Bill Layne Gouache Painting of Elves Putting on a Play
Item Details
Bill Layne (American, 1911 – 2005)
Untitled (elves putting on a play)
Gouache painting on paper
Signed to the lower left
Born in Berkeley, California Bill Layne received his art training at the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco. His commercial art career began in a display studio in Chicago. Three years later he came back to California and joined the background department of the Walt Disney Studio. After several years he left the studio to return to free-lance commercial art. These years were spent in doing illustrations for calendars (Layne estimates he painted at least 650). Later he returned to Disney painting backgrounds for several short subjects and all the animated features including ‘Sleeping Beauty’ through ‘Robin Hood,’ after which he gave up his position as head of the background department to enter the serious pursuit of easel painting in his home in Studio City, California.
Previously his painting exhibits were limited to closed showings at the Disney Studio and Dafca exhibit, which were popular and successful. His first public shows were at the De Vaux Gallery in Carmel and the Copenhagen Callery in Solvang. In addition to his landscapes and seascapes, Layne had already developed a distinctive way of handling his still-life paintings, taking advantage of the inner light and individual qualities of the subjects and making use of unusual combinations and presentations of inanimate objects. He also designed numerous calendars featuring elves and pin-up girls and also many puzzles.
- Biography from Askart.com
Condition
- discoloration to the mat; minor debris under glazing.
Dimensions
- measures frame; sight measures 11.0” W x 9.0” H.
- Item not examined outside of mounting
Item #
ITMGJ07420
