Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/780285
72 P E R S P E C T I V E | M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 7 reshoots Illustrator David Negron has had an extraordinary career in the motion picture industry, working in the Art Departments of films like the 1976 KING KONG, INNERSPACE, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, GHOST, RAMBO III, JURASSIC PARK, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, as well as Production Designer John DeCuir's spectacular HELLO, DOLLY! (1969) at 20th Century Fox, where remnants of the set shown in Mr. Negron's beautiful sketch above can still be seen on the sides of some of the soundstages. This 40" x 60" acrylic concept painting on illustration board envisions the immense parade that forms the backdrop for composer/lyricist Jerry Herman's show-stopping BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY. Mr. Negron came to Los Angeles from Texas to attend Art Center College of Design. His money ran out while still doing graduate work, so his instructor helped him get an interview for an opening as an illustrator at 20th Century Fox. He went in on a Friday and was working the following Monday, earning three times as much as his old job in Texas as a director of student activities at Baylor University. It was there at Fox, just at the beginning of his film career, that he teamed up with John DeCuir, a designer of extraordinary talent who was getting assigned to the biggest and most prestigeous films being produced in Hollywood. Mr. Negron writes, "I learned a lot from this gentleman and advanced very quickly and became recognized for the knowledge that I had acquired with John. As an Illustrator, I was earning just as much money as some of the Art Directors without the administrative headaches. So, I never thought anymore about becoming an Art Director until I was granted that title almost by default—I was more of an art consultant without the usual responsibilities of running an Art Department." Today, retired from the industry, he does fine art painting and has received awards and recognitions, including his treasured Bachelor of Professional Arts "with distinction" from Art Center College of Design, where he eventually came full circle and became an instructor. He has had numerous one-man shows, exhibitions and special television appearances, has conducted seminars and lectures in universities and museums, and is internationally known in the motion picture industry. He was voted by the Art Directors' branch into the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The late Herbert Ryman, a very successful California artist himself, once said of Mr. Negron: "His dedicated convictions in the very best traditions of the giants in the rich heritage of the past bring an energetic, dramatic and sensitive quality to his work."