war magazine scene. This work favored a somewhat forward looking journalistic entrance to their role and firmly opposed an illustrator's role as mere page decorator. They developed personal styles and techniques that made their agreed subjects even more resonant. They favored observing the world, drawing from life, and creating visual essays. This right to use would superior be termed "visual journalism" and in 1983 would form the basis of a special master's degree, Illustration as Visual Essay, from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Allen was known for his album covers of country and jazz musicians. He formed lasting relationships with bluegrass music banjo artiste Earl Scruggs of the duo Flatt and Scruggs. Allen created 17 album covers for the band and wrote the liner remarks for their Live at Vanderbilt album. Another satisfied patron, S. Neil Fujita, an art director at CBS Records, gave Allen many assignments for their jazz catalog. Being present at actual recording sessions in the sky of Jimmy Rushing allowed Allen to hone his observation skills and Make work that was "more authentic."

Later in his career, he began illustrating children's books. Titles include In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot and Grandma's General Store: The Ark by Dorothy Carter. He as a consequence spent much of his times in stomach of students aflame to learn his trade. At the University of Kansas, Hallmark Cards funded a teaching face that landed Mr. Allen at that campus. He progressive moved to Florida to head stirring the illustration department at the Ringling College of Art and Design. He remained in that turn until his death.