Conrad Shinn

(1887-1951)

(Cobb Shinn, Cobb X, Cobb X Shinn, Uncle Cobb, Tom Yab)

Cobb Shinn was born in September 4, 1887 in Fillmore, Indiana to Roscoe and Emma Pierce Shinn. His family later moved to Indianapolis where he took art classes at the local YMCA. His formal art education began in 1907 when he enrolled at the John Heron School of Art.

He was mainly known as a postcard artist. His work can be found as early as 1907 and his most popular pictures were of children, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and a large series of postcards created for Ford.

Some of his postcards have phrases and ideas that mimic the German or Dutch accent that was prevalent among many of the immigrants. This probably would not be popular in today’s politically correct atmosphere.

Shinn served in World War I and was stationed in France where he used his artistic talents to paint scenes on large canvases to cover military equipment from German aircraft.

When he returned home, he found that the demand for postcards was dwindling and so he turned to other forms of commercial art. He produced comic strips and illustrated children’s books. The books that he created under the name Uncle Cobb taught simple steps to drawing that children could complete right in the book.

Later he created what were some of the first books of clip art that publishers could purchase and include in their publications. Many of the designs were purchased by Shinn from other journeymen artists of the time. These books were called Cutalogs.

Conrad “Cobb X” Shinn passed away January 28, 1951 at Greenwood, Indiana.