RIP C01T Founder, Jim French Dies

[haiducii]

It is with a very heavy heart we report to you, that Jim French, the founder of C01T Studio has passed away in his sleep in his home in Palm Springs, California. He was 84 years old. Even though Mr. French has not been involved with C01T Studio Group since 2003 he will be forever missed and admired for his great body of work.

French was born on July 14, 1932, and quickly developed a taste for the fine arts. He attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art from 1950 to 1954 with an eye towards a career in fashion illustration along the lines of J.C. Leyendecker. Following college, he enlisted in the Army, serving for two years and earning an honorable discharge. With photography quickly taking the place of fashion illustration advertising, French became a freelance advertising illustrator.

In his spare time, French began creating romantic homoerotic illustrations under the pseudonym Arion, largely in the period from 1964-65. In early-1966, French's illustrations under the Arion name were first offered via mail order by Arion Studio, based in New York City. It is unknown if this was a solo venture run by French or a precursor to The Luger Studio, but the venture was short-lived, resulting in only one mailing. French's Arion drawings were also offered in 1966 via Ed Wild's Times Square Studio.

In mid-1966, French was approached by an old Army friend Saul Stollman, who was aware of French's Arion drawings, to create a physique studio, again operated out of New York City. The two went into business as The Luger Studio...

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[gorgik9]

To me it's interesting to note, that Leyendecker was an important early source of inspriration for Jim French.

 

[trypt]

RIP. He lived a full life, that's all anyone can ask of life I guess.