During the decade between 1960-1970, Hays' work was all over representations of popular American culture. He had also produced amazing illustrations of great Rock, Jazz, and Blues singers, which had a dark twist according to his stylistic expression (see Image B). Hays began teaching in the late 1950s at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Towards the end of the 1970s he relocated to California where he served as Chairman of the Illustration Program at the Art Center College in Pasadena. Hays represented a new and creative style that highlighted unique interpretations utilizing elements of expressionism. Hays and his contemporaries would interpret textual and literary influences with more expressive license. While teaching, Hays was a strong believer in expanding the context of art educations to include other media of artistic expression. Thus,...

His influence extended to reach both coasts and proves to extend past his death in 2005.
Image A "Brandy-Labrador Retriever."

http://www.collectorscovey.com/robertabbett.html

Image "Eric Clapton Rolling Stone Cover" by Phillip Harrison Hays

http://societyillustrators.org/upcoming/470.cms

References

Fink, Russell. "Abbett, Robert K." Russlel Fink Gallery. 2009. Retrieved 18 Nov 2009 from http://store.russellfinkgallery.com/abbettrobertk.html

Society of Illustrators. "Phil Hays." American Association of Museums. Retrieved 18 Nov 2009 from http://societyillustrators.org/upcoming/470.cms