He also studied for a time at the Academy of Design and the Art Students League. During his lengthy career, Campbell worked for several publications including Triad Studios, a large commercial art firm. Campbell is famously known as the creator of Esky, the mascot for Esquire Magazine where he worked from 1939 until his death in 1971. Campbell is also the artist behind “Cuties,” a syndicated cartoon for King Features.

Campbell was known to magazine editors in the New York art world. He was also no stranger to the lure of Harlem night life. Along with Cab Calloway, a dear friend of his, Campbell is said to have enjoyed frequenting local hotspots. The artist’s “Night-Club Map of Harlem” shows his familiarity with popular establishments of the day. Despite his partying ways, Campbell is said to have prided himself in never missing deadlines. He was considered reliable source of talent for many of his contemporaries for whom Campbell was often called upon to draw advertisements, create caricatures, and illustrate publications.

In the early to mid 1930’s, Campbell illustrated Popo and Fina, by Arna Bontemps and Langston Hughes.

Some of his most memorable works, however, are said to have been inspired by fellow cartoonist Russell Patterson. It was he who influenced Campbell to render “pretty girl,” those images of affluent white subjects, that easily appeased largely unsuspecting white audiences. Campbell’s acceptance by this demographic, because during racial segregation, editors feared white audiences might not find these depictions palatable if they knew the images had been created by a Black artist.

Campbell and his family moved to Switzerland, an area of Europe, where he found more acceptance of his work. He died shortly after returning to the United States in the early 1970’s.