"Bambi" (1942) [3 of 9] - Tyrus Wong Watercolor Concept

This tiny 4x5 watercolor is fantastic. It's on the wall next to the charcoal piece (previous post). People walk right up to it and study it's flow and line. Fantastic framing and positioning of Bambi (off center). Excellent example of how to portray rain and create a sense of wind... Amazing!

It's in an oversized frame to draw attention to the piece and the frame is a darkened bamboo.

Tyrus Wong Watercolor

Here is some additional information on Tyrus Wong from Wikipedia:

Wong and his father immigrated to the United States from China in 1919. When he attended Benjamin Franklin Junior High in Pasadena, his teachers noticed Wong's artistic ability and arranged for a summer scholarship at the Otis Art Institute. Wong was hooked and decided to leave junior high for a full time studentship at Otis. Since his family was poor, he worked as a janitor at this school and walked for miles just to attend classes. It paid off as Wong had a lucrative career as an artist in Hollywood.

He has done everything from working as a greeting card designer to Warner Bros. film production illustrator (1942-1968), from drawing set designs and storyboard for several movies to being a Disney inspirational sketch artist (1938-1941). It was his lush pastels that served as inspiration for Bambi (1942) where he was the lead artist of the project.

Tyrus Wong left Disney studios shortly after finishing Bambi, due to repercussions from the Disney animators' strike. Later, he has designed Christmas cards, where some have sold over 1 million copies.

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942). Color concept sketch with trees, leaves, Bambi. Tyrus Wong and has a very Japanese feel to the overall image. [Frame: 15.5”W x 14.5”H; Item: 4-3/8"w X 3-5/16"h] SeqID-0263 7/27/2005