There is something satisfying about copying genius.  Many art historians would dismiss the work of Disney animators as merely illustrators but this would be so wrong.  If you examine the art work closely it has the simplicity of design, these were in the time of hand drawings and colouring, yet they were flexible enough to be able to portray the emotions of the characters.

I was thinking along these lines when I started watching Disney’s Jungle Book this afternoon (the first time in a very long time a real oversight on my part) .  Today it is very easy just to use stock images to create a background upon which to manipulate the computer generated imagery, back then every thing had to be drawn and hand coloured.  The time consuming nature of this leant to the lean drawing style of Disney and within this environment some of the most influential artists of the 20th century flourished.  They may not be as well known as some of the so called ‘greats’ of 20th century art but there work has touched and influenced more people through out the world – the original ‘pop art’?  Perhaps.