I am saddened with the news that one of the my childhood art influences has passed away. The great ALEX TOTH slipped away yesterday at the age of seventy-eight. The art and comic world mourns with his family and friends and remembers a man who has helped progress modern comic and animation art.
And because he has influenced a legion of artists with his stunning talent and grace, his legacy is secure and will continue to inspire the next generation.
Mr. Toth's style is both distinct and memorable. His command of shadow and light and his ability to lay down very simple yet dynamic ink lines has captured the imagination of many artists. It's his uncanny sense of what to leave off a sketch that truly sets him apart. His work in animation that started in the 1970's helped usher in the merge between comics and cartoons. Two of my most favorite shows from that era are The Herculoids and Jonny Quest. Mr. Toth designed and even directed on countless other shows including many that never saw production.
His books are ones that I come back to all the time. As artists, we sometimes get bogged down by our own madness to create something new and in the process, we end up over-engineering the matter. The poignancy, simplicity and succintness of his style and vision has helped bring me back to earth time and again and certainly, he will continue to do so for many years to come.
Rest in peace sir.
Click HERE for additional info and remembrances on THE COMICS REPORTER.
Click HERE for the ALEX TOTH site fan forum.
Click HERE for Ronnie del Carmen's post on TIRADE.
*****ADDENDUM ******
Mr. Toth was a man of strong convictions, especially towards his craft and about art in general. Click HERE and find out for yourself how passionate he was through his notes and observations. This is just plain gold to all of us artists trying to find our way through a sometimes convuluted sea of information. Additional articles are available so stay and look around while you're there. (Courtesy of Tothfans.dynu.com)
2 comments:
Great tribute post Louie, I also noticed that Cartoon Network has been posting Mr. Toth's name/date in between shows. Everyone's paying thier respects.
Thanks Gerald - his work meant a lot to so many people. Modern comic and animation design owes so much to him.
What's really most impressive about him is his unending search for perfection. Even in the end he passed away in front of a drawing table doing what he absolutely loved. He simply never rested on his laurels.
Post a Comment