Complete 1965 Pin-Up Calendar, Artist’s Sketch Book, Fritz Willis, VG+

Fritz Willis was an American artist best known for his erotic pinup illustrations. In his pencil and oil sketches, attention is placed on the languidly reclining model more so than the background, which renders his work both casual and intimate. Born on December 30, 1907 in Oklahoma City, OK, Willis studied at the Vesper George Art School in Boston before moving to Hollywood to work on production design for Warner Brothers. By 1947, Willis had obtained a position as pinup artist for Esquire magazine, marking the beginning of his work as a pinup artist for which he is known, producing iconic images of women known as the Willis Girls. Touted as the standard bearer for the classic American mid-century pinup, Willis also handled ad work for Pepsi, Sunkist, and Ice Follies. The artist died on January 13, 1979 in San Clemente, CA.