he was such an inspiration, bye tony. posted by doobiedoo at 5:19 AM on January 18
This is a real blow. Tony Hart was a talented staple of British children's TV for many years. His art programs were fun and accessible, and showed that making something artistic didn't have hugely time consuming and difficult. He genuinely loved showcasing the work that children sent in after being inspired, and was by all accounts a lovely man to know who gave his artworks generously to be auctioned for charity. These days, art programs are a staple in UK children's TV, largely down to him.
He's also responsible for the introduction of Morph, an animated plasticene figure that lived in a pencil box, and often suffered comedy mishaps in shorts interlaced throughout the series. He would often interact with Tony, who used stop motion animation throughout his series. Morph was animated by Aardman Animations, who later went onto to international fame with another claymation pair, Wallace and Grommit. Morph has gone onto his own career, after spinning off into his own series (narrated by Tony).
He said his biggest cross to bear was losing the ability to draw, after two strokes. God speed Tony, you'll be missed. posted by ArkhanJG at 5:21 AM on January 18 [1 favorite]
Hah, flashboy. I think all british art galleries should pipe in that song for a day, in memoriam. posted by ArkhanJG at 5:42 AM on January 18 [3 favorites]
I can just see Morph looking around, scratching his head, lowering his arms and letting out a deep sad sigh.
I used to love watching the show as a kid, I never sent a picture in, but back then to have a piece of art you made shown on TV must have made you a celebrity of the schoolyard.
I hadn't thought about Tony Hart for many years now, so while it is sad that he is gone, it's nice to remember him. posted by Elmore at 6:53 AM on January 18
Loved this, never sent in a picture either, but dreamed of having one in the gallery.
Off to be artsncraftsy now for a bit, since he was the one got me hooked. posted by Iteki at 7:10 AM on January 18
I can just see Morph looking around, scratching his head, lowering his arms and letting out a deep sad sigh.
I echo what everybody else said.
A childhood icon and huge inspiration.
. posted by Webbster at 7:18 AM on January 18
Oh wow. That's so sad.
A huge part of my childhood. posted by schwa at 7:24 AM on January 18
Aw, Flashboy, that's it.
Looking at the clip that MrMustard posted in the FPP, it's amazing to see how well he filled the airtime. I guess this is classed as Kid's TV, and I don't really watch that now, but it seems to me that nowadays everything is padded with inane talk to fill time - and you have to keep talking otherwise the viewer gets bored, right? Tony hardly says a word.
He's just doing these crazy things, using everything around him - you know it's going to be good, so you have to keep watching to see the final result. Then there's a clip of everyday things that suddenly are framed as art (ring stain on table cloth from wine glass, etc.). Then there's a clever animation with a dinosaur spray painting himself onto the screen. Then Tony shows another clever technique.
Then the bloody gallery, where you can see how the simple techniques allow for amazing creativity by 10, 12 and 6 years olds (I was always very suspicious of this as a child, figured it was a way of getting your picture on telly if you dropped your age by a few years...). I wonder could a show like this work now? I guess you would need someone with the same mindset as Mr Hart. Someone who can fire the imagination by demonstrating a few simple techniques that you never considered before but want to try out straight away.
(Oh and thanks for the link Flashboy. Funnily enough, we were playing Little Big Planet last night and trying to work out where we knew that music from...) posted by Elmore at 7:30 AM on January 18 [1 favorite]
Oh, that's too bad.
I loved Vision On. When I was a kid they used to show it several times a day on TVOntario and when I was sick I'd watch every one. posted by chococat at 8:13 AM on January 18
I grew up with Tony Hart on the TV. I will miss him. This is terribly, terribly sad.
An incredibly inspiring life, a good innings, and a peaceful death. It is sad, of course, but it's kind of fantastic too. I hope they play cheesy vibraphone music in heaven. And you know what, I bet they do, actually. posted by game warden to the events rhino at 8:46 AM on January 18 [1 favorite]
aww, didn't know about him until just now. What a lovely human being. And an amazing life.
First Oliver Postgate, now Tony Hart. Giants of their domain.
For those my age, so many first conversations at freshers' week or in new jobs, among people of such varying backgrounds, could always go back to children's television and find common ground.
The kids who grew up watching Tony Hart who have kids themselves today will have had him in mind during colouring time. How many art teachers grew up with that presence? Job well done, sir. posted by holgate at 9:51 AM on January 18 [1 favorite]
Cheers Tony. I was only half joking when I used to argue with my art teacher that you and Rolf were two of the most important artists of the 20th century. posted by jiroczech at 2:11 AM on January 19
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I can remember watching him on "Vision On" in black and white. Try explaining to today's young TV audience that it was possible to knock out a compelling program about painting for an audience who could not see in colour. posted by rongorongo at 3:32 AM on January 19
One more note about "Vision On" - it was created as a program for deaf viewers. I believe it is unique in achieving the cross-over to a mainstream audience from this beginning. Some more about the history of the program. posted by rongorongo at 5:50 AM on January 19
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posted by edd at 4:51 AM on January 18