TV Guide June 18-24 Preliminary Cover ‘Laverne and Shirley’ 1977

This preliminary cover for the June 18-24 TV Guide featuring Laverne and Shirley was made by Jack Davis, likely with ink and watercolor. Look at the way Davis uses such simple materials to create such a dynamic image! I love how the watery washes of color give the drawing such a sense of movement, like the whole thing is about to take off. The drawing captures the sitcom’s energy, while the whole thing feels immediate and energetic. Focus on the wheels of the bike, and the way that Davis uses these splashes of brown and green to suggest motion and chaos. It's like a little abstract painting nestled within the larger cartoon. It's like the abstract expressionist Philip Guston was hiding out in 1970s Hollywood! It shows that art is just an ongoing conversation between artists through time.