Hans Martin Ruwoldt

Here is another artist who should be much wider known for his outstanding work in sculpture and drawing. Martin Ruwoldt lived from 1891 until 1969 in Hamburg, Germany.

During the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936 his art was showcased at a sculpture event, but a year later the nazies declared his work "Entartete Kunst' ( Degenerate Art). 

I am stunned at the fact that I keep discovering incredible artists from the past that are practically unknown today.

Disney animator Art Babbitt once said that an animator should be interested in studying art from Michelangelo to Ronald Searle. That kind of observation might inspire a whole new approach to your own art.

Are any of you animators doing this?

Cinderella goes into Production

An interesting 1947 note from Walt Disney to his staff. After the troubled war years he is ready to get back to animated feature productions, and Cinderella is up next. The text clearly outlines Walt's approach to storytelling and character development.

In My Studio...

 

The New York Times 1996

I remember the day after this article appeared in the New York Times (almost 30 years ago), several colleagues at the studio pointed out to me what a big deal it was to be published "above the fold". I had never heard the term.

Having your photo at the top of the page was a major deal. Following the massive success of The Lion King, Disney animators had become crucial company assets, sparking intense media and public interest in the artists behind the animated hit films. 

As I mentioned numerous times before, it was a tremendous honor to be a part of Disney Animation during the Renaissance era. As animators we were respected and celebrated, and we all appreciated this very much.

Student Sketches

More sketches I drew as a student at the Zoo Duisburg in Germany, around 1978. My art university did not offer any animal drawing classes, so I was on my own. But I really enjoyed sketching at the zoo. Of course you have to get used to comments from by-standing kids like: Are you an artist?  Or: My uncle draws much better than you.

These are all Indian elephants, except for one sketch, which depicts an African one. You better spot it and let me know.....

 

Prophetic?

 

I've been looking through some work I did during my time as an art student. I remember once having had a dream about a crazy cartoon rabbit. In the morning I drew these poses.

Years later.....Roger Rabbit.

And these sketches from imagination remind me of "you know who".....

King Hubert and Prince Philip

As I am working on the Milt Kahl book, I started to select images of drawings that I feel are important to be included. There will be a large chapter on Milt's work for Sleeping Beauty. And I do have drawings that have not appeared yet on my blog or elsewhere online. 

I am looking for Milt's rough animation of the scene pictured here. Hubert is frustrated upon finding out that his son doesn't want to marry the princess, but a girl he had just met in the forest.

This is a long scene, and Milt gives a masterful performance of Hubert's outrage.

Many rough drawings and scenes from this film have been made available over the past two decades or so, and  I have been lucky to acquire a nice inventory. But I have not yet seen any offerings from this scene. Let me know if you are the owner of some of the key drawings. I would love to include them in the book.

I would need scans, and you'll get a free copy of the book.