Toward the end of 1951, Teague solved his ‘male model problem’ in Carmel in the form of the young cowboy artist Jack (J.N.) Swanson. The two men hit it off immediately when they met, and often drew and talked horses together. Swanson was an ideal model – tall, fit and handsome, and a skilled rider to boot. Swanson became Teague’s primary male model.
A good sample of Teague’s work for Collier’s during 1952 and 1953 (other than Saddle By Starlight) is presented below. While western-centric, the illustrations again demonstrate Teague’s range as a mature illustrator. Materials from the Teague archive are provided as supplements for many of the illustrations. Story text is omitted for a cleaner presentation.