Clarence Coles Phillips

Clarence Coles Phillips (1880-1927) was an American artist and illustrator who signed his early works 'C. Coles Phillips', but after 1911 worked under the abbreviated name, Coles Phillips. He is known for his stylish images of women and a signature use of negative space in the paintings he created for advertisements and the covers of popular magazines.

Phillips was born in Springfield, Ohio, the son of Anna Seys and Jacob Phillips. From 1902 to 1904, he attended Kenyon College in his native state, where he was a member of Alpha Delta Phi, a North American social college fraternity. His illustrations were published in the 1901-1904 editions of the school's yearbook, 'The Reveille'.

After leaving Kenyon, Phillips moved to Manhattan, determined to earn a living through his art. He took night classes for three months at the Chase School of Art, his only formal artistic training, before establishing his own advertising agency. One of Phillips's employees was the young Edward Hopper, his former classmate.

In 1907, Phillips was hired onto the staff of Life Magazine at the age of 26, a magazine he would be associated with throughout his life. The work of Phillips quickly became popular with the 'Life' readers. In May 1908, he created a cover for the magazine that featured his first 'fadeaway girl' design with a figure whose clothing matched, and disappeared into, the background. Phillips' use of negative space allowed the viewer to 'fill in' the image, and it also reduced printing costs for the magazine. Phillips developed this idea in many subsequent covers.

Phillips produced cover art for other national magazines besides 'Life', including 'Good Housekeeping', which for two years (beginning in July 1912) made him their sole cover artist. Phillips also created many advertising images for makers of women's clothing, and for such clients as the Overland Automobile Co. and Oneida Company flatware. His series depicting women wearing Luxite Hosiery products was considered daring for its time. Phillips's works also appear in the 1921 and 1922 editions of the US Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

In December 1907 Phillips met Teresa Hyde, a nurse who became his most frequent model during his early years. They married in early 1910.

In 1924 he was diagnosed with renal TB, and for the remainder of his life, he was frequently ill. In January 1927, when problems with his eyesight made painting difficult, he dedicated himself to writing. Phillips died of his kidney ailment at his home in New Rochelle in 1927 at the age of 47.