On path to Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe began as unknown calendar model for artist

[Jonna Herring]

On path to Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe began as unknown calendar model for artist Earl Moran
The sultry-eyed starlet posed for Moran in the 1940s. His work has been curated by the Grapefruit Moon Gallery in Minneapolis.
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By Erik Ortiz / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, December 10, 2012, 1:55 PM



Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Photos taken of Marilyn Monroe were used as inspiration for California artist Earl Moran.

[Jonna Herring]

 Before Marilyn Monroe became a sizzling sex symbol, she stood for hours modeling as a nameless pin-up girl waiting for her big break.

The proof is in a collection curated by the Grapefruit Moon Gallery, which found a selection of works by acclaimed artist Earl Moran from 1946-48.

PHOTOS: MARILYN MONROE THROUGH THE YEARS

The Minneapolis-based online gallery, which boasts a collection of vintage illustrated art, said the pastel pin-ups of Norma Jeane Mortenson — Monroe’s birth name — were based on black-and-white photos that were never publicly released.

[Jonna Herring]

Earl Moran's 'Spanish Girl' (1949)  used Marilyn Monroe as his muse. She was no stranger to **** modeling.

[Jonna Herring]

 The collection shows Moran’s photos compared with his final pastel product.

Sarah Murphy, owner of the Grapefruit Moon Gallery, said the images are highly sought-after by collectors.

“They’re almost more like curiosities, and historians love them,” Murphy told the Daily News on Monday. “They’re a great cross-collectible because they show you how calendar art was created and also how (Monroe) was such a star even before she knew how to harness it.”

Murphy said about 45 photos were taken by Moran during the time, but only 15 were turned into pastels. The artworks of the brunette-turned-blonde beauty were used in pin-up calendars and advertising.

“She was just an unknown,” Murphy said.

[Jonna Herring]

Marilyn Monroe was a blonde bombshell in movies, but her original brunette hairstyle was evident in her early pin-up pictures.

[Jonna Herring]

 But Monroe shined with her curvy figure and sultry expressions. While she was eager to model, her sights were set on Hollywood. By the 1950s, she landed a string of knockout roles.

Her life was cut short with her death in 1962 at age 36.

Monroe, who was believed to have struggled with depression, was found in bed with acute barbiturate poisoning. Investigators ruled it a "probable suicide."

Her legacy, however, lives on. An exhibit, "To Marilyn, With Love," has opened at luxe SoHo spa the Erno Laszlo Institute featuring some of her personal items. She also graces the cover of the December issue of Playboy, which is tied to the 50th anniversary of her death.

eortiz@nydailynews.com

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/marilyn-monroe-calendar-girl-pin-up-article-1.1216982?localLinksEnabled=false

[Jonna Herring]

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http://www.eforu.com/gallery/marilynmonroe/pic6.html