Don Rosa Recovering From Emergency Surgery
It probably goes without saying that an artist’s most significant tools are his eyes. People have figured out alternate ways of drawing, but they’ve got to see what they’re doing. So it is with great trepidation that we note legendary Disney Duck artist Don Rosa, a regular at many a convention and fan event, underwent emergency surgery last week to cure a detached retina.
It will not be known if the procedure was successful for several more weeks, but Don is resting at home (in a prone position) and will have to undergo six months of recovery downtime. He hopes to return to the convention scene this fall.
Following in the websteps of Carl Barks is not easy, but Don has always made it look like a cakewalk by combining a variety of influences (notably Mad‘s Willy Elder) with his own unique gifts to bring Uncle Scrooge and the sundry Ducks to a whole new generation across the world. His work has been anthologized and is available at better comics shops across the planet.
ComicMix wishes Don a speedy, painless and successful recovery.
In his later years, when he was almost but not quite blind, James Thurber drew cartoons soemthing like eight times as large as the final printed version, working with yellow chalk on black paper.Of course, Thurber's style was a lot looser than Rosa's.
There's a panel comic called "Grim and Bear It" that was created by George Lichty. The panel's still around; Mr. Lichty is not. When I was in my mid-teens I was fortunate enough to be at the syndicate office (the old Publishers Newspaper Syndicate) when Mr. Lichty's latest work was delivered. Each panel was roughly the height of a billboard. The editor explained to me that George was losing his eyesight, and that's how he had to work.Lichty's style was even looser than Thurber's. Nonetheless, we're hoping none of this becomes a consideration for Don and the Ducks.
From your lips to the Big Guy's ear.I still recall "Captain Kentucky" with fondness.
Don Rosa is great! I don't like his stories but I admire him for his loyalty to Bark's Duck Dinasty.Marco M.
Don Rosa is great! I don't like his stories but I admire him for his loyalty to Bark's Duck Dinasty. Marco M.http://www.mellart.com
Don Rosa is my idol!