Jim Tanaka
1917-2008

Jim Tanaka, a former resident of Rockland County has had his works exhibited locally by the Rockland Center for the Arts, The Asian American Invitational, Pepsi Cola, Sotheby-Parke Bernet Gallery, and The Jazz Center in New York.

 

Originally an artist for Walt Disney, Tanaka's work included the artwork for commercial products like Donald Duck Orange Juice. His Jazz Poster series have been extremely popular, as evidenced by the many on line venues selling his work, 'Stompin at the Savoy' is a prime example. The University of Michigan Museum of Art houses 'Calligraphic Horse' an outstanding example of his work with pen and watercolor. Tanaka's works are also in the collections of The Revlon Corporation, McGraw Hill Publishing Co., Bergen Community College and the Hartford Traveler's Insurance Co.

Born in Reno, Nevada, Tanaka grew up in Los Angeles, California where he attended the Chouinard Art Institute. In the East he continued his studies at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students League in New York City as the pupil of such eminent painters as Robert Brackman, Rico Lebruin, Claire Romano and the late Rene Bouche. He also studied with one of the famous wood block artists of Japan, Fumio Kitaoka.

Jim Tanaka died in 2008 of cardiac failure, he was 91.
His son, Mark recalled "...my dad as a warm, enthusiastic guy who tried to make the most of life. That's pretty much how he was till the day he died."