The Legacy of Chuck Jones – Blackwing Vol. 7
“The rules are simple. Take your work, but never yourself, seriously. Pour in your love and whatever skill you have and it will come out.” Over the last century, there may not be anyone more synonymous with their body of work than the legendary Chuck Jones. From the rascally rabbit to the one who stole Christmas, Chuck’s oeuvre spans decades with an iconic cast of characters that came to life on screens all over the globe.
Over the course of his decorated career, Chuck Jones was most widely-known for animating Warner Bros. and Looney Tunes’ most recognizable household names. In addition to drawing the likes of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and crew, Jones created his own notable characters including Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Marvin the Martian, and Pepe Le Pew among others.
Chuck Jones was born in Spokane, Washington in 1912, but was raised in Hollywood, CA during the bustle and boom of the burgeoning motion picture industry. After graduating from art school, Chuck landed his first job in the animation industry as a cel-washer at Ub Iwerks. After leaving Ub Iwerks to join Leon Schlesinger Studios, Chuck Jones was promoted to animator in 1936. At the time, the Leon Schlesinger studio helmed the production of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies for Warner Bros. Studios.
From 1936 to the studio closing in 1962, Chuck Jones animated, produced and directed hundreds of films for Warner Bros Studios. This period of animation is often referred to as its Golden Age. Many of the characters created during this time continue to be recognized, celebrated, and drawn decades later. Jones was not only prolific in his public works, but also in his personal life. His art expanded into galleries and he was known for sketching countless works for friends, family, and the people around him.
Chuck Jones’ preferred medium was pencil and paper. His instrument of choice being the Blackwing 602 with a sketchpad nearby. He was a devoted advocate of always putting his notes, storyboards, and sketches directly onto the page.
In 1966, Chuck Jones won the Oscar for Best Animated Short for his film “The Dot and the Line,” and later in 1996 received an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 1999, Jones founded his own non-profit organization, The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, to recognize and honor the storytelling of animation. Chuck Jones’ legacy endures to this day through the work of his grandson, Craig Kausen, as the Center for Creativity continues to educate and inspire new generations of artists and animators.
In 2013, we created the Blackwing Experience at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity in Costa Mesa, CA. We partnered with the Center to bring together people in celebration of Chuck Jones’ lasting works, promoting creativity and our continued support of the arts and arts education.
The Blackwing Vol. 7 is a tribute to animation and Chuck Jones’ legacy of storytelling. Both the Vol. 7 pencil and Chuck Jones Creativity Pad feature original sketches of one of Chuck’s most iconic characters, Wile E. Coyote.