Animation Artifacts &Bill Peckmann &Books &Disney &Illustration &Rowland B. Wilson 19 Mar 2012 09:32 am
Rowland B. Wilson’s Hercules – Another look
Given the new book coming onto the market, Rowland B. Wilson’s Trade Secrets: Notes for Cartooning and Animation, I thought it appropriate to take a fresh look at some of his brilliant art for the animated film.
Last week I showcased some material previously posted, which had been done as preproduction art for Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. Today, we look back to some of the work for Disney’s Hercules. It’s all pretty stunning material. Unquestionably the work of a master.
This is a book that was put together by Suzanne Lemieux Wilson, and it looks to be as much about animation as about cartooning. I’m not sure exactly what’s in the book, but I’m certainly eager to find out, and will give you a report as soon as I see it.
- Here’s Hercules.
This entry includes character sketches for characters that developed into something completely different, or didn’t end up in the film at all.
Once again, I must express my debt of gratitude to the generosity of Bill Peckmann for lending me the art to post here. And to Suzanne Lemieux Wilson for some additional sketches. Thank you, both.
1Megara
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Hades – version 1
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Hades – version 2
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Hades – version 3
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Death
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Pegasus
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Centaus 1 drawing
7b
Centaurs 1 color
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Centaurs 2
9a
Bakeus – drawing
9b
Titans 1 – Bakeus – color
10a
Shakeus – drawing
10b
Titans 2 – Shakeus – color
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Titans 3
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Titans 4
These watercolors are less character designs than they are inspirational pieces. They are inspirational. How stunning this art. I would have loved seeing something like this on the screen rather than Gerald Scarfe‘s. But that’s just me.
As with some of the last posts, I’m showing the larger piece (and they are large) and then going in for some tighter blowups.
13(Click any image to enlarge.)
13A
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Typed beneath this image:
HERC AND PHIL ADDRESS ZEUS ON MT. OLYMPUS
The realm of the gods is in the sky. The landscape is made of sky imagery –
the classic buildings, the trees, the hills are the colors of rainbows, thunderheads,
lightning, rain, hail and stars. Trees have tops made of clouds and trunks of rain
or lightning. Buildings evolve out of mist as do the gods themselves.
The gods can be large or human scale as needed.
In mythology, Zeus changed himself into a swan, a bull, a cloud,
and even a shower of gold.
Everything is as changeable and colorful as a sunset.
14A
14B
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Hercules and the Hydra.
15A
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Typed below this image:
THE HOME OF THE GODS.
A skyscape. Trees, mountains and waterfalls appear and dissolve away.
We can see shapes in the clouds – temples and statues.
Lightning flashes and stars gleam in unexpected places.
The whole skyscape is slowly drifting.
16A
16B
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This ain’t heaven.
17A
17B
17C
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This one looks almost as though it were painted
on black velvet – appropriately enough.
18A
18B
18C
Suzanne Wilson also sent these very rough cartoons RBW did:
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on 19 Mar 2012 at 9:55 am 1.Brett McCoy said …
That artwork is stunning. I am looking forward to getting this book.
on 20 Mar 2012 at 2:37 pm 2.Dan Haskett said …
How I miss that guy. I fell in love with his work through TV GUIDE and PLAYBOY, and finally meeting him at Kimmelman’s was such fun. How great it would be to finally see a fully animated version of his work. Thanks for making my day, Mike.
Be well,
Dan