Throughout his long career, Ro has used models for his book cover and commercial art paintings. Some of you might recall the Zeus-like Fabio, who, before he became famous for butter disbelief, was commonly seen in bodice-ripping clutches with healthy maidens on romance novel covers. He posed for several of Ro’s paintings, but not always as a heroic or sexy figure: somewhere we still have pics of him crouched, simian-like, for some sci-fi story. I’ll tell you this: in person, Fabio was physical perfection, Olympian, god-like. He was also funny, humble, and a very good sport.
Ro’s favorite photo studio in New York city belonged to Bob Osonitsch, the chief photographer, and an artist himself. The models who worked with him were of every imaginable type and age (but mostly gorgeous), and his studio space was huge and multi-floored, so you could get terrific angle shots from above, below, and sideways. Bob had a giant array of costumes and props, managed by his able wife, and even a couple of Maine Coon cats wandering around keeping the loft rat-free. It was earthy and fun, unlike the glitzy, druggy, studios I was used to from my advertising early years in the city, where beauties were snorting or puking by 10am.
When our daughter, Alex, was three, she posed for one of Ro’s covers – standing on top of a very tall fake “horse” with an adult female model, both wearing heavy costumes*. She did it with such aplomb, such haughty confidence, I remain impressed to this day (and her dad took her to the famous toy store F.A.O Schwartz for her reward).
After we moved to Connecticut, Ro continued to use Osonitsch Studio for model talent, but, being young and very fit, we also posed for more than a few ourselves**, as did several friends and relatives. Later, we moved to New Hampshire; driving to NYC (eight hours at best there and back), didn’t make any sense unless a HUGE project made it imperative (like the Animorph series). It wasn’t a problem, really, because, as we were still youngish and fit enough for some things, we also knew younger people from the gym or the children of friends. And we used everyone for everything!
This Sunday strip is pretty darn accurate. Our kids and their friends – and more than a few of ours – often posed as creepy aliens, warty creatures, hairy ogres – and women weren’t spared. It’s a lot of fun to go through some of those covers and giggle at the photo sessions; it was a great time for everyone, and certainly a unique experience.
How many people can say “I was a purple alien with fangs and clip-on earrings for Scholastic Books”?*