Roy Andersen

Born in New Hampshire, Roy studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Center School of Los Angeles. A professional illustrator, his work appeared in prestigious publications such as National Geographic, Time and Sports Illustrated. An active member of the Military Miniatures Society of Illinois during his years in Chicago, he has been cited as an inspiration by Sheperd Paine and many others. Eventually relocating in the Southwest and shifting his interests from modeling to Western oil paintings, he won renown in that field, and his work can be seen at the InSight Gallery of Fredericksburg, Texas, among many other places.
 
The following photos, courtesy of MMSI member Tony Bialas, document Roy’s first forays into box dioramas in the early ’70s. Representing several scenes from the history of the state of Illinois (including Lincoln during his days with the militia and a march through the swmaps), they were restored as a club project by the MMSI in 2011, and will soon be on display at a local museum.

Roy passed away in 2019; click here for a fitting tribute/obituary of a singular artist.