Last year I gave a presentation at the CTNexpo in Burbank, CA. This very popular annual animation conference hosted by Tina Price is packed with the biggest names in the field who hold workshops and presentations for fans and others interested in the animation field. Since the theme was “One of a Kind”, I was invited to talk about my transition from animation to editorial cartooning. Here’s a link to a recorded studio interview CTN did while I was in town. I’ll post the link to the actual presentation soon. 
Tag: California Institute of the Arts
My Harpo Halloween costume
I’m not a big fan of Halloween as a holiday but did read this interesting article at the New York Times about Halloween costume correctness on campuses today. California Institute of the Arts, the school I attended in the mid-8os was famous (or infamous) for their outrageous Halloween parties. No costume correctness there; the biggest concern there was if the costume covered anything (paint seemed to be the choice of material). This not being my style I decided on dressing up as Harpo Marx, complete with a curly wig, trench coat, and horn. I loved this character- no talking, just blowing my horn as a response.
image from marxbrothers tumbler
CalArts, A113, and Bill Moore
The March issue of Vanity Fair has an article about the the early character animation program at California Institute of the Arts, better known as CalArts. It focuses mainly on the students who attended when the program first started in 1975 and a few years afterwards. Even if you’re not in the animation business you’ll recognize some of these names: Tim Burton, John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, Nancy Beiman, Jerry Rees, Mike Giaimo, John Musker, to name a few. It really is amazing all that talent came from a small art school within the span of a few years.
The article gives the reader some behind-the-scenes glimpses into life as a character animation student at CalArts; the life drawing classes (which for many students was their first introduction to nude models), the infamous Halloween parties, the meaning behind the room A113, and the profound impact one of the teachers had on so many of the students.
That teacher was Bill Moore. Formerly from the famous Chouinard Art Institute, he taught color and design and was the one who influenced so many of the students in the character animation program. I attended CalArts in the early 80’s and had Moore as my teacher during my first year, the last class he taught before becoming ill. As the article mentions, he was quite a character and very intimidating. I remember agonizing over projects and the fear which would fill the classroom when he walked in to review our efforts, hung on the wall for review. We all had heard the legend of Bill Moore (who always had a lit cigarette in his hand) setting on fire any work he didn’t like. But he was a wonderful teacher. I learned everything I know about design from Bill Moore. And even though he sometimes came across as too tough, too insensitive- I still have a vivid memory of him briefly letting his cranky persona down.
At the end of particularly stressful design class my classmates and I retreated to our animation desks to resume work on our pencil tests and lick our wounds. My friend and cubicle mate, Lynette was especially irritated with Moore that day and decided to challenge him as he walked looking around as he did occasionally after class. Why do you act that way when you teach, she asked him. Do you have to be so rude? I expected him to reply with his usual one-liners but instead his expression softened and said “because when you get out there it’ll be much worse”.
Notes from my first day in Bill Moore’s class
A design assignment for Bill Moore’s class- 1983 (I recall him not being particularly impressed)
Some good news after the Oscar booby show
Just wanted to offer a glimmer of hope after my last post about the Oscars. I recently returned from a visit to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where Ralph Eggleston and I did a presentation for the character animation program. During our question and answer segment it was mentioned that women made up 62.5% of student enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year. When I attended CalArts in the early 1980’s there were approximately 6-8 women in the entire program. Progress.
photo courtesy of Amanda Candler, one of the inspiring young women at CalArts. See more of her student work at her blog.