The Painted Stage
Following is a small selection of backgrounds and key art created for an independent film and animated features at Walt Disney Animation Studios (1997–2002). Painted by hand in traditional media, the work defines light, space, and atmosphere, establishing the physical and emotional architecture of each film. Developed in collaboration with directors and layout artists, it suggests story and mood without relying on character or facial expression.
Independent Film
Key art, watercolor, digital
Mathias Poledna, Imitation of Life (2013), 3 min loop, 35 mm
Austrian Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale
Animation Director: Tony Bancroft
Contribution: Key art and original backgrounds (watercolor and gouache on paper)
Establishing Background
Walt Disney Feature Animation (Orlando Studio), 1997–2002
The following backgrounds for Lilo & Stitch, Mulan, Tarzan, Brother Bear, and John Henry are held in the Disney Animation Research Library.
Lilo & Stitch (2002), 85 min, 35 mm, 1.66:1
Directors: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Contribution: Color keys and original backgrounds (watercolor on paper)
Establishing background
Background (Lilo’s simulated photograph)
Background (Lilo’s simulated photograph)
Background (Layout by Andy Harkness) 2002 Walt Disney World Feature Animation Exhibition, Hollywood Studios.
Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Archive Series: Layout and Background, Edited by John Lasseter
Key art, acrylic
Background with depth overlay on paper, digital assembly
John Henry (2000), 10 min, 35 mm, 1.66:1
Director: Mark Henn
Contribution: Visual development and original backgrounds (acrylic and scratchboard)
Visual development, acrylics
Key background, quilt sequence
Background, scratchboard and acrylic
Brother Bear (2003), 85 min, 35 mm, 1.66:1
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Contribution: Original backgrounds (acrylic on board)
Background with depth overlay on acetate
Mulan (1998), 87 min, 35 mm, 1.66:1
Directors: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
Contribution: Color keys and original backgrounds (acrylic on board)
Background with acetate overlay
Establishing background, Acrylic on board with multi-plane assembly (26 hand-painted layers on acetate)
Tarzan (1999), 88 min, 35 mm, 1.85:1
Directors: Kevin Lima, Chris Buck
Contribution: Original backgrounds (acrylic on board)
The scale and complexity of Tarzan’s environments required an unprecedented collaboration among background painters across the Orlando, Paris, and Los Angeles studios.
Painting Practice
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