Roy Lichtenstein

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#1   Initially Roy Lichtenstein was not a comic book enthusiast

Roy Lichtenstein was born on October 27, 1923 in a Jewish family. As a boy he was not a comic book fan although later, comic strips would provide inspiration for his best known works.

#2   He started as a Cubist Artist

Roy Lichtenstein’s initially worked in Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. By late 1950s, however, his works included hidden images of cartoon characters.

#3   His son drove him towards Pop Art

His 1961 painting Look Mickey is regarded as the bridge between his Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art works. He created the painting after his son challenged him by pointing out to a Mickey Mouse comic book and saying, “I bet you can’t paint as good as that, eh, Dad?”

Look Mickey by Roy Lichtenstein

#4   Art critics severely criticized his work and called him a copycat

First time his work was exhibited it was heavily criticized by art critics and the Life magazine went to the extent of publishing an article whose title asked “Is He the Worst Artist in the U.S.?” Lichtenstein was also called a copycat by many as his works closely resembled the originals. With time, however, he was considered as one of the greatest artists of the Pop Art Movement.

As I Opened Fire by Roy Lichtenstein

#5   ‘Whaam!’ is Roy Lichtenstein’s most famous painting

Lichtenstein’s ‘Whaam!’ is an iconic work of the Pop Art movement and perhaps his most famous painting. ‘Whaam!’ is one of the several works by Roy which depict aerial combat. Lichtenstein had a three year stint in the United States army from 1943 to 1946. During that stint, he was sent to pilot training but the program was cancelled. The other monumental war painting by Lichtenstein is ‘As I Opened Fire’.

#6   The cartoon artist of ‘Whaam!’ helped Roy during his stint in the army

The original artist of ‘Whaam!’ was American comic-book illustrator Irv Novick, who incidentally, was an officer at the army boot camp where Lichtenstein trained during the Second World War. After recognizing Roy’s talent Novick had moved Roy from latrine-mopping duty and got him designing signs and posters instead. Ironically, years later, Lichtenstein turned his illustration into a masterpiece.

A Detail from Roy Lichtenstein’s ‘Three Landscapes’

Woman with Flowered Hat by Roy Lichtenstein

Drowning Girl by Roy Lichtenstein The Ben-Day dots printing process, named after illustrator and printer Benjamin Henry Day, Jr. is a technique dating from 1879.  Depending on the effect, color and optical illusions needed, small colored dots are closely spaced, widely spaced or overlapping. Magenta dots, for example, are widely spaced to create pink. Pulp comic books of the 1950s and 1960s used Ben-Day dots in the four process colors to inexpensively create shading and secondary colors such as green, purple, orange and flesh tones.
Warhol was a printmaker- he created screen print artworks on paper in mass production. 
His work focused on consumerism and popular culture, like Coca Cola, Campbells Soup, or Brillo. 

Lichtenstein's work was primarily on canvas. He worked with paints. 
He's famous for his benday dots- those tiny circles that create shade and shadow in his art. 
No other pop artist used these dots.