Masterpieces

The ART of Disney Animation.  Two magnificent examples of how sophisticated Disney's animation had gotten 30 years after Steamboat Willie. Walt wanted "Moving Illustration" for Sleeping Beauty, and that's exactly what he got for this film.

My guess is that Iwao Takamoto drew this amazing clean up study over an animation rough drawing by Marc Davis.

The Maleficent sketch is most definitely by Davis. Marc skipped the production of Lady and the Tramp, so he could focus on designing and animating Aurora as well as Maleficent. 

Masterpieces.

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".....