Monday, September 13, 2010

Phil Lewis test

In honor of the late background artist who passed away on August 12.
2410 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles
RSVP to Janet at (805) 653-6590 or mizzjanet@sbcglobal.net

Friday, September 10, 2010

In case you missed the opening of the A.Muse Salon show at Gallery 839 yesterday, below the fold you'll find profiles of the artists and samples of their work. The show will be open on Friday, September 17 and Friday, September 24 from 11 am to 2 pm, at the TAG offices in Burbank.

Grand Roses, by Rita Joyce.

RITA JOYCE, a California Artist, creates shadow and light with a vibrant pallet. She is best known for her distinctive, gold embellished images of birds, tropical flowers, palms, and exotic wildlife, as well as extravagant, old world inspired urns profuse with flora and fauna. A contemporary series titled "Float" is presently being developed.

Rita uses creative visualization to compose mental pictures prior to painting. Using photos from her travels to botanical gardens and wildlife habitats, she then puts brush to canvas. She is influenced by Georgia O'Keefe, Jesse Arms Botke, Gustav Klimt, the Dutch Masters and the California impressionists. Rita has studied with many prominent watercolor and oil masters, and has attended the California Art Institute and Art Associates.

During her career as a professional Artist, Rita has received numerous awards and participated in many one woman shows, as well as group showings. She has exhibited at the Los Angeles and New York Art Expos, Art 21-Art for the 21st Century and various shows at the Carnegie Cultural Center. She is included in Noel Goldblatt's "People of the Century" collection, and was commissioned by the Pan American Museum Foundation to illustrate their collections of Pre-Colonial Mexican Masks and Amazon Indian feather work. As well she worked for Walt Disney studios creating back grounds for The Tigger Movie, a feature film.

She has exhibited her unique style of artistry in over 40 galleries and museums in the continental United States, Hawaii, Japan as well as cruise ships around the world. Her award winning paintings are included in major private and corporate collections, and she is also a member of the Huntington Library Artists Guild.

Ritz Carlton Hotels and The Universal City Hilton have chosen Rita's work for their interior design.

Hiver en Forêt de Fontainebleau, by Stephanie Pyren

The numerous works of STEPHANIE PYREN are a fascinating fusion of passionate life and ethereal spirit executed with the poetic sensitivity of the old masters. Stephanie is competent in all medias: watercolors, oils, graphics and pastels.

She was born in Pennsylvania but, at the age of 10, the family moved to California and it was there she began her artistic career receiving awards and scholarships. She gained her BA of Fine Arts at California State University Northridge while working as a fashion illustrator for a major fashion company and then as a character and background artist in the animation industry. Stephanie's talent has taken her to numerous locations and professions.

She taught life drawing, fashion illustration and window display at the University of South Carolina. She was asked to teach background painting techniques for a major American animation company in Bangkok, Thailand as well as she worked at most major studios in Los Angeles. Also to her credit, she has illustrated four children's books, developed a line of toys with, "Small World Toys and the "Little Old Toy Maker" companies and continues with new ongoing ventures.

Although her career is somewhat diverse, her need to create fine art is her omnipresent driving desire. Her first professional show was at the age of eighteen and from there she has had many one-man showings nationally and internationally. In 1989.She moved to France at the request of the famous painter Jacques Harvey to help recreate the famous "School of Barbizon. where she exhibited her work in Barbizon, Paris and throughout Europe. At that time she was also commissioned to paint both paintings and murals for private collectors and public enterprises. She was honored when asked to paint a mural depicting the village of Barbizon in the local restaurant "Le Royal" which still receives much acclaim. Stephanie travels yearly to Europe and continues to paint the landscapes and people of the various cities she visits.

Stephanie's paintings has been received well and her clientele continues to grow with many prominent collectors.

BARBARA SCHADE is a fifth generation Californian whose broad exposure to the cultural diversity of the Los Angeles area in music, theatre, dance and the arts is an exciting inspiration to this artist.

Starting at the Walt Disney Studios in 1954, she worked on "Sleeping Beauty" and "Lady and the Tramp", at UPA Studios on "Mister Magoo", and with Ray Bradbury on his "Icarus" film on flight.

She developed her painting skills for many years primarily in transparent watercolor, painting for galleries, client commissions and regional art shows.
One of the founding members of Valley Watercolor Society, she was very active in many Ventura county art associations and was elected president of Simi Valley Art Association. She then chaired annual shows and developed publicity for a number of years. She was selected as a judge and juried regional art shows, teaching watercolor painting, including workshops and demonstrations throughout California.

After returning from a Watercolor Creativenture in China in 1981 where she painted on location with leading Chinese painters, she put together an exhibition of paintings, and many opportunities have occurred as a result this experience.

Notably her painting "Walpi" was purchased by the World Affairs Council as a gift to the Chinese government from the Reagan Administration prior to President Reagan's trip to China. The painting hangs in the Foreign Affairs building in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

In 1991 she returned to the animation industry painting backgrounds and creating designs for many different productions including TV commercials. She was honored in 1997 with an individual "Emmy for Background Painting " for a Chinese fairy tale "The Magic Pearl" at Film Roman Studios.

Returning to Disney after many other studio productions, she completed painting for "The Tigger Movie", "The Three Musketeers", and "Lilo and Stitch" before retiring in 2003.

Slot Canyon, by Gwen Wetzler

GWEN SANDIFF WETZLER began oil painting at the age of six. In high school Wetzler studied art under Joe Playcan at the Erie Trade Technical School, she excelled in her studies which led to a prized Scholarship to Syracuse University.

In 1955 she arrived in Los Angeles and was accepted by The Walt Disney Studios for their new Apprentice Program where she worked as an inbetweener in the animation department. Over the next 50 years Wetzler worked in the animation industry, she became the first woman to Direct at a major studio and then the first woman to Produce. Wetzler was later acknowledged for her ground breaking accomplishments as a Director and Producer in the industry.

Wetzler directed at Filmation Studios working on such projects as "Flash Gordon" and "The Greatest Adventure of All," which became a Movie of the Week on CBS. At Marvel Studios she produced several successful animation series such as "Transformers," "Jem and the Holograms" and "Young Astronauts."

Wetzler has returned to painting, she works primarily in watercolors and mixed media. Her work can be seen at select juried shows and in fine art galleries in the U.S.

Wetzler, along with three other artists, is a founding member of A.Muse Artists Salon. The first A.Muse group show will be held at The Autry National Center's gallery in 2010. She will exhibit her recent collection of original watercolor paintings inspired by natural earth formations. Her work is sought after by many fine art collectors.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Chart post test run

Employment at TAG Union Shops, 2007-

There are 192 more members employed under our jurisdiction at TAG shops than there were in January of this year, the last time we broke down the state of employment.

Breakdown by Employer of Members at Union Shops, August 2010

A year or so ago, DreamWorks passed Disney to become the largest employer of TAG members. (The Disney numbers are inclusive of members working under a TAG contract as well as others working under IATSE contracts.)

Changes in TAG Employment Patterns, August 2008-August 2010

This increase in employment the the last two years is in spite of the fact that we have lost two substantial employers (Universal and Imagi), and will be losing another by the first part of 2011 (ImageMovers Digital). However, we've gained another potentially large employer (Hasbro), and there are others (such as Bento Box) that may increase to where they go past thirty covered employees and become another listed slice of our increasingly diverse pie.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Test Gallery post

Even though it was a holiday, a respectable crowd showed up on Friday for Alex Kube's "Scapes," the latest of our monthly First Friday opening shows at Gallery 839, the Guild's art gallery.

Right, musicians (including Alex's son) serenaded the crowd.

Among the guests were Jean-Pierre and Julie, two of Alex's models for works included in the show.

The gallery is located at 1105 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank, and is open Fridays from 11 am to 2 pm except on First Fridays when the new shows open.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

AOR test

Lady and the Tramp, by John Freeman (1917-2011). © Disney.

A week from tomorrow, we once again celebrate the lives of those who have preceded us.

The Animation Guild, ASIFA Hollywood and Women In Animation present

AN AFTERNOON OF REMEMBRANCE

a non-denominational celebration of departed friends from our animation community:

Derdad Aghmalian
Wayne Allwine*
Ray Aragon*
Dina Gottliebova Babbitt
Barry Blitzer
Robert Broughton
Bill Browne
Lillian Chapman*
Art Clokey
Elizabeth Cotter*
Vincent Davis
Virginia Davis McGhee
Dom DeLuise
Jaime Diaz
Roy E. Disney
Bob Dranko
Jack Dunham
Heinz Edelmann*
Ric Estrada
Romeo Francisco*
John Freeman
Giulio Gianini
Henry Gibson*
Rod Gilchrist
Eugene Giudice*
Marion Green
Victor Haboush
Ann Hamilton
Millard Kaufman
Dana Landsberg*
Alla Marshall*
Dallas McKennon
Serge Michael
Michael Mitchell*
Flavia Mitman*
Brittany Murphy
Marty Murphy
Donna Narhuminti*
Ann Neale
June Olsen
Cathy Parotino
Tony Peters
Alexander Schure
Erich Segal
Dave Simons*
Arnold Stang
Mignonette Kerby Sterges
Yoshito Usui*
Kathy White

Saturday, March 13, 2010
Food and refreshments, noon
Memoriams, 1 pm

Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn)
2100 N. Highland (across from Hollywood Bowl), Hollywood

The Afternoon is free of charge and is open to all; no RSVPs necessary.

*If you can help us in finding speakers or memoriam writers for those persons marked with an asterisk above, please contact me by e-mail at the link below. If you cannot appear or speak in person please write something for us and we will have a volunteer read it (one speaker and three minute limit per honoree.) When possible we will give preference to speakers who knew the honoree personally.

If you know of anyone in the animation business who passed away between January 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010, and is not on our list, please let me know as. (Please know that Rudy Larriva passed away in February and will be honored in 2011.)

Thanks, Jeff Massie

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Test post AAI list

Artist: Nicole Duet

The American Animation Institute, TAG's education program, has announced a "mini-semester" of classes starting in early January.

Registration is now open, and we encourage you to sign up as soon as you can since many of these classes will fill up. To register, call (818) 845-7000 during office hours, Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm. After registering by phone, make out checks to the American Animation Institute and send to: 1105 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505. You place in class is not guaranteed unless you have registered and paid. Payment is due by December 30, 2009. No refunds will be given after the first day of class.

Classes are listed in full below the fold. A PDF version of the flyer is available here. (Misteaks in the version attached to the earlier e-mail have been corrected.)

American Animation Institute
Winter 2010 "Mini-Semester
January-February 2010

Day classes

• Head and Figure Painting

Instructor: Karl Gnass
Fee: $150.00

6 Mondays, January 4-February 8, 9:30 am to 4 pm

This course deals with the fundamentals and development of head and figure painting. Attention will be given to anatomy, structure and form followed with emphasis on character, mood and action. We will examine and explore different theories of color, the value scale, direct and indirect light and procedures used by various artists throughout history. There will be a running dialogue about composition and its importance. A one-day lecture tour of a Los Angeles museum is included. Finally, a look at personal approach, inviting the student to challenge established norms and limitations.

artist: Glenn Vilppu

• Basic Figure Drawing and Anatomy
Instructor: Glenn Vilppu
Fee: $210.00

9 Tuesdays, January 5-March 2, 10:30 am to 4 pm

Classical figure drawing, with discussions of the application of anatomy to drawing.

• Painting The Still Life
Instructor: Nicole Duet
Fee: $100.00

5 Thursdays, January 14-February 11, 10 am to 2:30 pm

Painting from the still life is one of the most quietly rewarding ways for students of all levels to develop the skills of a painter. This class covers fundamentals of paint handling and color mixing, and how to create the illusion of light, form and atmosphere. This class can provide either an in depth introduction to oil painting or a deepening of the student's understanding as a painter. Demonstrations and individual attention will be given. Call for supply list.

artist: Karl Gnass

• Morphing Life Drawings Into Character Drawings
Instructor: Karl Gnass
Fee: $125.00

5 Fridays, January 8-February 5, 9:30 am to 4 pm

We will utilize life-drawing concepts, reviewing and clarifying them, to transform figures into characters for storytelling and animation. We will also work on character development and expression for portfolios.

• 2D (Traditional) Animation Workshop
Instructors: Alex Topete and Michael Polvani
Fee: $70.00

3 Saturdays, January 16-January 30, 9 am to noon

This intensive workshop in traditional animation basics will offer students practice in thumbnailing poses, staging, refining attitudes, acting and character expressions, dialogue, timing for animation, inbetweening, creating exposure sheets, and continued emphasis on drawing fundamentals. Students can expand their 2D reel in class working on an individual project or collaborating on a short team exercise. Students may work in Flash (on theirown laptops) or with pencil and paper (using classroom pencil-test equipment).

Evening Classes

• Life Drawing
Instructor: Karl Gnass
Fee: $90.00

6 Mondays, January 4-February 8, 7 pm to 10 pm

A basic foundation figure drawing class. Emphasis on fundamentals of observing, interpreting and describing form. Procedures used inquick sketch, construction and fundamentals of volume and structure. The goal is to develop the ability to draw with skill and imagination.

• Draped Figure and Costume
Instructor: Karl Gnass
Fee: $180.00

12 Wednesdays and Thursdays, January 7-February 12, 7 to 10 pm

We will take the confusion out of drapery by covering the important basic folds and how they relate to non-active folds and wrinkles. We will also explore the expressive qualities of drapery, drapery as costume, and costume as character.

• Color and Composition
Instructor: Nicole Duet
Fee: $75.00

5 Wednesdays, January 13-February 10, 7 to 10 pm

A workshop focusing on the basic visual and aesthetic interactions of color. Topics include developing sensitivity in color perception and intensive practice in mixing color. Special focus on color harmony, dynamic color as an aspect of composition, and learning to use color to create effects of luminosity, depth and atmosphere in a painting. Students also develop a basic understanding of color as it relates to composition and form, including discussion of historical examples of color use in painting. Call for supply list.

To register, call (818) 845-7000. After registering by phone, make out checks to the American Animation Institute and send to: 1105 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505. Payment is due by December 30, 2009. No refunds will be given after the first day of class.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Test post

Focus Features invites you and a guest to a special 3D Screening of

Coraline

Immediately following the screening, please join us for a Q&A with Director Henry Selick & Supervising Sound Editor-Designer Ron Eng
Tuesday, November 3, 7:30 pm
Linwood Dunn Theatre at the Mary Pickford Center
1313 Vine Street, Hollywood
(hosted parking available off of Homewood Avenue)

RSVP to 818-777-4627

Seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. This invitation is non-transferable.

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