Fred Ludekens (1900-1982) Ludekens, born in Hueneme, California, was not passionate about art growing up; however, at the age of twenty and newly married, he needed a steady job. He figured someone had to get paid for painting pictures on billboards, but with no art knowledge, he began taking a few classes and was determined to work hard to hone his craft.

In 1931 he joined the advertising agency of Lord & Thomas and eventually transferred to the company’s New York City office in 1939. He produced everything from article illustrations to covers for magazines like The American Magazine, Fortune, The Saturday Evening Post, True, and Good Housekeeping. He also produced a series of paintings that would eventually be used as advertisements for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company in the 1950s. He illustrated books as well, his first being a book called Ghost Town. He eventually moved back to San Francisco, where he spent his remaining years.

Ludekens created seven covers for The Saturday Evening Post.