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Al Andersen
Artist Bio:
Albert Joseph “Al” Andersen (1916–1998) was born in Kingman, Arizona, on December 27, 1916. After serving in the military, he used his G.I. benefits to study at Chouinard School of Art and the Los Angeles Art Center.
Following art school, Andersen spent five years in the art department at Douglas Aircraft, then worked for several years at Northrop Corporation. He later worked as an illustrator for Hughes Helicopters for seventeen years.
During his spare time, Andersen did freelance work for Western Publishing, creating children’s books, paper dolls, games, and related artwork. He remarked that this work for children was more enjoyable than his aircraft illustration work. After taking early retirement, he painted landscapes, seascapes, animals, and portraits in oils.
Sources: Paper Dolls and Their Artists, Revised Edition by Mary Young (1993); genealogical and obituary records.
This artist entry is part of the OPDAG Paper Doll Artists Index, an ongoing research project. Entries are updated as new information is confirmed. We welcome corrections, additions, publication information, images, and other materials that help preserve and document the work of paper doll artists. Please contact Jenny Taliadoros at info@opdag.com if you have information to share.
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Selected Titles:
Whitman Publishing Co.:
Lennon Sisters, #1979 (1958)
Dennis the Menace, #1991 (1960)
Debbie Reynolds, #1956 (1960)
Barbie and Ken, #1971 (1962)
Barbie and Ken, #4797 (box, 1962)
Barbie Doll, #1963 (1962)
Debbie Reynolds, #1948 (1962)
Barbie Cut-Outs, #1962 (1963)
Lennon Sisters, #1995 (1963)
Lucy, #4610 (1963)
Lucy and Her TV Family, #1991 (1963)
Nurses Three, #1964 (1964)
Watkins-Strathmore Co.:
Cynthia Pepper, #1818-A (1963)
Reprint of Cynthia Pepper: Candy, #1820-A and #1820-4 (doll redrawn).
Research Note:
Our research has uncovered a discrepancy regarding the artist attribution for several early Barbie paper doll books. A Mattel representative has credited these titles to pulp artist Al (Allen) Anderson, while Mary Young’s Paper Dolls and Their Artists (1993) attributes them to Al Andersen, a different artist with a similar name. For purposes of this index, the titles are attributed to Al Andersen, following Young’s research. This attribution will be updated if additional documentation becomes available.
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Barbie Cut-Outs #1962, by Al Andersen