 "Artists and Models" marked the first time Lewis worked with former Looney Tunes director Frank Tashlin, whom he admired greatly.Martin and Lewis would reunite with him on their last film, "Hollywood or Bust", and Lewis would then work with Tashlin on six of his solo films.Producer Hal B. Wallis chose Tashlin for "Artists and Models" on the basis of his background as a cartoonist, and the film contains many gags influenced by the director's animation work.