I found this on YouTube and it got me to thinking about Ward Kimball…

This is vintage Ward…

In September of 1973, I had obtained an “early out” from my army career (drafted during the Vietnam War) to attend the Art Center College of Design, located on Third Street near the Hancock Park area in Los Angeles. Let’s just say I managed to complete the term.

For me, L.A. was a complete surprise! I lived in a small one bedroom with myself and three cats; Cat, Cat Junior (known as Junior) and Cat Junior Junior (known as Jay Jay). We were all freaked out a bit about Los Angeles and where we lived in the Hollywood area. Every night police helicopters flew overhead with their searchlights scanning our neighborhood…we lived in a war zone. After a term of this we left L.A. headed back to the east Coast. By the time we reached Flagstaff, Arizona – I knew I would be going back.

So, in the spring of 1974, I returned to ACCD after a hiatus of one term determined to begin anew. I was a film major- a new area for Art Center. (The previous fall there was an Advertising Design/ Film major – but now the two majors had split.)

My first class of the new term was Storyboarding. When I walked into the classroom- there was the instructor. He was about 65 years old, had a shock of wild white hair- a bit thin on top and dark rimmed glasses and an eternal smile. The glasses really struck me because the lenses were perfectly round. This guy looked like a cartoon character! That was my first meeting with Ward Kimball. I didn’t know the name Ward Kimball – had never heard of him. Ward’s method of teaching was pure Disney. He taught through entertainment. It just so happened that animator Steve Segal was a visitor in the class. Steve was visiting L.A. from Virginia. Steve had made a drawn on film movie about trains RED BALL EXPRESS to the tune of CATCHER IN THE RYE. Kimball loved trains and invited Steve to class. There were only about 8 people in the class- seems as though no one else knew who Kimball was either!

But Steve knew who Ward was and which films he had worked on at Disney. They kept each other entertained the entire class. The whole scene was very Fellini-esque. It turned out to be a brilliant class - one of the best Art Center has ever offered. Ward, being an amazing storyteller, taught us the craft of storyboarding – every aspect from shot selection to timing to presentation (and how to pace a presentation). He kind of talked out of the side of his mouth – like he was letting you in on a secret you had to protect. My favorite assignment was to ”board” a limerick. We could choose any limerick we wanted. He demonstrated how to act the storyboard out using my boards. Incredible!

His stories about his Disney career were equally amazing.

next time…Kimball his trains and the forgotten film!

Leafing through some old sketch books I came across this drawings and paintngs.

Each one represents a story… I don’t always remember the drawing or painting of a subject…but I do remember the story.

The sketch above was drawn in Sorrento, Italy. A couple of years ago, after the Annecy Animation Festival we trained down to met Glenn and Eleanor Vilppu and observe the tail end of Glenn’s fabulous class. We fell in love with Sorrento and ended staying there for 10 more days.

All of the Italian women are born with “attitude” you know, that- “I so hot …don’t even think about it” attitude (and for good reason with all those roamin’ handed Italian men around). I shortened it to “tude”…and believe me, there were tons on “tude” in Sorrento.

Now what was funny was that Sorrento was also a haven for British tourists. The British women would try to blend in with the locals. Forget about the fact that they were on average 25 lbs. heavier and with their pastey complexions. i know that in their minds- they had “tude”…but haey it was fun to watch and sketch. Here an Italian mother (with tude galore) reaches for her child…as a Brit with tude strolls by…

Most of these are from the Savannah, GA. area.

Savannah is a working port with busy river traffic - here a crane repairs a dock

All are drawn or painted ON LOCATION…I love to get out of the studio and just sketch or paint.

This is my favorite watercolor that I have painted of the Tybee Island lighthouse

This watercolor was painted on the North Beach, on Tybee Island, GA. It was early morning and I was on one of my “see the Show ” (the sunrise) and collect shells expeditons. The mornings are a great time for reflection and planning and gratitude…thats where this painting came from…gratitude.

These young kids were completely blown away by the musicians guitar playing

This is Drum Man, a performance artist/musician

The Musician the Drum Man and the Crane were all sketched as demos during a layout class. One thing I used to do was to get the students OUT of the class room and on location to draw. It taught them them the importance of research and it helped them to get over their drawing hang-ups.

They Drum man was a sort of performance artist who engaged everyone who walked by. He had a set tune that would work with every tourist who happened by his station on River Street.

The hippie guitarist sketch was drawn while several young African-American kids were enthralled by his music and his performance.
More to come this weekend…

Guess Who?

A few days ago I received an email regarding this event in Los Angeles on July 11th

Here is the link to a site for FREE tickets and more information….just click here

The text of the email follows….wish I was in L.A. on the 11th….

Headline: An Animator’s Grand Salute to Woody Woodpecker! Guess Who!

On July 11, StoryMakers Studio brings several of the biggest names in the cartoon world to the Grauman’s Chinese Theatres Complex in Hollywood:

celebrated author, film critic and cartoon buff Leonard Maltin,

six-time Emmy® Award winning cartoon producer Phil Roman,

and voice actors June Foray (“Woody Woodpecker,” “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” Disney’s “Mulan”),

Maurice LaMarche (“Futurama, “Animaniacs,” “Pinky and the Brain”) and

Billy West (“The New Woody Woodpecker Show,” “Ren & Stimpy,” “Futurama”).

“We wouldn’t be surprised if these voice artists spent part of the evening talking as the characters they’re so well known for,” said Ronn Campbell, StoryMakers Studio’s executive producer. “Here’s the best thing. You can enjoy this event whether you’re in Los Angeles or NOT,” Campbell adds. “In fact, we already have people from Europe and Asia reserving their viewing passes at http://www.StoryMakersStudio.com/woodywoodpecker” In addition, everyone who signs up to watch the Woody Woodpecker event has a choice of eBooks that are of interest to anyone who currently works in animation; wants to work in animation; or is simply an animation fan. “When the word got out that we were doing this event, animation professionals and fans from all over the world started contacting us, asking for a way they could enjoy our Woody Woodpecker event,” said series host and confessed cartoon fan Gordon Meyer. “We’re delighted that we can make this available to them.” Details of the event including how cartoon fans can enjoy StoryMakers Studio’s Salute to Woody Woodpecker and Walter Lantz, can be found at: