By Deborah Wuehler
Do you have a child who can sit for hours drawing? Or, conversely, a child who feels like he can’t draw anything? Let me introduce you to a series of books that is perfect for both kinds of children! The Draw 50 series of books by Mr. Lee Ames has received high acclaim by young and old alike. These are some incredible books that I know your children will love. In fact, to illustrate their popularity, a study was done to see which nonfiction books were most circulated in junior high libraries. Drawing books were the mot circulated, and Mr. Ames’ books specifically ranked the highest. Mr. Ames started his career during the Great Depression drawing for Disney studios. Sit back and enjoy the intriguing dialogue we had regarding his life and career during these times:
TOS: How early did you know that art would be your career, Lee?
Lee Ames: As far back as I can remember, before I knew the word “art” or understood the word “career.” I have recollections of some of my early pencil drawings under age four; a horse (with no nostrils), and a sailor, etc. Drawing - art - I guess, has been a most favored activity ever since.
TOS: Lee, you were a child during the Great Depression. What was your family’s experience during that time?
Lee Ames: I remember helping my father in his tailor store delivering clothing to customers. Having lost his job, he pulled virtually all of our family savings out of the bank - $400 - and bought the store that contained a sewing machine, a pressing machine, and a huge 8’ x 8’ x 10’ heavy steel fur vault. Then we lived in a small three-room apartment attached to and behind the store. My mother attended the few store customers while Pop, who found a job as a clothing presser in Westchester County, worked a nine-hour day. He’d then come home and do the tailoring, the pressing and the paper work, which took up much of the night. Then, after a short sleep, he’d leave at four in the morning for the subway ride to his day job. In three years Pop had to sell the store at a considerable loss. We then moved to the Bronx. My father still had his Westchester job but had to add two more evening and night jobs to keep us afloat! And we were among the lucky ones!
TOS: So you learned from a young age how to work hard to help the family! After graduation, one of your first jobs was at Ross Sign Company painting wood and metal signs. Times being so hard, how did you get that job?
Lee Ames: I do remember searching for a job at the office employment agencies on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, New York. Many storefront bulletin boards placarded with paper slips offered very low paying job opportunities. As I recall, it was there I got the job at Ross Signs for $7.00 a week. Many old men, young men, teenagers, and a few women paraded the streets - searching, hoping, but mostly unable to get work.
TOS: I read that while you were in high school, you entered a job contest by sending your drawings to Disney and you won a summer job with them working on Fantasia and Pinocchio. How exciting! Do you think that entertainment such as the kind produced by Disney was a help during these hard times?
Lee Ames: I don’t think we kids considered those “hard times.” Our parents certainly did, but for us it was the norm. Back then television was a science fiction dream, but radio and movies (admission, 10 or 15 cents) did lighten our days. Disney’s cartoons as well as others, along with Westerns, provided prime pleasure then!
TOS: You have worked in animation, advertising, comic books, teaching, and illustrating books. Which is your favorite and why?
Lee Ames: That’s rather like asking which is my favorite child! However, my favorites are illustrating fiction and nonfiction books, cartooning and creating the instructional Draw 50s. Reasons: The joy of quiet, private research and creativity.
TOS: Lee, can you tell us how the highly successful Draw 50 series came about?
Lee Ames: While I was employed as an artist-in-residence at Doubleday, my editor suggested I write a book. Being a total graphics person up to that point, I didn’t feel qualified to “write!” But, I made the effort and produced a minimum text, maximum art book entitled Draw Draw Draw. Surprise! A modest success.
TOS: Later, you did it again, and thus began the Draw 50 series. Lee, the art of drawing has so many benefits to the student such as attention to detail, observing the world around them and mastering a skill. Why do you think the Draw 50 approach works so well for students?
Lee Ames: I think because the approach is simple and doesn’t appear threatening. It also promises attractive results.
TOS: There are so many Draw 50s to choose from! Which one of your resources would be a good starting point for beginning artists?
Lee Ames: Among the Draw 50s some are visibly simpler, some more complex. The better beginning books would be Draw 50 Animals, Draw 50 Animal ‘Toons, Draw 50 Cats and Draw 50 Dogs.
TOS: Some children are born artists and some are not. What advice would you give to parents of children who are very artistic, as well as to those whose children need more help?
Lee Ames: To parents and teachers: encourage, encourage, encourage! Minimize domineering criticism. If possible, instead of volunteering correction, offer correction only if requested.
TOS: Thank you, Mr. Ames, for sharing a piece of your life and especially your talent with us. I know many of our readers and their children will want to investigate your work further. I know that my family is extremely excited about your books! Readers, check out the sample lessons from the Draw 50 series of books right here—then turn to the contest section to see how several of you can win a number of books from this great series.
Lee and Jocelyn Ames have been married for over 57 years and have a son and a daughter and three grandchildren. He’s worked in animation, advertising, comic books, teaching, and illustrating books (about 150). Lee is the author of more than thirty books (mostly the Draw 50 series). He and his wife live in Southern California, but maintain membership in the Berndt Toast Gang, New York’s Chapter of the National Cartoonist’s Society.
Deborah Wuehler is the chief contributing writer for Chapel, and Devotional Door e-Newsletter creator. She resides in Roseville, California, with her husband Richard and their six gifts from heaven. She loves digging for buried treasure in the Word, reading, writing, homeschooling, and dark chocolate. Email her at dwuehler@surewest.net.
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