Don Berry

Chapter 1: The Early Years

It's not unusual for pre-school kids to draw and paint, but only a few, it seems, continue doing so into adulthood. I'm one of those. I have always known I was an artist and never seriously considered another field.

I drew constantly as a child. My father would bring home reams of documents from his job at the post office. The backs of the pages were blank, and that became my first supply of drawing paper. I drew from the Sunday comics, magazines and, when we got one, the TV. Local stations had various kid's programs in the early 1950's, and one of those featured an artist, Chuck Wagon, who gave drawing lessons on the program. Kids would send in their drawings for prizes and he would show them on television. I was thrilled to win a model kit after many submissions. I also remember drawing Woody Woodpecker with lessons by Walter Lantz on his national TV program.

In my early teens I studied drawing, painting, and design on my own through an Art Instruction Schools correspondence course. I did that because there wasn't much in the way of art instruction in public schools in Tucson until I reached my junior year in high school. When finally allowed in, I spent all free school time in the art classrooms. I graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1965 with the threat of the military draft looming, the Viet Nam War escalating, and the country in cultural turmoil.

One of my High School art teachers, George Davies, was very supportive and we continued our association after I graduated. He started a small business, Ski Haus, and asked me to help with signs and advertising graphics, and to work as a part-time sales person in the store.

Ski Haus logo, 1965. The lettering is freehand calligraphy.

These letters were cut from wood.

 

The University of Arizona

In the Fall of 1965, I enrolled in the University of Arizona Art Department as a studio art major. Along with traditional painting, drawing and printmaking, I included many classes in illustration and graphic design. My job at Ski Haus and my parent's offer to let me continue to live with them provided the support needed to complete the program, and I graduated with a BFA degree in 1969.

A few surviving samples of paintings, illustrations and designs done as an undergraduate student.

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Critique time in an illustration class, 1968

My first book illustration project, "The Book of John" was written and self-published by Hugh Holub, a campus gadfly. I also did some work for his satirical campus newspaper, "The Frumious Bandersnatch", a wildly popular underground publication that lampooned campus life. He revived the Bandersnatch as an internet-based news parody 30 years later.

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This was a group project done with classmates that included Dave Castelan, Maureen Murray, Gayle Lelo and others. We called it a storybox. The boxes fit into each other and were pulled out as the story was read.

Two examples of cartoons for the Arizona Wildcat, the campus newspaper.

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This ballerina painting was awarded first place in a student art show in 1967. I also received a first place award for drawing in another student show in 1968, but that piece, a charcoal portrait of a model, was lost.

This was my solution for an invitation assignment for an illustration class. The card in the coffin reads: "You are cordially invited to fill a recent vacancy in the armed forces of the United States of America". It turned out to be prescient.

I began illustrating professionally for local clients while still an undergraduate. I found this area of art to be very interesting and challenging and it provided some income, always a great motivator.

Illustrations for a TV spot for KIKX radio--1969

A booklet cover for Ski Haus, 1969

After graduation, one of my professors, Jerald Bishop, offered a teaching position in the UofA fine arts summer session. The university created the session for high school students who might be interested in enrolling in the art college. It was only 2 weeks, very informal, great fun and instilled an interest in teaching that I pursued later.

Also that summer, another professor, Carl Heldt, called to say that Bell South was seeking student work to include in a calendar featuring young artists in the western region. He said they needed something right away. I stayed up all night to create an illustration titled "Little Boy Lost". It was placed in the January slot of the 1970 Bell South calendar and was my first piece published outside the local market.

Levy's

Professor Heldt was also responsible for my first full-time job as an artist. He told me that the advertising department of Levy's, then a major department store in Tucson, was seeking new talent. He recommened me to the manager of the department, U. C."Charlie" Drayer, a diminutive, energetic, chain-smoking man who seemed to be in perpetual motion. My interview went well and I was hired. I began work the next week, in August of 1969, at $2/hour. Charlie took me under his wing and made it no secret that he wanted to groom me for a bigger role in the department. I began work as the store was preparing for a transition to it's spacious new building then nearing completion in another part of El Con Mall. I was thrust into a very busy period of heavy advertising and change for Levy's and it's advertising department.

In my brief time there I met and learned to work with artists and copywriters under the pressure of tight daily deadlines. They were a tightly-knit, lively, funny, productive crew and they quickly embraced me as a co-worker and friend. I learned so very much from them all, especially the art director, Bill Browne, a master furniture illustrator and layout artist.

Soon after the move to the new store, Anthony Monaco, a recent transplant from New Jersey, was hired as an advertising artist. We became very good friends and, along with Patricia and Sunny, his wife and young daughter, formed a bond that has lasted to this day. Another new face, Barbara Atwood, appeared in the department at that time. Hired through a connection with her father and Mr. Levy, she was in transition and undecided about a life direction. Her infectious friendliness and self-effacing humor were a good fit for the department. I was surprised to discover that a friend of mine from painting classes at school, Mary Ellen Dickerson (now Mary Ellen Purdy), was her sister. Barbara liked my artwork and occasional display of wit, and we enjoyed each others company for a brief, magical time. Together we absorbed the spirit of the 60's through the music and movies of that era.

It's difficult to express how important and rich the Levy's experience was for me. Unfortunately, no examples of my work survived. It included illustrations of furniture, fashions, appliances, toys and other art as needed for the various departments in the store. I enjoyed my role and felt that there was a future for me there. Career expectations came to an abrupt end when I received a draft notice in November. On December 3, 1969, I was bussed to Phoenix for the first stages of processing into the Army.