Thollander, Earl (1922-2001) — Morton Salt Co. Grand Saline, Texas the Loading Machine Operator

Grand Saline, Texas: 1957. Original ink and watercolor. 12 x 9 inches. Signed, titled and dated. Earl Thollander had more than 61 one-man shows. He illustrated 32 children's books and 20 cookbooks before he began to write, design and illustrate his own books. His first, "Back Roads of California" remained in print for 26 years. He wrote 10 books in all. In 1960, Thollander became a freelance artist, pursuing his fine art interests along with commercial assignments. As the years progressed, he eventually illustrated thirty-two children's books and twenty cookbooks, then, in 1970, began work on ten of his own books that he wrote, designed and illustrated, four of which remain in print at this time. His original book that started the acclaimed series "Back Roads of California," was published by Sunset Books for twenty-six years. Travel became a very important part of his life, and in 1974 he began to take sketching trips abroad, on which he served as escort to artists and others. By 1998 he had visited seventy-one countries. .