MONROE LEUNG (1915-2004) "Nothing to it!" Single panel cartoon, circa 1950. Ink and wash and conté crayon on Bristol board. 11 x 8 3/4, taped to 13 3/4 x 10 3/4-inch mat. Signed in lower irght image.
Monroe Tom Leung was a cartoonist and illustrator based in Los Angeles. As a child, Leung harbored a strong desire to attend art school, but financial constraints made this dream unattainable. Recognizing his son's artistic potential, Leung's father gifted him a drawing board when Monroe was about 14 years old, a pivotal moment in nurturing his talent.
Leung's artistic journey led him to Warner Brothers cartoon studio, where he secured a job as a beginning artist. In addition to his work at Warner Brothers, Leung occasionally sold cartoons to various magazines, showcasing his refreshing humor.
During World War II, Leung served alongside Wayne Thiebaud, a notable painter. After the war, the two friends traveled to New York with hopes of selling their cartoons. While Thiebaud decided to stay in New York, Leung chose to return home after about a month.
In 2005, Leung's work was featured in the "Inspiring Lines" exhibition in Chinatown, Los Angeles, honoring six Chinese-American pioneers in the commercial arts."
