Allen Rankin

The story goes, I had a crayon in my hand almost from birth. When I was two years old, we moved to south east Memphis into a new house. It was in the early fall. My mother found me drawing my first mural of orange pumpkins all over the walls in their new bedroom. At least I had the season correct and the subject matter fit. My grandmother was my earliest mentor. She always said I’d be an artist some day. Four years as an art major in high school was rare back in the day, but I managed to graduate high school and decided to go to art school. Vietnam was in full swing and a college deferment was favorable over getting drafted. I started at the Memphis Art Academy in May of 1970. It was a classic time to be there that four years. Ted Fairs, Burton Callicott, Ted Rust, Murray Riss, Dorothy Sturm, Veda Reed, Dolph Smith, Ron Pekar, Patrick Hughes and John McIntyre were amazing artists and I was so lucky to be there then. Many great painters, illustrators and photographers influenced me during my student years, all while I was playing gigs and keeping my music alive. Art school was an inspirational insulation from the real world of making a living. I started free lancing graphic design and photography while still a student. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, and still isn’t. A roof and food became necessary. My first job was as a designer and illustrator at the Pink Palace Museum. I worked there about three years enjoying being part of the Phase 1 growth of the museum expansion. Getting married and making babies is real motivation to kick fine arts inspiration, validity and aesthetics to the curb. I pursued a career in pre-press printing, rather than the art director/ad agency route. I occasionally free-lanced ad agencies and businesses, but with a wife and two kids, a steady paycheck was necessary. I had lots of jobs back in the pre-digital days as a camera operator, film stripper, plate maker, retouch artist, graphic designer, photographer, copywriter, art director and assisted on presses and in binderies. Learning so many trades has become useful. My learning has continued into our digital world, although I have no interest in texting or tweeting. I miss draftsmanship, working with my hands and getting dirty, but do love the convenience of technology. CMYK will always be my fav over RGB.

Currently, I’m interested in taking occasional freelance assignments, but writing, performing and recording music is very much my focus. I am writing and producing my first book of original cartoons and working on original humorous material for future publication. If any of my work samples interest you, contact me and we’ll discuss the possibilities. I’m not in the position to make donations or provide charity work and that goes for music too.

Phone: 901-647-0440
Email: arankin@allenrankin.com