Rick Law

Law was born in Maryland, and had a turbulent early childhood, before moving at age 11 with his family to Salinas, California, where he attended Salinas High School and graduated a year and 1/2 early.{{cite news |last=Demmon |first=Calvin |date=March 9, 1990 |title=Serra's children - 'Who's this kid?' |work=The Monterey Peninsula Herald |location=Monterey, CA}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyberneticlight.com/REDESIGN/RickLaw.htm|title=God Is In The Details... The Story of Rick Law |last=White |first=Charles |website=cyberneticlight.com|access-date=June 7, 2019}}

As a 15 year old, Law created a t-shirt design that caught the attention of music artist Steve Taylor{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Michael |title=Rick Law: Drawing In The MTV Generation |work=Breakaway Magazine |location=Colorado Springs, Colorado |date=January 1996}} and won Law a record company promotion.{{cite web |url=http://www.sockheaven.net/press/promo/cloneclub_04/ |title=Clone Club News Flash Winter 1986 |publisher=Clone Club |date=Winter 1986 |website=sockheaven.net |access-date=June 7, 2019}} In 1986, at age 16, Law first attended San Diego Comic-Con where he was further inspired by other artists and creators he met there.

Law's first professional job came at age 17, designing logos for a real estate company. Law's previous interaction with Taylor and his record company, eventually led Law to additional opportunities in creating art and working with others in the music industry including Amy Grant, MTV, Arista Records, Tower Records,{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=946563427798941696 |date = 28 December 2017 |title=#ThrowbackThursday Was talking recently with the co-founder of @amoebamusic about the old Tower Records. Found these large die-cut vintage circus styled retail signs I created in the late 80's that Tower hung throughout their stores. #tbt #TowerRecords #art #circus #history }} Mariah Carey, The Choir and Pat Boone.{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=921081613022150657 |date = 19 October 2017 |title=20 years ago @Pat_Boone 's In A Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy album released. I was tasked w creating art in support. #throwbackthursday }}

Law's early efforts at producing included arranging concerts for performer Rich Mullins in Salinas. Law was also a founder and created the original logo art for the Spirit West Coast music festival in Monterey, CA.{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=1011743888833331200 |date = 26 June 2018 |title=Heard that @SpiritWestCoast is happening over the next few weekends. I was one of the founders & did the original logo for the festival. Now in 3 locations, it was originally based in Monterey, CA because I had wanted a festival in my "backyard". http://www.spiritwestcoast.org }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ricklaw.net/portfolio.php?page=129 |title=Spirit West Coast |publisher=Rick Law |website=Rick Law.net |access-date=June 8, 2019}}

Law's initial foray into Hollywood came about during a 1988 trip to Los Angeles with a friend. Seeking a way to sneak into the Paramount Pictures movie studio became a chance encounter with director Richard Donner who allowed Law permission to visit his Scrooged set and access to the studio lot.{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=1066189829954650112 |date = 23 November 2018 |title=30 years already? I was 18 years old and Scrooged was the first film set I was invited to be on. Watched Bill Murray film scenes in the taxi with Buster Poindexter. Thanks to Richard Donner! #memories }}

In 1989 Law was a consultant for The Arsenio Hall Show. One of his observations on the initial shows' studio audience was to highlight those audience members who had less than optimal seating. The result was the creation of the recurrent "Dog Pound" comedy bit.{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=1080955835088396288 |date = 3 January 2019 |title=Jan 3, 1989 - The @ArsenioHall Show debut. After the first show, mentioned what I thought were the worst seats in the audience. That became the fabled dawgpound & an ongoing bit. Thanks Arsenio & @Mamaclb for allowing this dumb 19 yr old kid to be a part. #ThrowbackThursday #tbt }}

Law's first movie poster design was for the 1992 Paramount Pictures film Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin.{{cite podcast |host=Jeff DePaoli|title=Disney Illustrator Rick Law |website=Dizneycoasttocoast.com |publisher=Dizney Coast to Coast |date=1 August 2018 |url=http://dizneycoasttocoast.libsyn.com/disney-illustrator-rick-law-disney-podcast-dizney-coast-to-coast-ep-555 |access-date=10 June 2019}}

In 1995 Law created the supernatural themed black & white comic series Beyond the Veil, both writing and illustrating the series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/law-rick.htm|title=Rick Law|publisher=Lambiek Comiclopedia|website=lambiek.net |access-date=June 8, 2019}}{{cite episode |series=The 700 Club |network=CBN |date=5 March 1995}}

In 1996, Law illustrated Pond and Stream : Habitats {{ISBN|1557995680}} for children's educational publisher Evan-Moor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jacketflap.com/bookdetail.asp?bookid=1557995680|title = Pond and Stream : Habitats - by Jill Norris - Ages 4-8}}

Law began working with The Walt Disney Company in 1993. Over the course of his diverse career as a content creator with the company he has held a variety of roles. Law created cover art for a number of the studio's video, DVD, & Blu-Ray releases.{{cite news |last=Griswold |first=Steve |date=October 2013 |title=Disney first ever ARTIST signing event |url=https://mousechat.net/scribbles-nibbles-disney-art/ |work=MouseChat.net |access-date=June 7, 2019}} Some of those include: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad; The Lion King II: Simba's Pride; Mulan; The Rescuers Down Under; 101 Dalmatians; Tinker Bell; Piglet's Big Movie; Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo; Tarzan & Jane; Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, and the first three 'Buddies' films: Air Buddies, Snow Buddies, and Space Buddies.{{cite news |last=Chik |first=Kalai |date=October 23, 2018 |title=Gallery Nucleus Celebrates Mulan's 20th Anniversary |url=https://asiapacificarts.org/2018/10/23/gallery-nucleus-celebrates-mulans-20th-anniversary/ |work=asiapacificarts.org |access-date=June 18, 2019}} He has been a story contributor; and created or developed a myriad of products for the company and it's licensees. In 2009, Law started designing toys with his reinterpretations of Disney characters via toy manufacturer MINDstyle.{{cite web |url=http://www.mindstyle.com/blog/?p=3297 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122215337/http://www.mindstyle.com/blog/?p=3297 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |title="When Aliens Meet Artists" |publisher=MINDstyle |date=April 27, 2010 |website=mindstyle.com via the web archive |access-date=June 8, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mindstyle.com/blog/?p=4670 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081355/http://www.mindstyle.com/blog/?p=4670 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=First Look: PRC Originals x Disney's Marie – Fortune Cats |publisher=MINDstyle |date=December 15, 2010 |website=mindstyle.com via the web archive |access-date=June 8, 2019}} In support of the release of Toy Story 3 in Asia, Law was a primary artist for the Alien Invasion Tour, which debuted at Times Square mall in Hong Kong, with artistic reinterpretations of the Toy Story alien character.{{cite web |url=https://www.vinylpulse.com/2010/06/mindstyle-alien-invasion-when-aliens-meet-artists.html |title=MINDstyle – ALIEN INVASION: When Aliens Meet Artists |date=June 4, 2010 |website=Vinyl Pulse |access-date=June 7, 2019}}

Law was a creative lead in the design and launch of Disney English{{cite web |url=http://beourguestevent.com/rick-law-joins-be-our-guest-dinner-for-2014/ |title=Rick Law Joins Be Our Guest Dinner For 2014 |publisher=Be Our Guest Event |date=February 1, 2014 |website=Beourguestevent.com |access-date=June 7, 2019}}{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=1051984245759995905 |date = 15 October 2018 |title=October 15, 2008 - It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since we first launched Disney English with a "First Day of Class" VIP celebration in Shanghai. Invitation and commemorative coin from my collection. #Disney #history }} and was a consultant in the development of Shanghai Disneyland Park. As Creative Manager for Disney Learning, his responsibilities involved animation direction and creative oversight of all educational products globally, such as the first series designed for communicatively challenged children.{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=806279391575560194 |date = 6 December 2016 |title=So pleased to be involved w this series designed for communicatively challenged kids #Disney http://www.editorialgeu.com }} In 2013, he was responsible for the creation of the Disney I Classici collectible trading card set with licensee Conad distributed throughout Italy.{{Cite tweet |user=Observantview |number=1022234916061294592 |date = 25 July 2018 |title=Almost forgotten that in 2013 I helped create & oversee this Disney I Classici collectible trading card set with licensee @Conad for Italy. Hugely successful, they distributed over 200 million cards that had kids making YouTube videos opening up their packs! #Disney #history }}

He's been instrumental in fostering projects respective of both animation and the Disney legacy including the documentary Floyd Norman: An Animated Life, and exhibitions{{cite web |url=https://www.awn.com/news/forest-lawn-museum-exhibit-disney-legend-eyvind-now-underway |title=Forest Lawn Museum Exhibit for Disney Legend Eyvind Earle Now Underway

|publisher= Animation World Network |date=October 25, 2016 |website=awn.com |access-date=June 10, 2019}} including the Walt Disney Family Museum exhibit: Awaking Beauty: The Art of Eyvind Earle.

As an independent producer, Law was an Associate Producer of the films: Drew: The Man Behind the Poster; Blue Like Jazz; Leonard Knight: A Man & His Mountain; and Executive Producer of the rock album Goliath by Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil.{{cite AV media notes|title=Goliath|others=Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil|year=2014|publisher=Splint Entertainment|type=CD booklet}} In 2017, Law created cover artwork for the King Never World War I themed EP All These Things and in 2020 he created cover artwork for the band's single Stick In The Mud.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kingnever.com/all-these-things|title=All These Things |publisher=King Never|website=kingnever.com |access-date=December 13, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kingnever.com/stick-in-the-mud-single|title=Stick In The Mud (Single)|publisher=King Never|website=kingnever.com |access-date=December 13, 2021}}

Law has been a speaker at venues including The Walt Disney Family Museum,{{cite web |url=http://archive.wdfm.t324.com/education/talks/legendary-disney-animators-sleeping-beauty-burny-mattinson-and-floyd-norman |title=TALKS: Legendary Disney Animators from Sleeping Beauty with Burny Mattinson and Floyd Norman |publisher= The Walt Disney Family Museum |date=December 16, 2017 |website=waltdisney.org |access-date=June 10, 2019}} CTN Animation Expo,{{cite web |url=https://tv.creativetalentnetwork.com/disney-legend-floyd-norman |title=Disney Legend Floyd Norman |publisher= CTN Animation Expo |date=November 2014 |website=tv.creativetalentnetwork.com |access-date=June 10, 2019}} and San Diego Comic-Con. He is a member of the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS) and has served as a board member of The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles.{{cite web |url=http://www.capscentral.org/members/ |title=CAPS Comic Art Professional Society - Members |publisher= CAPS - Comic Art Professional Society |website=capscentral.org |date=14 October 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://si-la.org/about/history/ |title=The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles - History - 2020 Board of Directors |publisher=SILA - The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles |website=si-la.org |date=8 April 2020 |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408190525/https://si-la.org/about/history/ |archive-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

• [http://www.ricklaw.net Official website]
• {{IMDb name|0492377}}
• [http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/law-rick.htm International Comiclopedia listing for Rick Law]

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Category:1969 births

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Category:American fantasy writers

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