William Henry Archibald Constable b. 1906

Also known as Will Constable, Bill Constable, William Constable
  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator),
  • Artist (Painter),
  • Artist (Screen Artist)
Mid 20th century film and stage designer, painter, cartoonist, printmaker and illustrator.
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Name
William Henry Archibald Constable
Also known as:
  • Will Constable
  • Bill Constable
  • William Constable
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Printmaker)
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
  • Artist (Painter)
  • Artist (Screen Artist)
Other Occupation
  • Stage designer
  • Writer
  • Film designer
Birth date
1906
Birth place
Eaglehawk, Vic.
Death date
1989
Active Period
  • c.1926 - c.1961
Residence
  • c.1956 - c.1961 United Kingdom
Training
  • 1930 St Martin's, London, England, UK
  • c.1926 - c.1929 National Gallery of Victoria School, Melbourne, Vic.
  • Castlemaine Technical College, Castlemaine, Vic.
Languages
  • English
Initial Record Data Source
  • Black and white artists

Difference between this version and previous

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Biography <p></p>film and stage designer, painter, cartoonist, printmaker and illustrator, was born in Eaglehawk, Vic. He studied at Castlemaine Technical College, then at the NGV School from c.1926 and at St Martin's, London, in 1930. He worked in advertising and contributed story illustrations and cartoons to <i>_Australia: National Journal</i>_ , collected in <i>_Australia Week-end Book</i>_ vol.1 (1942), e.g. circus pic p.35 "Perhaps we Zebras are allergic to train travel"; (2 Aussie soldiers in snow in England) "You know, to have a real Christmas, you must have real Christmas weather. Gosh, think of all those lucky cows in Libya!"; strange glass-eating satyr illustrating Roger Welch's 'Gastronomical Blues', p.58. Other work appeared later: vol.2 (1943), pp.48, 189 ('Trophies', showing airman who has souvenired a halo and an angel's wing, rather weakly drawn); vol.3 (1944) story illustrations; vol.4 (1945), small illustrated comic story about English squire and maid, p.20; vol.5 (1946), small story illustrations. <p></p>

Later Constable turned to stage design, especially for the Borovansky Ballet, then for the National Theatre, Sydney. His best-known Australian designs were for the ballet 'Corroboree', Sydney 1951 (originals in Opera House Museum - now SLNSW? - and AGNSW). Worked in UK from late 1950s until 1961. <p></p>