William Andrew Loomis was an American commercial illustrator painter art educator and writer born on June 15 1892 in Syracuse New York and died on May 25 1959 in Los Angeles California. He is best known for his work in advertising and print media during the first half of the 20th century. His approach of integrating fine art aesthetics with product promotion contributed significantly to the advertising sensibilities of his era. The visuals he created for brands such as Coca-Cola Kellogg’s Quaker Oats Palmolive and Budweiser featured compositions that reflected an idealized vision of American life.

Andrew Loomis "Dione Quintuplets Brown and Bigelow Calendar"Flickr)

Early Life and Education

Loomis spent his childhood in Zanesville Ohio. In 1911 he joined the Art Students League of New York where he studied under Frank DuMond and George Bridgman. He later attended the Art Institute of Chicago and worked in the studio of Charles Daniel Frey. In 1917 he enlisted in World War I and spent half of his 20-month service with the Engineering Corps in France. After the war he returned to Chicago where he worked for various advertising agencies and established his own studio in 1922.

Commercial Illustration and Artistic Work

Loomis is renowned for his advertising illustrations that harmonized products with artistic narrative. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s he produced visuals for companies such as Quaker Oats Coca-Cola Munsingwear Palmolive Studebaker Kellogg’s and Mars Inc. The packaging design for Cracker Jack and promotional imagery for the 3 Musketeers chocolate bar were created during this period.

In his advertising work he emphasized composition light and shadow balance and color usage designing visuals that directed the viewer’s attention both to the product and to the overall scene.

Andrew Loomis "The Defendant"Flickr)

Art Education and Publications

Beginning in the 1930s Loomis taught at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and later compiled his teaching experience into a series of influential books. His major publications include:

• Fun with a Pencil (1939) – A beginner-friendly and engaging introduction to drawing.
• Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth (1943) – A comprehensive guide to human figure drawing with technical insights and visual examples.
• Creative Illustration (1947) – An in-depth exploration of composition color tone and narrative in illustration.
• Successful Drawing (1951) – Foundational principles of perspective proportion form and pattern.
• Drawing the Head and Hands (1956) – Anatomical and structural approaches to drawing the head and hands.
• The Eye of the Painter and the Elements of Beauty (1961) – Reflections on aesthetic elements in art published posthumously.
• I’d Love to Draw (2014) – Unfinished sketches and notes published with contributions from Alex Ross.

Drawing the Head and HandsPenguin Books)

Artistic Approach and Techniques

Loomis is renowned for a technique he developed for portrait drawing known as the Loomis Method. This method treats the skull as a geometric structure to facilitate accurate placement of facial features from various angles. In his work he systematically addressed form light color harmony and composition.

Key Works

• Sears Magazine Cover (c. 1927)
• Budweiser Inside America’s Social Friend (c. 1930–1939)
• Marriage (1940–1949)
• Corn Flakes Advertisement (20th century)

Legacy and Influence

Loomis’s publications have served as reference materials for art students and professional illustrators since the second half of the 20th century. Artists such as Alex Ross Steve Lieber Steve Rude and Dick Giordano have acknowledged his influence. Reprinted faithfully by Titan Books between 2011 and 2013 his works continue to be used in the 21st century. Loomis has secured a lasting place in both commercial illustration and art education.

Andrew Loomis "Glamour Portrait"Flickr)