George S. Gaadt

George S. Gaadt
Born(1941-12-21)December 21, 1941
Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
DiedApril 2, 2022(2022-04-02) (aged 80)
EducationColumbus College of Art and Design
OccupationIllustrator
Known forMilitary, historical, and sports art
Spouse
Ann Stentz
​
(m. 1966)​
Children2
Websitewww.gaadtstudio.com

George Stephen Gaadt[1] (December 21, 1941, Erie—April 2, 2022)[2] was an American artist and illustrator best known for his military and sports artwork.[3] Based in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Gaadt was a military history buff[4] and a photographer and illustrator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.[5][4][6][7] He also fulfilled freelance commissions for companies and organizations including Sports Illustrated, Nestlé, the Montreal Canadiens, National Geographic, and Kodak.[8][9]

Early life and education[edit]

Gaadt was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on December 21, 1941.[2] As a child, he became fascinated with military history and began drawing war helmets.[4] After graduating from Technical Memorial High School in Erie,[10] where he was taught by Joseph Plavcan,[11] he studied illustration at Columbus College of Art and Design.[12] He completed a ten-week training course with Hallmark Cards during his junior year but plans to return were interrupted by his conscription into the United States Marine Corps in April 1966. However, due to existing back problems, his service was deferred and he finished his degree that June.[13]

Career[edit]

Gaadt worked for a handful of studios in his early career, including for Federman Adams Advertising Studio in Pittsburgh as an advertising illustrator.[14] He became a photographer for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970 and worked with the organization in different artistic capacities until 1995.[13][5] In 1979, he created a limited edition commemorative portrait to celebrate Carl Yastrzemski becoming the fourth baseball player in MLB history to hit over 400 home runs and 3,000 hits.[15] He also produced paintings for the Steelers' 50th and 75th anniversaries. In addition to the NFL, Gaadt also worked on projects for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame,[10][4] and made a limited edition graphic to celebrate the Montreal Canadiens' 1979 Stanley Cup win.[8]

In 1974, Gaadt and his brother David held a joint illustration exhibition at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.[16] By 1986, they had worked for a variety of publications, including Sports Illustrated, TV Guide, and National Geographic, and clients such as Kodak, Wrangler Jeans, and Nestlé. Between them, they received awards from the Art Directors Club of New York, the New York Society of Illustrators, the Charlotte Society of Communicating Arts, and the Piedmont Triad Advertising Federation.[9]

Gaadt's painting "Last Stand at Fort Ligonier"[citation needed] was included in the 200 Years of American Illustration exhibition held by the New York Society of Illustrators and the New-York Historical Society, in 1976.[1][17] In 1981, he won an Addy Award as part of the Houck Advertising team in the "business publication/spreads & multiple pages, color" category.[18] His Star Wars artwork was published in a 1982 Reader's Digest article called George Lucas, Skywalker Supreme, and was later made into a Topps Star Wars Galaxy card.[19] Another Star Wars painting was included alongside an interview with Mark Hamill in Questar magazine.[20] By 1996, he had also illustrated the covers of six Hardy Boys books.[21]

Part of Gaadt's creation process for his military paintings was to conduct extensive research, including interviewing veterans and their families, to ensure accuracy and precision.[4][6][2][22] Though particularly interested in World War I,[23][4] Gaadt's paintings and graphics covered battles from a wide range of American history, including regiments from the French-Indian War,[7] the Battle of the Bulge (including the Malmedy massacre),[24][2] the Tuskegee Airmen,[25] and the Boston Massacre.[26] His 2001 piece "America's Past, Present & Future", presented at a conference in Germany just days after 9/11, showed US Army uniforms through the ages.[27]

Gaadt also taught drawing and illustration classes and workshops, particularly aimed at children,[28][29][30][31][32] and lectured at Carnegie-Mellon University.[33] Throughout his life, he was a very involved member of the Sewickley community, contributing four large historical murals to Monongahela Valley area revitalization efforts in 1989[34] and participating in local events such as workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and photography competitions.[32][35][28] He also served on the executive boards of the Sewickley Valley Historical Society,[36][2] the Sweetwater Center for the Arts, and the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society.[2]

In 1991, Gaadt received an Outstanding Alumnus Award and was awarded with an honorary Master's of Visual Arts degree from Columbus College of Art and Design.[37][12][17] Throughout his career, he was also individually recognized by the Juror-New York Society of Illustrators and the NASA Art Team.[17] Professionally, he was a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Ohio Valley Military Society, and the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators.[1][2]

Selected works[edit]

Gaadt's illustrations are included in the following books:

Additionally, Gaadt wrote and illustrated Walter Foster Publishing's I Can Draw series, including:

  • 1994 - I Can Draw Things That Move. Worldwide Media Services. ISBN 9781560101727.
  • 1997 - I Can Draw Sea Creatures. Walter Foster Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9781560102380.
  • 1997 - I Can Draw Big Machines. Walter Foster Publishing. ISBN 9781560102397.

Personal life[edit]

Gaadt married Ann Stentz, a fellow Columbus College graduate, in 1966; they had two children.[14][2] He taught youth soccer in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[41]

A military history buff, Gaadt participated in Great War reenactments as a German soldier, as a nod to his ancestry, for more than 30 years. He also collected World War II memorabilia.[4]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Laurel Arts hosts exhibit in honor of bicentennial". The Daily American. Somertset, Pennsylvania, USA. 2004-04-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "George S. Gaadt". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 2022. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  3. ^ "Sewickley's Historic Civil War Quilt". Not Retired from Learning. 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Conley, Patti (2018-11-11). "Gone but not forgotten". Times Online. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  5. ^ a b Rooney, Art; Rooney Jr., Arthur J. (2008). Ruanaidh - The Story of Art Rooney and His Clan. ISBN 9780981476032.
  6. ^ a b Thomas, Clarke (2000-11-08). "Wartime lives". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Shaw, Kurt (2016-06-25). "'History Inspires' new Fort Pitt exhibit". TribLive. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  8. ^ a b "La grande tradition". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 1979-05-26. p. 85. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Communicating Arts Society". News and Record. Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. 1986-11-02. p. 119. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Cuneo, Kevin (2022-04-11). "New clubhouse completes UPMC Park's major renovations". Go Erie. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  11. ^ Cuneo, Kevin (November 18, 1982). "The Painter was a Teacher". Erie Times-News.
  12. ^ a b "CCAD Alumni Awards". Columbus College of Art and Design. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  13. ^ a b Gaadt, George (2009). "Feature: George Gaadt" (PDF). Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators. pp. 2–3.
  14. ^ a b "Couple exchange vows and double ring rites". Livingston County Daily Press and Argus. Howell, Michigan, USA. 1966-11-02. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Yaz 3000". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachsuetts, USA. 1979-09-10. p. 35. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Exhibitions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 1974-12-20. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Pittsburgh Oil Painters". Western Pennsylvania Oil Paint. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18.
  18. ^ "Addy awards 1981". The Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia, USA. 1982-02-07. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "George Lucas' portrait original painting by George S. Gaadt". Science Fiction Archives. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  20. ^ "Lot #1635: STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - William Plumb Collection: Hand-painted George Gaadt Questar Magazine Illustration". Prop Store Auction. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  21. ^ Gannon, Mary Lee (1996-10-02). "You can't fool children, author says". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 62. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Lambert, Tim (2019-06-05). "How a Pennsylvania man ended up in an iconic D-Day invasion photo". WITF. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  23. ^ "Sewickley". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 1997-11-19. p. 90. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b Fatal Crossroads: The Untold Story of the Malmedy Massacre at the Battle of the Bulge. Da Capo Press. 2012. p. iv. ISBN 9780306811937.
  25. ^ Smith, Breanna (2021-02-23). "The Tuskegee Airmen". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  26. ^ Druckenbrod, Andrew (2003-07-22). "Illustrators' show enlightening; New Music Ensemble impressive". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 19. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "The Collective Works of PSI" (PDF). Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators. 2019. p. 9.
  28. ^ a b "Among this session's notable classes..." News Record. North Hills, Pennsylvania, USA. 1983-04-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "'Author's Day' slated for Tuesday". News Record. North Hills, Pennsylvania, USA. 1996-04-17. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Classes for teen-agers include..." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 1983-01-13. p. 39. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "2 - Trolley Show". The Pittburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 1980-04-06. p. 130. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b Miller, Donald (2000-08-27). "Exhibition paints impressive picture of Sewickley artists". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 83. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Fred Carlson: The Illustration Man" (PDF). Focus. Vol. 13, no. 7. Carnegie Mellon-University. May 1984. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  34. ^ Herron, Clara (1989-11-02). "Artist's images promote appeal of Mon Valley". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 75. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "'Dungeons, Dragons' in Shaler". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 1981-11-11. p. 76. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Group meets tonight". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 1996-09-25. p. 75. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Epperson, Sharon (1991-06-19). "Achievers". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1975: January-June. Library of Congress. 1976. p. 2578.
  39. ^ "Whitman's Thorpe book will go on sale soon". The Marion Star. Marion, Ohio, USA. 1984-05-17. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Stewart, Charlie. "Non-Fiction Stick and Learn™ books". Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  41. ^ O'Reilly, Larry (1983-06-09). "Soccer a kick for adults". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. p. 83. Retrieved 2024-02-21 – via newspapers.com.
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