Lead by *Egg*sample! Spring Fling at Chuck Jones Center for Creativity

On Sunday, April 5, South Coast Collection (SoCo) was the scene for a "Spring Fling" and the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity was in the thick of it! The project: decorate styrofoam eggs and created Bugs Bunny Plate Portraits. Hundreds of children and their adults swarmed the Center and spent many a fine minute decorating and enjoying themselves as these photos attest. The Center's resident teaching artist, Christopher Scardino had this to say about the afternoon, “The Egg Project went very well and the materials used were anything from markers and toothpicks, to foam paper and felt.

 “My eggsample was something that resonated with girls and boys. It was flowers, cut out of the foam paper, on toothpicks sticking out of the grass/garden colored egg sitting in a bed of green foam paper grass.  We had regular sized eggs and baby eggs, because we ran out of eggs (so many people), and toddlers to full fledged adults got creative.

 “The Bugs Portraits were overshadowed by the eggs, but several created them.  I had 2 different size plates, 1 for the top of BB's head, and the larger for the cheeks, different colors of paper for the ears and markers to draw.

 “One of the many things that stood out was a family that stayed for a while, at least an hour and a half, smiling and helping each other craft their eggs.  At the end the mother prompted her daughter to "tell him...." and she said, very quietly, "this is the most fun we've had for a long time".”

Stop by the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity the next time you're at SoCo and let your imagination explore!

This Just In! Red Dot Auction Update!

Now the artist who created this painting (detail shown) is likely reading this post, so don't you dare identify yourself, it's a secret! The canvases are rolling in and we're starting to post the images here on the blog, click here to preview. We are expecting over 200 canvases this year--so, if you haven't made plans to attend, buy your tickets now at ChuckJonesCenter.org.

Rules for Students and Teachers by John Cage

John Cage: Rules for Students and TeachersRULE ONE: Find a place you trust, and then try trusting it for awhile.

RULE TWO: General duties of a student - pull everything out of your teacher; pull everything out of your fellow students.

RULE THREE: General duties of a teacher - pull everything out of your students. 

RULE FOUR: Consider everything an experiment.

RULE FIVE: be self-disciplined - this means finding someone wise or smart and choosing to follow them. To be disciplined is to follow in a good way. To be self-disciplined is to follow in a better way.

RULE SIX: Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail, there’s only make.

RULE SEVEN: The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It’s the people who do all of the work all of the time who eventually catch on to things.

RULE EIGHT: Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time. They’re different processes.

RULE NINE: Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It’s lighter than you think.

RULE TEN: Break all the rules., even your own rules. How do you that? By leaving plenty of room for X quantities.

HINTS: Always be around. Come or go to everything. Always go to classes. Read anything you can get your hands on. Look at movies carefully, often. Save everything - it might come in handy later. 

Don't know who John Cage is? Go here to find out more about this modern American master. 

Another Success with Palates and Palettes!

On Thursday, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity hosted their second class of their painting and wine series, “Palates and Palettes.” This class was called “Sangria and Sceneries,” and the participants focused on paintings of landscapes.

When the guests arrived, they all relaxed and enjoyed some wine, cheese, and other bite-sized treats to go along with their painting lesson. They were each provided with a 16"x20" canvas, a palette, paintbrushes, and acrylic paints.

The teacher, Chris Scardino, began the class by showing the participants a few tips and pointers. He started with a photograph of a Laguna Beach cliffside, and showed everyone how to make the sunset and waves come alive.

Some people brought in photographs they had picked out themselves, and some chose from the photographs the center had handy. People painted sceneries from famous paintings like Van Goh’s Starry Night, or Monet’s Impression, Sunrise, and some altered photographs of boat docks or prairies, etc.  Each person was given an easy place to start, and got to use their own flair of creativity to make their painting their own.

By the end of the night, participants got to share their own glimpse of the world with fellow classmates, and take their own masterpiece home.

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Board Member, Rob Minkoff, Helms Reboot of "Peabody & Sherman"

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Board member and animation film director, Rob Minkoff, was featured on the front page of the L.A. Times Calendar section today in an interview about his feature film "Peabody & Sherman" which premiers tomorrow nationwide. (Those who have pre-screened the film have nothing but good to say about it.) To read the full interview, go to the L.A. Times online edition or by clicking on this sentence. Rob has directed several films for Walt Disney Feature Animation, including The Lion King (1994) and two of the Roger Rabbit shorts: Tummy Trouble (1989) and Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990). While working at Disney he wrote the song "Good Company" for Oliver & Company. He also made the films Stuart Little (1999), Stuart Little 2 (2002), The Haunted Mansion (2003) and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008).

Minkoff also participates as a member of the jury for the NYICFF, a local New York City Film Festival dedicated to screening films for children between the ages of 3 and 18.[2]

He is also attached to direct the fantasy action adventure Chinese Odyssey.  Rob was also one of the four “Dover Boys” from Cal Arts who was joyfully mentored by Chuck and remained close friends with him until Chuck’s death in 2002.

Rob has supported the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity financially, as well as with his appearances at various events, fundraisers, and now as a member of the Center's Board of Directors.

"It's Cartoon Sunday!" -- Storyboarding with Jeff DeGrandis

“It’s Cartoon Sunday!” said Animation Director and Producer, Jeff DeGrandis. On February 23, the Center hosted a storyboarding class; everyone picked up their Blackwing pencils, their storyboard sheets, and unleashed their inner cartoonist.The class was taught by Jeff, a long time friend of Chuck Jones. Back in the 1980s, from his little dorm room at CalArts in Valencia, Jeff gave Chuck a call. The next day, he received a call back, and to his excitement, Chuck invited him over and said, “We’re going to draw!” From then on, Chuck became Jeff’s mentor, and now, he is a current board member for the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.

The class Jeff taught this past Sunday was an introductory storyboarding class, and we were joined by people of all ages and skills.  He began the class by explaining, “Storyboarding is one of those aspects of filmmaking that takes your film from the deep, dank, and dark recesses of your imagination and brings it to life.” More literally, storyboarding is the creation of a visual script; one that allows you to go on an adventure with the characters of the film.

Jeff prepared an original screenplay “Spaced out Mutts,” which featured two dogs and the dilemmas that came with their dreams to become astronauts. The story gave the students an easy place to start; however, Jeff left the ending unfinished so everyone could invent their own.

Each student did it different, and that was his goal – to make each student’s unique story come to life. He said the greatest thing about storyboarding is that, “you’re the cameraman, actor, set designer, and planner.”

This Is No "Jump Cut"; Jeff DeGrandis Tells All!

Jeff DeGrandis of DreamWorks Animation (formerly producer and director of "Dora the Explorer" at Nickelodeon) spent Sunday, February 23, with 18 eager-to-absorb-his-knowledge students of the animated film. From 12 years of age up to some in their 30s, Jeff laid it all out for them. Here's some of what he had to say:

"Once the script is written for a film or animation, the next step is to make a storyboard. The storyboard is a series of drawn panels, which visually tells the story of the animation as clear as it possibly can, sort of like a comic book. Though not entirely mandatory, storyboarding is one of those aspects of filmmaking that takes your film from the deep, dank, and dark recesses of your imagination and brings it to life.

"The storyboard becomes a visual script, letting you see action of the characters, dialogue, acting, transitions, background layout / locations and camera planning. In my opinion, storyboarding is one of the most exciting parts of producing an animated picture. You’re the cameraman, actor, set designer and planner. As a storyboard artist, you are the first person to visually layout the picture."

At the end of the 5 hour session (they did break for lunch in case you were thinking otherwise), everyone left with a new found sense of accomplishment and all were eager to take their new perspective on the importance of storyboarding and apply it to their own projects. Thank you Jeff for your amazing talent!

Photos by Stephen Russo.

Sangria and Sceneries - Thursday, March 13 at 7pm!

Join us for Sangria and Sceneries, the next class in our Palate and Palettes series!

SANGRIA AND SCENERIES on Thursday, March 13 at 7pm

Learn to paint a landscape using the colors of the rainbow. When you complete your masterpiece, you'll have a canvas with the perfect view!

Thursday, March 13

7:00pm to 9:00pm

You bring your wine and snacks, and we provide the materials and canvas!

Where: Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, 3321 Hyland Ave, Ste A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Fees:

1 Artist=$30.00

2 Artists=$40.00

Register today! Click here!

Questions: Sasha Advani, (949) 660-7793 x20107 or Sasha@ChuckJonesCenter.org

Storyboarding with Jeff DeGrandis

Join us for a storyboarding workshop with Animation Director and Produces, Jeff DeGrandis. 

Novices to drawing are welcome and more so, encouraged to enroll. Learn what storyboarding is, when to use it, and how. You'll learn how to storyboard your own masterpiece with the guidance from Jeff. 

Who is Jeff?

"I've always liked cartoons, animation, hot rods, and drag racing. Ed "Big Daddy" Roth was my first great inspiration to draw," says DeGrandis, producer and animator of "Dora the Explorer", "Go Diego, Go!" and other animated series for Nickelodeon. Roth and drag-racing were not the only inspirations for this artist; he adds that Charles Schultz, M.C. Escher, and Tex Avery all have contributed to his style and artistic sensibilities. 

However, it is to Chuck Jones that he owes his greatest allegiance as a source of inspiration. Jones mentored DeGrandis while he was a student at CalArts in Valencia (formerly Chouinard Art Institute of which Jones was an alumni) and it was Jones who gave him his first job in animation. 

In a career spanning several decades, he has worked for Chuck Jones Productions, Spumco, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios, DreamWorks, and FOX Kids Network. 

Married with three "cartoon" kids, DeGrandis hales from New Jersey. In his free time he enjoys watching 50s and 60s television shows and especially early MGM and Warner Bros. cartoons.

Ages: 8th grade and older 

Fee: $40 per person, with lunch and materials provided 

Register today, click here.

Our first Pinot and Picasso was a sucess!

On Thursday night (February 6, 2014), people from all around Orange County got together at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity to participate in the Center’s first-ever Pinot and Picasso.We were joined by groups of all kinds – families, couples, mothers with their daughters, and friends out for a night of fun. There were people from all skill levels – from those who haven’t picked up a brush since elementary school, to those who have missed the familiar feel of a paintbrush in their hand.

When the guests arrived, they all enjoyed wine, cheese, and other bite-sized treats to go along with their painting lesson. They were provided with a 16x10 canvas, a palette, paintbrushes, and paints, and each sat across from their partner.

The class was led by Chris Scardino, and he taught everyone how to paint basic dimensions of a human face and head. His class was loosely themed around various eras of Picasso style portraits, and everyone released their inner Picasso. They filled up their palettes with paints, and got creative with different ways to capture the personality and quirks of their partner.

Some of our guests stated that they enjoyed, “Expressing oneself. The lesson was useful. I played with colors…. and its fun to see how you see each other.” Her partner smiled and responded, “It’s a big challenge to paint something as beautiful as her.” 

A family stated, “It was good family time. I'm with my wife and kids and a student who is living with us, so it was a very enjoyable evening for us. Very relaxing. I haven't done this for 30 or 40 years and she used to do a lot of art. I'm glad I got to paint her and share a bottle of wine.”

“You just relax and drink and paint a theme like Picasso – which I’ve never done before. It’s fun and forgiving because you can kind of do anything and it doesn’t have to be accurate. Everything is set up – no stress! You come, you open a bottle of wine, and you take home your masterpiece, and hang it up on the wall.”

Chuck Jones: Drawn From the Far Side: Exhibition to Open at Bowers Museum

Santa Ana, CA:oThe Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California announced today that the exhibition, "Chuck Jones: Drawn from the Far Side", will open on Saturday, April 26 and close August 3, 2014. Celebrated as one of the greatest directors from the "golden age" of animation, Chuck Jones worked in the field some seventy years until his death at eighty‐nine in 2002. His passion for drawing was both work and full time hobby. He drew for a living, and he drew for pleasure and challenge.This exhibit contains original drawings, most never publicly displayed, including a section of 50 so‐called "Doodles," perhaps best described as coming from one artist's very far side. The majority of drawings are from the private collection of Jones' widow, Marian. In collaboration with the non-profit Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Visit the Bowers Museum website for details.

A Few Highly Motivated People Walked Into a Not-for-Profit and...

It's no joke that the Center put out a request recently for new volunteers to assist the organization in its growth goals for 2014 and beyond. This past Tuesday evening, sixteen people answered the call for six defined areas: office administration, marketing, computer support, event support, program artist, and community ambassador. A heartfelt "Thank You!" to all who made the effort and joined us for this important meeting. You inspire us!All photos courtesy Stephen Russo.

Calling All Artists! The 4th Annual Red Dot Auction to Benefit the Chuck Jones Center Needs You!

Dear Artists and Friends of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity,Preparations are underway for the Fourth Annual Red Dot Auction benefiting the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, coming in May. As you are aware, the arts and creativity in our schools and in our national conversation are always the first things to be eliminated or casually dismissed as unimportant.

In fact, it is creativity that opens the minds and hearts of all who allow it to; it brings greater freedom to their lives. It enhances one’s ability to solve problems and it opens minds to the differences that make each of us unique, erasing prejudices and bigotry. Creativity makes the world a better place.

Today I’m writing to ask you to donate a work of art to this year’s Red Dot Auction, to be held on Friday, May 9th from 7 to 10 PM at the Center in Costa Mesa, California.  Again this year the canvas is 12” square and as last year, we ask that you sign the artwork on the reverse.  You may prefer to work on paper or another substrate and that’s fine as long as we can mount it to the 12” square canvas for presentation the night of the event.

For those of you who may be unaware of the Red Dot Auction and how it works (or may have forgotten), here are the details: each artist contributes a work of art that is either painted on the canvas we provide you or creates a work of art that can be mounted to the canvas for display the evening of the auction.  The artwork should be signed on the reverse so that bidders at this silent auction will not know who has created which painting—although savvy collectors may be aware of your particular style and will jealously guard their bids, hoping to land a work by ______ or ____ ______.

You might ask, “What should I paint?” Chuck’s life spanned most of the 20th century and with such a wealth of inspiration why not the life and times of Chuck Jones? That should not limit you to cartoon-related imagery, although many of the most sought after works at last year’s event were inspired by his Looney Tunes creations; you might be inspired by his love of reading, his enjoyment of painting “en plein air” or the fact that he liked to square dance.

Whatever you choose to do, of course, is up to you; it is your participation that is most important to us.

Won’t you share your gifts with us and with the Center’s members and patrons?  If you will, please drop me a note at rpatrick@lje.com with your mailing address and I’ll get a canvas out to you or drop by the Center to pick up a canvas.

What’s that you say?  You’d like to contribute two works?  No problem!  Just let me know and I’ll send you two canvases.  Have an artist friend who would like to be a part of this exciting project?  Please send them my way.  Canvases are due back here no later than April 19th.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, time, and commitment to re-invigorating the creative spirit in all of us.

All the best, Robert

Robert Patrick, Director of Marketing

Make a New Year's Resolution: Give the Gift of Time

"The only thing you can give a child is time." --Chuck Jones

What if that gift of time Chuck speaks of were something you could give throughout the year? The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is looking for a few, highly motivated people to help make the Center's vision come true.

"The future belongs to the creators, the empathizers, the pattern recognizers, and meaning makers." --Daniel Pink

The Center's primary goal is to inspire the creative mind and to provide an opportunity to become more aware of the existence of creativity in an individual's life and as a whole throughout society.

"Humanity is going to require a substantially new way of thinking if it is to survive." --Sir Ken Robinson 

With the help of our dedicated staff and volunteers, the Center funds and supports a variety of programs and events to make creativity a magical part of everyone's life. With the support of inspired and inspiring volunteers, our plans for the future will take off and become a reality.

Are we what you're looking for?

If you want to be part of our team and have the talents we are looking for, join us and share in our vision.

Social Media Connectors

Educators

Legal Assistance

Non-profit Accounting Support

Website Technicians

Social Event Coordinators

Corporate Outreach Facilitators

General assistance volunteers

We are looking for a few, highly motivated people to give the gift of time.

Please join us Tuesday, January 21, 2014 from 6 PM to 8 PM for the opportunity to learn more about the Center, its goals, and its needs as it moves forward. Refreshments will be served.

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity

3321 Hyland Avenue, Suite A

Costa Mesa 92626

(Just west of Hyland on Sunflower)

949-660-7793 x 20107

GetInvolved@ChuckJonesCenter.org

Learn more about the Center at ChuckJonesCenter.org.

"It is not only 'good' to move from passive consumption to active innovation, it is vital. It is not too broad to claim that the future of mankind depends on developing our creativity 'muscle'...like all muscles, if we don't use it, we lose it, and many of us have not been asked to use it." --Chuck Jones

Volunteers Wanted!

The Chuck Jones Council for Creativity is looking for a few good volunteers. Do you excel at community outreach? Are you a marketing and/or business maven? Do you know how to put on a great fundraiser? Are you passionate about promoting creativity in our children, our schools, our lives, and the world? Then join us, Tuesday, January 21, 2014 from 6 PM to 8 PM for an overview of the programs and goals of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, meet many of our current volunteers, a few of the members of Chuck's family, Board members, and see if we're what's been missing in your life. We could use your expertise!

Dan Scanlon, Director of "Monsters University" Recommends Chuck Jones and Tex Avery to Aspiring Animators

Short, quick interview with Dan Scanlon, director of Pixar’s “Monsters University” in today’s L.A. Times. When asked what movie to he’d recommend to aspiring animators he said, “I watched a lot of Tex Avery and Chuck Jones cartoons growing up. They’re so clearly staged and beautifully directed, and the characters are so rich. That’s an accessible place to begin.”

A Patchwork Thanksgiving Turkey

Chuck's mother, Mabel (known to everyone as "Nana") was a doll maker and designer extraordinaire. Among her delightful creations was this one-of-a-kind patchwork turkey, designed to be a center piece for Thanksgiving dinner parties.

He is approximately 65 years old and has been on at least 60 Thanksgiving dinner tables over the years.

He will, again, attend a Thanksgiving family celebration this year in Marin County, California.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Creativity Camp in Full Swing

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity's Thanksgiving Week Creativity Camp got off to a rousing start this morning with camp-goers descending upon a partially prepared mural on which they added their own creative input, painting Chuck Jones cartoon characters, flowers, birds, trees, and rainbows. The Center's resident teaching artist, Chris Scardino, guided each of them with his usual steady mien and program director, Sasha Advani, made sure they were well-nourished with snacks such as yogurt and fresh fruit. Yummy! The Center is planning four weeks of Creativity Camp in the summer of 2014. For more information write Sasha@ChuckJonesCenter.org or call 949-660-7793 x 20107.

Exploring the Chuck Jones Side of the Brain, Part 2

Post Script: On November 24th after the lecture delivered by Marian Jones, Linda Jones Clough, and Craig Kausen (the family of Chuck Jones), the attendees gathered in the hall for an interactive workshop. The theme was "conveyances" and they had 30 minutes to construct. As you can see the results were spectacular. Why, you'd think adults were creative too!The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana presents "The Art of Healthy Aging" Lecture Series Fall 2013. You won't want to miss this season's final lecture, "Exploring the Chuck Jones Side of the Brain" in this engaging education series presented in collaboration with Hoag Neurosciences Institutes's Orange County Vital Brain Aging Program (OCVBAP). Interactive workshop included! 

When: Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 1:30 PM, ending at 3:30 PM in the Norma Kershaw Auditorium. 

Cost: individual lecture: Member $7/Non-member $10

Where: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92706

With: Dr. William R. Shankle, The Judy and Richard Voltmer Chair, Memory & Cognitive Disorders Program, Hoag Neurosciences Institute; Director, Orange County Vital Aging Program

Presenters: Marian Jones, Craig Kausen, Linda Jones Clough

What: A glimpse into the genius mind of Chuck Jones, presented by the family. A hands-on workshop follows this presentation. 

For tickets and advance reservations contact the Bowers Museum Education Department at 714-567-3677 or education@bowers.org. You can also visit www.bowers.org/tickets.

Girl Scout Programs at The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity in Costa Mesa, Ca

Check out our Girl Scout Programs for Junior and Cadettes! We can also host an Art Program for all age groups! 

All classes held at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, 3321 Hyland, Suite A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. 

More information can be found at the websites listed within this email. Or emailsasha@chuckjonescenter.org or call (949) 660-7793 x20107. If you have 6 or more girls in a Troop (or combine Troops), we can schedule a weekday afterschool session. Please inquire within.

Click here for pricing and scheduling for our Junior programs

Click here for pricing and scheduling for our Cadette programs

CADETTE BOOK ARTIST BADGE

For centuries, humans have been developing methods to create and bind paper in order to share ideas, knowledge, and inspirations with each other and with future generations.  The craft of creating books has evolved over time, but the basic human need to share words and pictures has stayed the same.  For this badge, you will try gluing, stitching, and folding your way to shaping your own book artistry style – you’ll create some spectacular gifts and keepsakes.

In this class you’ll:

-Explore the art of bookbinding

-Get familiar with the insides of a book

-Try out book artist techniques

-Focus on function

-Focus on style

CADETTE COMIC ARTIST BADGE

Newspaper cartoons, comic books, graphic novels...comic art is a broad, exciting, and growing field. In this badge, you'll explore the world of visual story telling from career choices to drawing techniques!

Earn your Comic Artist badge in five simple and fun steps:

-Delve into the world of comics 

-Choice a story to tell 

-Draw it out 

-Frame it in four panels  

-Add the words  

JUNIOR DRAWING BADGE

When you pick up your pencil, anything could leap from your mind onto a sheet of paper. That’s what makes drawing so fun. In this class we’ll show you different techniques to make your drawings even better.

You will:

-Experiment with different materials

-Learn how to shade

-Put some perspective in your pictures

-Make a portfolio