BOB NICOLL, DEAN OF BLIZZARD ACADEMY, TO SPEAK ON CREATIVITY AND TEAM BUILDING

Renowned Visual Effects & Gaming Educator, Bob Nicoll, Will Host a Special One-Hour “Chuck Talk” on the Creative Process and Collaborative Team BuildingCosta Mesa, CA, July 21, 2015—Ever wonder how to get the most creativity out of your team? Businesses today need to be more adaptable and innovative than ever before to stay ahead, but often leaders are unsure of how to get their teams to deliver creative solutions to daunting business problems. Bob Nicoll—wordsmith, speaker, author and Dean of Development at the Blizzard Academy in Orange County—will help you look at problem-solving and team building in new, highly creative ways at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity’s inaugural Chuck Talk on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 7:30pm.

“We are honored to have Bob Nicoll kick off our quarterly Chuck Talk series,” said Craig Kausen, Chairman of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and Chuck Jones’s grandson. “Chuck Talk speakers inform and inspire the listener; providing insights into their creative process and offering audiences the tools to find, understand, and utilize their own creativity in their daily lives. Bob is world-renowned as a passionate, inspiring teacher who brings creativity to everything he does. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome him to the Center. ”

Bob was a long-time friend of Chuck Jones’s and the Kausen family. When asked about Jones’s influence on his life, he said, “Even before I met and worked with Chuck Jones, his characters, his films, and his philosophies helped shape my own creativity and imagination and it continues to inspire me today in all that I do.”

Known for his infectious positivity, Bob Nicoll is considered one of the most important speakers and teachers in the entertainment industry. His expertise in both animation and gaming has made him an integral part of companies such as Sony, SGI, EA, and now Blizzard. He has been a faculty member at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and Carnegie Mellon University and has sat on the boards of the Visual Effects Society and San Francisco Academy of Art University.

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity was founded in 1999 by the four-time Academy Award-recipient and legendary creative genius, Chuck Jones, as a place to promote creativity in all its various forms. The Center’s programs are inspired by the films, writings and art of Jones and are informed by his philosophy of guiding and nurturing instruction.

Doors to open at 6:30 PM for networking opportunities, talk to begin at 7:30 PM sharp. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited to 100 attendees, RSVP required at 949-660-7793 x 107 or programs@ChuckJonesCenter.org. The Center is located at 3321 Hyland Avenue, Suite A & B, Costa Mesa, CA in South Coast Collection (SoCo).

The Creative Classroom with Richard Kinsey: Act with a Pencil! - 8/23

A native of Los Angeles, who has lived and performed all over the world, Richard is probably best known for his award-winning performance of Javert in the smash musical, "Les Miserables", on Broadway. His involvement in the performing arts is reflected in his visual art, after all, "the canvas or drawing pad is a stage with performers as well".His most recent work was illustrating "Lucky" with a story by Craig Inglis and published late last year. Kinsey has two other children's titles coming out soon: "Mr. Pricklebear" by Diane King and "The Purple Burple" by Judith Deem DuPree.

Richard will lead a two-hour workshop on illustration and performance, FREE, Sunday, August 23 from 2 to 4 PM. 

Space is limited to only 60 children (plus parents). Reservations are required, please email Programs@ChuckJonesCenter.org to reserve your space. More details about the class to follow. 

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, 3321 Hyland Avenue, Suite A & B, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 949-660-7793 x 107

ChuckJonesCenter.org

Teaching Artist, Denise, at RAD Camp

One of the Center's teaching artists, Denise Dion-Scoyni, spent the day recently at the RAD camp in Irvine. This is her report:Nestled within the natural setting of Irvine Regional Park, campers spend the week side-by-side with their Buddy engaged in a multiple of activities. The degree of mental and/or physical disability and age varied greatly amongst the adult campers. The Buddies consisted of young adult volunteers: high school and college students.

The group was divided into ten teams. They rotated into the Art Studio every half hour to paint a Chuck Jones character of their choosing. During lunch and pool time, we offered open studio to those not participating otherwise.

Our program was well received with Chuck's characters widely recognized with delight. At the beginning of each rotation I was introduced by a camp director. During my introduction I would explain that I was from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, showing them each character and asking if they knew who Chuck Jones was. There was a handful that recognized him by name.

During one rotation, a young man named Rusty (shown with Marvin the Martin) stood up and gave us a five minute bio of Chuck, frankly he knew more than I! Another young woman knew all about him as well and was upset that the Grinch was not given as an option to paint. So, I drew him for her and she sang a song for me as we became fast friends. Another young man delighted the crowd with his spot-on voice impersonations of the characters.

It was an intense and delightfully exhausting day filled with enlightening antidotes and observations. The vast majority of campers were happy, affectionate and eager to participate, such a fun and loving group of people with exceptional camaraderie toward each other and their Buddies.

I found myself in awe of the Buddies. These young adults, ranging from 16-25, are responsible for their camper 24/7 for the entire week. This may include feeding, hygiene and hand-in-hand painting. The enthusiasm and selflessness of these young adults truly restores my faith in humanity.

A few anecdotes: there is "Rhonda", a wheelchair bound, middle aged woman without speech. She enjoys art so much she spent the entire day in the studio. I observed her drawing a circular pattern of smaller dots. I interpreted her drawing as a rosary so I created a similar pattern but leaving a space after each group of ten smaller dots. I then asked her where the "our Father goes" and she proceeded to put dots in the gaps of the pattern and then drew a line over the entire dotted circle. Her Buddy then spelled out Rhonda's name in dots and she was able to follow the pattern to spell out her name. It was a huge breakthrough.

Then there was "Mikey", a man in his 30's with developmental and severe speech impairment. The moment he walked into the studio, he lunged into an embrace with me, sobbing on my shoulder. The director suspects that I had reminded him of a loved one. I was able to cheer him up by giving him my name tag and getting him started on his project painting hand in hand. 

I observed a huge volume of left handedness, the most I have seen in a group setting in my career. I saw people with mental "disability" display expertise in specific areas: a girl who knew maps: she asked where CJCC was located. When I said next to the 405 near Harbor Blvd, she asked if it was off Susan or Hyland. She then asked where I lived and gave me the best route home and yet she could not name colors.

RAD Camp is an incredible organization and a pleasure to work with.

Creativity Camp Update! July 27-30 for Animals Have Feelings Too!

Our summer Creativity Camps have been fun filled and busy for all our campers!We've canceled our Theater/Dance: Express Your Inner Cartoon Camp that was scheduled for July 20-23.

Join us for "Animals Have Feelings Too" July 27-30!

As July comes to an end, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is hosting an additional week of our Summer Creativity Camps from July 27th – July 30th! Due to high interest, we are hosting one of our most loved Camps: Animals Have Feelings Too. Your kids will work with our talented teaching artists to enrich their understanding of Color Theory, Modeling, Mixed Media, and Murals. They will find the rich spectrum of color in peacock feathers, intricate designs in the shells of sea turtles, shapes in fish and sea life, and much more! We can’t wait for you to come “Meow! Hiss! Moo! Caw!” with us today and explore all of the fun connections between art and the natural world around us.

Details: Drop off by 9:00am, pick up by 1:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided. Bring a snack, water, and brown-bag lunch. You can purchase a lunch from neighboring eateries. Place your order at the time of drop off with cash payment. Dress for a mess!

For more information, Programs@ChuckJonesCenter.org or (949) 660-7793 x107

Register today! Go to our Gift Shop at www.ChuckJonesCenter.orghttp://shop.chuckjonescenter.org/products/7-27-30-creativity-camp-animals-have-feelings-too

"What's Up Doc? The Animated Art of Chuck Jones" to Open in Seattle

Whether you know Bugs Bunny and Pepé Le Pew from the comforts of your couch or the darkness of a movie theater, you've experienced the comic genius of director and artist Chuck Jones. Visitors to EMP Museum in Seattle will get a front row seat to explore the work and legacy of Jones when What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones opens Saturday, June 13.The museum's Pencil to Pixel: An Opening Day Celebration starts out with Saturday morning cartoons (cereal included!) on the museum's epic Sky Church screen. Visitors will hear about the animation process from award-winning animator Tony White, and what it was like growing up during the Golden Age of animation from Jones's daughter Linda Jones Clough. They can also try their hands at creating flipbooks and digital animation, and partake in "looney" arts and crafts. What's Up, Doc? is a partnership between SITES, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, and the Museum of the Moving Image.

We are making Monster Bookmarks!

Join us at Drop in and Draw tomorrow (Saturday May 23rd) at the center! We will be making these fun monster bookmarks that slide on the corner of your page as well as having drawing, coloring, tracing on light tables, and an animation station! This event is open to all ages and free :) Stop by anytime from 9:30am to 12:30pm. What better to way to spend your Saturday morning than doing art!

We Get Mail: The History of Animation with Linda Jones Clough

Chuck's daughter and Emmy Award-winning producer, Linda Jones Clough, was in New York this past weekend for the 25th anniversary performances of George Daugherty's "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony".While in the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity's information kiosk, she met an animation student, Gabe Schleifer. Gabe sent us this email this morning:

"Hello, this email is for Linda Jones. My name is Gabriel Schleifer, I'm a 3rd year animation student at The School of Visual Arts. She and I met at Lincoln Center a few days ago during the Bugs Bunny at the Symphony concert where she and her granddaughter were promoting the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.

"I just wanted to let you know that I had a great time chatting with you about your father and about the foundation, not to mention all of the talented artists who are already helping. It's wonderful to be able to speak to someone who is, in some way or another, a part of the history of this extraordinary art form and is making sure the revolutions of it's pioneers lives on.

"Here are a couple of photos taken from the event. I plan to stay in touch with this organization."

Thanks again! Gabe Schleifer

Irvine Classical Players Perform "Peter and the Wolf" at Chuck Jones Center for Creativity!

BUY TICKETS HERE!Please join the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Emmy Award-winning, “Peter and the Wolf”. Enjoy an evening’s recital with the Irvine Classical Players and the Seraphim Symphony in this fundraising benefit for the Center and these fine Orange County musicians. All proceeds will benefit the non-profits. This musical evening will take place Friday, May 29, from 7 to 9 PM at the Center, 3321 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Tickets are available by clicking on this sentence.

“Peter and the Wolf” was originally commissioned in 1936 by the Central Children’s Theater in Moscow with the intent to engage young people at an early age with a love of classical music; Prokofiev finished the work in just four days. In 1995 Chuck’s character designs became the basis for an live action/animated TV special written, produced, and directed by George Daugherty, that starred Lloyd Bridges and Kirstie Alley. It won an Emmy the following year for best children’s television special.

The Center is pleased to partner with Irvine Classical Players and Seraphim Symphony to bring you this selection of music from this musical masterpiece. Please join us!

 Tickets are available by clicking on this sentence.

The 5th Annual Red Dot Auction: the Photos!

The 5th Annual Red Dot Auction was held on two nights this year. A private preview cocktail party for donors, friends, supporters, and artists was held Thursday evening, April 30. On May 1st, the Red Dot Auction was open to the public and what a great turnout both nights! There was a lot of interest in the amazing art donated by over 225 artists this year! Huzzah! Much flurried bidding took place, Red Dots were flying, cowbells were ringing, glasses were tinkling, raffle prizes were drawn, and one lucky soul was the winning bidder at the live auction of an afternoon with Disney artist extraordinair, Mike Peraza, at his home studio where he'll get to see Peraza's astounding collection of animation collectibles and have a private lesson on how to draw your favorite Chuck Jones cartoon character! Woo hoo!The question on everyone's lips, of course, was, "What artist's work will you go home with tonight?" By the end of the evening there were nearly two hundred answers! Thank you to the marvelous artists without whose generous donation of their time, talent, and creativity this event would not exist. And a special thank you to all of the Center's supporters, we appreciate you!

Photos courtesy Stephen Russo.

Drop In and Draw is Cancelled this Saturday May 2nd!

Just a reminder that Drop in and Draw this Saturday (May 2nd) is cancelled and will resume the following week on May 9th! Hope to see you then!

Online Pre-bidding for the Red Dot Auction Is Now Live at www.HA.com!

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity has partnered this year with Heritage Auctions to bring you online pre-bidding for the Fifth Annual Red Dot Auction at their website, www.HA.com. Bidding is now open! Here’s your chance to peruse the delightful and impressive selection of artwork submitted by artists from around the country and place a bid on them! Bidding starts at just $100!Many of today’s giants of animation will be contributing works to the auction, including Eric Goldberg, director of Fantasia 2000 and the Genie in Aladdin; Kelly Asbury, director of the box-office smash Gnomeo and Juliet; Jeff DeGrandis, former producer of Dora the Explorer and now at DreamWorks; Academy Award winner, author, and NYU professor of animation at the Tisch School of the Arts, John Canemaker, and syndicated comic strip artist of Dennis the Menace, Ron Ferdinand. Popular contemporary artists include Tina Palmer,Fabio Napoleoni, and Joshua Smith. Bid early and often!

Join Us At the Young Authors' Faire

The Young Authors’ Faire is a community literacy showcase celebration for students that include opportunities to meet authors, illustrators, storytellers, and engage in hands-on literacy activities. This is the second year that OCDE is partnering with the OC Public Libraries at three regional locations, including: Aliso Viejo, La Habra, and Tustin. All school districts will be assigned to a specific library location. For registration and information, please visit www.ocde.us/yaf

Drop In and Draw on March 7th!

Come join us for the first Drop In and Draw of March! We will be decorating these fun printed glasses that can be worn by all ages along with the usual drawing and animation! This is a free event that we hold on Saturday mornings from 9:30am-12:30pm. You don't want to miss out!

Last Drop In and Draw of February 2015!

Don't forget we have Drop In and Draw this Saturday February 28th! Stop by anytime from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and we will be doing animation, drawing, and making paper lanterns! All ages are welcome!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year! This Saturday at Drop in and Draw we will be making paper dragon puppets! We will have our normal drawing and animation stations as well. All ages are welcome! Hope to see you there :)

Spend Valentine's Day Morning Doing Art With Us!

Spend Valentine’s Day (2/14) morning with us at the Center for Drop In and Draw!  We will be drawing, doing animation, and also making flowers!  Stop by anytime from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.  This is a free event and all ages are welcome!

Author & Illustrator, Kelly Light, to Lead Workshop at the Center!

Kelly Light is the author and illustrator of the picture book Louise Loves Art.  It is a story about the importance of creativity in all its forms. Louise loves art more than anything; it's her imagination on the outside. She is determined to create a masterpiece—her pièce de résistance! Create your own pièce de résistance on Sunday, March 8 from 3 to 5 PM as author and illustrator Kelly Light leads a one-day only workshop at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, 3321 Hyland Ave., Suite A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Admission is free and open to the public, but reservations are a must. Call 949-669-7793 x 20107 or email Sasha@ChuckJonesCenter.org for more information and to RSVP. This program is appropriate for ages 7 to 12. 

Kelly will talk about the connections between cartoons and children’s books. How she used what she learned in animation to write and create characters that may be still on the page, but alive to the reader.  How acting with your pencil can put personality into your drawings.  

Together, doing drawing exercises with character prompts, the children can create a character of their own and a short story board to start them on their own creative journey. 

Kelly Light also loves art, especially cartoons. Growing up she loved watching cartoons and drawing cartoon characters. She went off to art school determined to start a career in animation which lead to working as a character artist for cartoon licensing. She spent a very long time drawing some of the most beloved cartoon characters, including the characters created by her favorite artist of all time, Chuck Jones.  

It was a chance meeting with Mr. Jones that sparked the desire to create her characters. Years later, Louise was created and published and is now a seven book series that hopes to inspire kids to be creative and pick up their own pencils and draw out their imaginations. 

Louise Loves Art will be available for sale that day and Ms. Light has agreed to sign copies purchased at the Center.

...There's a New Rabbit in Town

"What's Up, Doc? The Animated Art of Chuck Jones" opens Saturday, February 14th in Fort Worth, Texas a their Museum of Science and History.Chuck's daughter, Linda Jones Clough, and his granddaughter, Valerie Kausen, will be special guests on opening day. The exhibit, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibits with the collaboration of the Museum of the Moving Image, New York; Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Beverly Hills, and the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, Costa Mesa, explores what it takes to make a cartoon and how Chuck Jones's unique perspective on film-making, his comedic genius, precision timing, and intense focus on character shaped and guided the evolution of the animated film. It is a not-to-be-missed exhibit.

For more information, visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History website by clicking this sentence.

Valentine's Day Card Making!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so stop by the Center this Saturday (2/7) to make your very own Valentine's Day cards! We will be there from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. There also will be drawing and an animation station! All ages are welcome. See you at Drop in and Draw!

Drop In and Draw Valentine's Day Edition

For the next few weeks we will have a Valentines Day theme at Drop in and Draw! Join us this Saturday the 31st in making paper heart wreaths and chains! Drop by anytime from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Hope to see you there!