Mel Hunter
| Mel Hunter | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 27, 1927 Oak Park, Illinois, United States |
| Died | February 20, 2004 Ferrisburgh, Vermont, United States |
| Cause of death | Bone cancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Attended Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois |
| Occupation | Scientific illustrator |
| Known for | Science fiction illustration |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Smith-Hunter |
| Children | Lisa Hunter, Scott Hunter |
Milford "Mel" Joseph Hunter 111 (July 27, 1927 – February 20, 2004) was a 20th-century American illustrator. He enjoyed a successful career as a science fiction illustrator, producing illustrations for famous science fiction authors such as Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein, as well as a technical and scientific illustrator for clients such as The Pentagon, Hayden Planetarium, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Mel Hunter's life began with a troubled childhood in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was physically and psychologically abused by a humorless father. "He never knew his mother because she was banished from the household by his father when he was only two years old. While he never forgot the abuse, he didn't seem to dwell on it. Instead, he poured himself into his work and career," said his third wife, Susan Smith-Hunter.
Hunter entered college a year early, at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. After college he held a variety of odd jobs, but finally landed a draftsman job at Northrop Aircraft Corp in California. In 1950, Hunter decided to pursue a career in art and began to teach himself illustration in his spare time.
With a growing understanding of the fields of astronomy, astronautics, and aviation Hunter set out to teach himself book and magazine illustration. He moved to New York City during the early 1950s, and by 1953 he had successfully sold his first color cover to Galaxy Science Fiction magazine and talked himself into a technical illustrator at Northrop Aircraft where he painted illustrations of advanced aircraft and simulated combat scenarios.
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Wikipedia