Roy Best

Roy Best was an American illustrator and painter of pin-up girls. He was born in Waverly, Ohio on December 3, 1892 and attended the Art Institute of Cincinnati, working on a railroad construction crew to support himself. He later enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago.

 

Later, Best was represented in New York City by American Artists. During this time he painted several covers for The Saturday Evening Post. By 1931, Best was painting pin-ups for the Joseph C. Hoover & Sons calendar company. That same year, he was commissioned by the Whitman Publishing Company to illustrate The Peter Pan Picture Book, based on J. M. Barrie’s play Peter Pan; an illustration from this project was the basis for the Peter Pan Bus Lines logo. He illustrated many other children’s books, including “Little Friends from Many Lands” by Mary Windsor (Whitman Publishing Company, 1935). He also painted a number of well-known actresses such as Grace Kelly.

 

In 1942, Best was hired by Brown and Bigelow leading to a career producing calendar pin-ups.

 

In later years, he was best known for his corporate-commissioned oil portraiture, and watercolor landscapes of Cape Cod, his retirement home.

Gallery of Roy Best

4 thoughts on “Best, Roy”

  1. In this world all is possible, is is not original can buy a certificate copy, many artist make, Have great 2023

  2. I have 2 Roy West pin ups. They were my late Aunts. We don’t know if they are paintings or prints. Can you help make suggestions on selling these please?

    1. You would have to find an art auction house that would have paintings like these available for bidding. I doubt you will find the original painting by Roy Best that you are inquiring about.

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