Ted was awarded a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago during his grade school years, but instead of working toward academic success, he abandoned his formal education and headed off to experience grand adventures--first training as a pilot in the Air Force during WWII (until they discovered he was underage), then serving as an ordinary seaman in the Merchant Marines. At 18 he embarked upon what would become a lifelong career as an artist, starting in Chicago then heading to San Francisco, where he landed his first free-lance commission.

He heeded the call, moved East and quickly established himself as one of this country's preeminent illustrators, gaining worldwide recognition for his outstanding movie posters, book covers and story illustrations.