Flying Models  -  October 1952

In this colorful artwork, Harold presents a lighthearted view of a group of modelers on their way to a contest in their jalopy

Air Trails - September 1952

A page of ideas for simple to make UC speed flying gear, drawn & designed by Harold.

Flying Models - February 1952

Flying Models - December 1951

Thanks, Tom, for your help in setting up this thread.


First, a bio of Harold Ransom Stevenson.

"Harold was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1924.  He saw extensive action in the US Navy during WW 2.  In 1948 he entered the Art Students League of New York.  Following this training he was selected by Norman Rockwell as one of a group of five advanced students to study with him in West Arlington, Vermont. entered the Art Students League in 1948. Following his training he was selected by Rockwell and  He studied with Norman Rockwell for several months before he was forced to return home.  For a ten year period following this, Harold was employed as a freelance magazine cover artist and illustrator, executing over 60 magazine covers and numerous illustrations for various national publications.During this time he did over 40 covers for Flying Models, Air Trails, AT Hobbies for Young Men, Young Men, American Modeler and Air Progress.  He flew controline models and ten of his designs were published in Flying Models and American Modeler.In 1960 Harold left illustration to devote full time to painting in the fine arts.  At this time he founded the Stevenson Academy of Traditional Painting in his home in Sea Cliff, Long Island. . History of the Stevenson Academy The founder of the Stevenson Academy of Traditional Painting, . In opening the academy, Mr. Stevenson sought to correct what he believed was the disastrous deterioration in training in the visual arts in this country. He believed that the great timeless methods of the old masters had been systematically diluted and nearly destroyed in the name of self-expression, and that this trend has been manifest in the unintelligible amateurism called "modern art". It had become difficult, if not impossible, for gifted and dedicated students to find the training necessary to master the art of drawing and painting in the classic manner. In 1965, Mr. Stevenson married a fellow artist named Alma Gallanos. During the seventies, Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson instituted their "New Renaissance Atelier", from which many students have become highly successful illustrators, portraitists and fine art painters. Harold Ransom Stevenson continued to teach until his death in 1985. One of his students and protégé was Attila Hejja.  Attila later became the director of the Stevenson Academy of Fine Arts.  In addition, Attila Hejja was an official artist for NASA and the USAF.  Attila Hejja died in 2007. "

The scope of this thread is to present his art and model airplane activities which largely took place between 1951 and 1965.

Al