Dennis Durrell

Biographical Info Dennis Durrell has been an “observer” from a very young age growing up in rural Southern California. With a keen awareness of his surroundings, he was always awestruck by all of God’s creations. Hundreds of acres of citrus orchards were half a block up the street in one direction and the Santa Fe Railway main line to L.A. was two blocks down the street in the opposite direction. In fact, the trains inspired his very first painting at the young age of three and a half. His playgrounds included the San Gabriel Mountain Foothills, the San Gabriel Canyon and River, and the desert like Spreading Grounds located to the west. As a young child he was free to explore all of these places with his older brother, friends, and on his own. In this world, he learned to see what most people seemed to miss. Dennis was able to see not only the big picture but was also able to see and remember the details of objects that caught his interest. If he wasn’t playing with friends, he could be found with a pencil and paper or a watercolor box and paint brush. Throughout elementary school and beyond, he was known as an artist. It’s what he knew, what he excelled at, and what he was meant to be. He took all of the art classes that he could in high school and junior college. In the fall of his second year of junior college, he was given the opportunity to apply for a job at Hanna-Barbera Productions. He didn’t know what that job entail and never thought to ask. He gathered up his best pencil, charcoal, and Conte drawings and one painting he’d done in high school. The painting was of the Rick Griffin cartoon character “Murphy”, but it was his own design and layout. He brought that because it was the only thing he had that in any way related to the cartoon industry. He dressed up in his only suit and went to his first interview. The two interviewers liked his drawings, but laughed at the painting. It turned out that the job being offered was for a background painter. They did see enough potential there to give him a “test”. They sent him on his way with twelve small bottles of paint, three paint brushes, three layouts, and paper. One of the layouts was of a Flintstones background, one was an underwater scene, and one was a tall city building. They told him to let them know when he had the paintings finished. Fortunately, The Flintstones were still on in reruns so he had all the reference he needed for that. The other two paintings he had to figure out on his own. Between school and working full time it took him several weeks to complete the paintings. At his next interview and review, the interviewers loved the Flintstones background, complemented him on the building, and chuckled at the underwater scene. Then they told him how to fix it. At the end of the interview, they told him he had a job and would call with a start date. He was 19 years old. Dennis was hired as an apprentice background painter and for some reason was placed right in the middle of the room where the background supervisor was stationed. He was also surrounded by the lead artists in charge of the various shows. He was mentored by and worked alongside the best painters at Hanna-Barbera which gave him the opportunity to learn many background styles. After his first two months, he was promoted to journeyman status. Due to his attention to detail, by the end of that season he was producing most of the establishing background shots for multiple shows. He was being paid to learn and that’s something he never stopped doing. He worked overtime and took on freelance jobs when offers presented themselves. Over a very short period of time he had the opportunity to work with and learn from the very best artists in the animation industry. Because of the way he was mentored and taught he was put in charge of his own series in his fifth season at Hanna-Barbera. From that point on, he became a key artist working directly with directors and art directors. He assisted in the development of new and different styles and environments for many of the cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera. This also extended to their sister company, Ruby and Spears. Dennis became one of the most versatile background designers and painters in the industry. He has also worked as a background supervisor, art director, and illustrator. His resume includes eight feature films, over fifty television series and specials, and over a dozen direct to video full length motion pictures. He served as a senior art director for Hanna-Barbera’s Character Art Department creating artwork for licensing, merchandise, and publishing. He has illustrated dozens of children’s books for Disney Press, Bedrock Press, and others. He has also created licensing illustrations for the Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, and Universal Studios to name a few. Throughout his animation career, Dennis has also developed his fine art skills in oils and watercolor. His fine art paintings have been exhibited at Edenhurst Gallery in Los Angeles, Coast Gallery in Laguna Beach, Gallery George in San Clemente, and was represented by Tirage Gallery in Pasadena for over fifteen years. His work has been juried into the Brand Library Watercolor Exhibition, ASMA exhibitions at the Coos Bay Art Museum, San Diego Maritime Museum ASMA show onboard the Star of India, and the California Art Club’s Signs of Spring Virtual Exhibition. Dennis’s primary focus is currently on his fine art and providing instruction in both oils and watercolor. He is currently an artist member of the California Art Club and Yosemite Sierra Artists. Dennis was blessed with a special gift from God. The opportunities for working and learning were placed in his life by God. He has worked hard throughout his life to develop, strengthen, use, and share that gift. He is thankful every day for the life he has been given, for his wife, children, grandchildren and for his God given talent.

Preferred Media Painting, Sketch/Pen & Ink

Gallery DurrellOct-24-2023-1.jpg