Famous Artists Who Started as Illustrators and Cartoonists
Before their work graced museum walls or fetched sky-high prices at auctions, some of the most iconic artists of the 20th century were busy sketching for newspapers, illustrating books, or adding a little flair to the margins of magazines. For these artists, illustration and cartooning were essential parts of how they viewed and shaped the world around them.
Take Andy Warhol, for example. Long before he was turning soup cans into pop art icons, he was known for his whimsical, graphic commercial illustrations. John Sloan’s socially charged cartoons captured the grit and grind of city life, while Philip Guston’s playful, almost childlike drawings gave an early peek into the mind of an abstract expressionist giant. Saul Steinberg’s clever, surrealist cartoons danced between fine art and illustration, blurring boundaries before it was cool.
Then there’s Reginald Marsh (I’m going to play favorites and say that he’s my guy!), who brought the hustle and bustle of city streets to life with his vivid illustrations. And Charles Alston? He used his art to amplify African American voices and experiences, becoming a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance and showing that illustration could be a powerful tool for activism.
In many ways, these early works are just as captivating as the masterpieces that followed. They offer a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the creative journeys of artists who started in the margins—and ended up redefining the art world.
Now, let’s explore the surprising, delightful beginnings of artists who show us that sometimes, the margins are where the magic really begins.
Andy Warhol: From Fashion Illustrator to Pop Art Icon
Before Andy Warhol became synonymous with pop art and iconic paintings like Marilyn Diptych and Campbell’s Soup Cans, he made his mark as a fashion illustrator. Yep, before the fame and the Factory, Warhol was creating whimsical, delicate line drawings for magazines like Glamour. His signature blotted ink technique gave his illustrations this dreamy, almost ethereal vibe that set him apart from the crowd.
But here’s the thing—Warhol didn’t leave those commercial roots behind when he transitioned to fine art. Instead, he leaned in, taking everyday objects and turning them into some of the most iconic art pieces of the 20th century. His background in illustration shaped the way he saw the world, blurring the line between high art and pop culture until you couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. It’s that mix of commercial charm and artistic brilliance that made his work stand out—and it all started with those simple, stylish sketches.
John Sloan: Turning City Life into Art
Before John Sloan became a big name in the Ashcan School—known for its gritty, real-life portrayals of urban life—he was sharpening his skills as a newspaper illustrator and cartoonist. Working for papers like The Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Evening Call, Sloan captured the hustle and bustle of city streets with sharp lines and a knack for detail that brought his subjects to life. His cartoons weren’t just playful; they carried a strong sense of social commentary, reflecting the struggles and spirit of working-class life in the early 1900s.
When Sloan transitioned from cartoonist to painter, his focus on city life remained front and center. His painting McSorley’s Cats is a perfect example—it captures the warmth and character of a beloved New York bar, complete with the feline residents that made it feel like home. [Side note – if you are in the LA area and get a chance to go to The Huntington Library/Gallery in Pasadena, go check it out. Its one of my faves!]. His early work in illustration helped him hone his ability to depict candid, everyday moments, and that authenticity shines through in his paintings, making them feel as vibrant and relatable today as they did back then
Philip Guston: From Whimsical Cartoons to Powerful Paintings
Before Philip Guston became known for his bold, provocative paintings, he was drawing whimsical, almost cartoonish illustrations that hinted at the expressive force he would later unleash on canvas. Early in his career, Guston contributed comics to the Los Angeles Times and created politically charged murals. He also contributed illustrations to The New Masses, a Marxist magazine, using simple forms to explore deeper themes of identity and injustice.
His transition from lighthearted, playful sketches to the heavy, symbolic paintings we associate with his name today was anything but linear. Guston’s famous art pieces, filled with hooded KKK figures and other haunting imagery, still carry that cartoonist’s edge—proof that his roots in illustration never really left him. His ability to balance humor with weighty subject matter made his work both relatable and deeply impactful, a rare combination that continues to resonate.
Saul Steinberg: Blurring the Lines Between Art and Illustration
Saul Steinberg’s work defies easy categorization. Best known for his New Yorker cartoons, Steinberg transformed everyday scenes into surreal, thought-provoking visual narratives. His illustrations weren’t just fillers between articles—they were standalone pieces of art that played with perspective, abstraction, and satire.
Saul Steinberg’s work defies easy categorization. Best known for his New Yorker cartoons, Steinberg transformed everyday scenes into surreal, thought-provoking visual narratives. His illustrations weren’t just fillers between articles—they were standalone pieces of art that played with perspective, abstraction, and satire.
Steinberg’s background in architecture and design heavily influenced his illustrative style. His drawings often featured playful distortions and whimsical interpretations of urban life, blending the technical precision of an architect with the free spirit of a cartoonist. While many recognize his contributions to The New Yorker Magazine, his influence extended far beyond its pages. His ability to blur the boundaries between cartooning and fine art paved the way for future generations of artists who sought to challenge traditional definitions of art.
Reginald Marsh: Illustrating the Pulse of the City
Reginald Marsh had a knack for capturing the raw energy of city life. Before becoming known for his large-scale paintings, Marsh worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for publications like The New Yorker and Esquire. His illustrations were rich with detail, depicting everything from bustling Coney Island beaches to the gritty underbelly of New York’s Bowery. One of his cartoons that has always stood out as one of the most powerful cartoons I have ever seen is his depiction of American ugliness – a lynching. (See image below)
Marsh’s illustrations weren’t simply snapshots—they were dynamic portrayals of the human condition. His ability to infuse life and movement into his drawings translated seamlessly into his later paintings. The vibrant, almost theatrical quality of his famous artworks owes much to his background as a cartoonist, where he learned to distill complex scenes into visually engaging narratives.
Charles Alston: Using Art as a Voice for Change
Charles Alston made history as one of the first Black artists to illustrate the cover of The New Yorker Magazine, a groundbreaking achievement that reflected both his immense talent and his dedication to challenging racial barriers in the art world. Before that milestone, Alston created illustrations for African American publications such as The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP, using his art to highlight issues of racial equality and cultural pride.
As Alston transitioned into painting, his commitment to social justice remained at the heart of his work. He became a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, using bold colors and dynamic forms to amplify African American voices and experiences. His early work in illustration laid the foundation for his later, more abstract pieces, proving that art—whether on a magazine cover or a gallery wall—could be a powerful tool for activism and change.
From Cartoonist Drawings to Famous Art Pieces: The Creative Evolution
So, whether they were sketching cartoons for The New Yorker Magazine, illustrating fashion spreads, or capturing city life in bold strokes, these artists showed us that illustration isn’t just a stepping stone—it’s an art form in its own right. Their journeys remind us that creativity doesn’t always follow a straight path, and sometimes the doodles in the margins lead to masterpieces on the walls.
