Few artists could tell a story like Jim Silke's-an artistic coming-of-age tale populated by the world's most gorgeous women, with creative geniuses like Sam Peckinpah and Alfred Hitchcock in supporting roles. From his Grammy Award-winning stint as a music industry art director to his years as a magazine publisher, glamour photographer, screenwriter, and comic-book artist, Silke's sensual vision has made a distinct and lasting impact on contemporary culture. Now, for the first time, Silke shares his charming and insightful account of life as a pin-up artist. With sharp prose, stellar wit, and a dazzling array of delicious portraiture, Silke captures every curve in his titillating career, from his first encounter with a live nude model, to his enraptured slaving over illustrated images of Bettie Page, Brigitte Bardot, and scores of other legendary lovelies. Lavishly illustrated with over 100 new images by Silke and classic pin-up artists George Petty, Coby Whitmore, Enoch Bolles, Al Parker, Rolf Armstrong, and others, Pin-Up: The Illegitimate Art is a smart and sassy romp through the twentieth century's love affair with pin-ups. Autobiographical, academic, and utterly audacious, this book is a must-read for lady lovers and pop-culture enthusiasts of any generation. Book jacket.