‘Willoughby's West' opens at Desert Caballeros Museum

From the year of his arrival in Prescott in 1985 until shortly before his death in 2004, Jim Willoughby's cartoons kept Arizona in stitches. Both celebrating a rugged way of life and addressing the problems faced by cowboys in modern times, these drawings and captions graced the pages of Prescott's “Daily Courier” newspaper and “Arizona Highways” magazine as well as more than a dozen books. “Willoughby's West,” slated to run from Sept. 23 through Feb. 25 at Wickenburg‘s Desert Caballeros Western Museum, showcases dozens of the artist's humorous gems, along with his paintings and sculpture.

A cartoonist who combined many talents, “Jim was a very, very rare cartoonist who combined three qualities that are seldom found in one individual,” said Ben Hansen, executive editor of the Prescott newspapers. “He was a good artist, he had a great sense of what brings off a gag, and he possessed an impressive grasp of local affairs.”

Bob Early, “Arizona Highways” editor from 1990 to 2005 shares Hansen's enthusiasm. “Jim was funny, insightful and quick,” said Early. “He'd dash off cartoons, ten at a time, and they were all so good it was hard to make a choice.”

Many other national publications such as “Look,” “The Saturday Evening Post,” “Family Circle,” “Playboy” and the “Christian Science Monitor” also appreciated the cartoonist's talents.

“While our exhibit of more than 150 of Jim's works features so many of the cartoons that appeared in local and national publications, it also encompasses the more serious side of this man's artistic talents,” said Museum Director Royce Kardinal. “Willoughby's West dramatizes the diverse choices that Jim made to attain his ultimate aspiration of becoming a serious artist.”

According to Sue Willoughby, her husband took a very circuitous route to life as a cartoonist and eventually a sculptor.

“Jim was always fascinated with cowboys and Indians,” she said. “After he graduated from high school in Ohio, he headed to California with a friend. The young men slept in haystacks and on park benches, and occasionally took refuge in the local jail in order to get a warm bed for the night.”

Willoughby studied painting at Los Angeles' Art Center College of Design, but was so discouraged by color blindness he turned to black and white drawing. While working at the Chrysler Corporation in an engineering capacity, he was asked to create drawings for presentations and the company newspaper, which led to his first big break as a cartoonist.

An expanding client list allowed Willoughby to quit his day job by 1964 and start freelancing on a full-time basis. In addition to drawing cartoons, he began a 21-year career in the animation field creating models, layouts and storyboards for such studios as Hanna-Barbera and Disney.

In 1977, Willoughby realized a lifelong ambition by taking up sculpting. His first work, a study of a Native American woman, was purchased by a friend of John Wayne's and given to the “Duke” as a Christmas gift. When the film icon died, his art collection went to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Willoughby's sculpture entitled Clay Basket is now part of the museum's permanent collection.

“We moved to Prescott in 1985 to be close to foundries,” recalls Sue Willoughby. “From where we lived in California, it took us eight hours to reach the closest one.” Fourteen of Willoughby's sculptures, all inspired by western subjects such as cowboys and Native Americans, are an integral part of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum's exhibit.

Cartoons, books and videos will also be part of the Willoughby's West exhibit as well as paintings and other works on paper.

“As a special feature, Curator Mary Ann Igna and Nathan Augustine, collections manager, are re-creating Jim's studio,” said Kardinal, “Many of the images have been ripped from my husband's sketchbooks and have not been seen by anyone outside the immediate family,” says Sue Willoughby. “I'm so grateful to Desert Caballeros Western Museum for presenting this exhibit of Jim's work. It will be enjoyed by all those who appreciate humor and fine Western art.”

Opening weekend activities for Willoughby's West will include a free, public reception on Friday (Sept. 22) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Museum's galleries and a Saturday talk by popular historian Marshall Trimble who will share his insights into “Arizona Humor.” It too is free and open to the public at 11 a.m. at the museum.

For more information and/or to make reservations for the Willoughby's West events, call the Desert Caballeros Western Museum at 684-2272, ext. 100.

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