Authors & Illustrators Born in the Month of July Martin Provensen • July 10th
Martin and Alice Provensen
Alice Rose Provensen (née Twitchell; August 14, 1918 – April 23, 2018) and Martin Provensen (July 10, 1916 – March 27, 1987) were an American couple who illustrated more than 40 children's books together, 19 of which they also wrote and edited. According to Alice, "we were a true collaboration. Martin and I really were one artist."
Both of the Provensens were born in Chicago, moved to California when they were twelve, attended the Art Institute in Chicago and returned to California to work in the movies, Alice for Walter Lanz Studios and Martin for Walt Disney. Oddly, they didn’t meet until Martin was assigned to the Walter Lanz Studios for a war-effort film.
Original painting for an Illustration for "The Color Kittens" by Alice and Martin Provensen
Illustration from "Funny Bunny" by Alice and Martin Provensen
Illustration from "Animal Fair, " 1952 by Alice and Martin Provensen
Original painting for "How the Recognize a Wolf" by Alice and Martin Provensen
Illustration from "Funny Bunny," 1950 by Alice and Martin Provensen
They lived much of their lives at Maple Hill Farm in Dutchess County, New York, which they portrayed in A Year at Maple Hill Farm (1978) as well as Our Animal Friends.
Martin tragically died of a heart attack in 1987, but Alice continued to work until her death at 4 months before her 100th birthday.
Illustration from "Animal Fair, " 1952 by Alice and Martin Provensen