ARTISTS WILL APPEAR CARTOONS, FANTASY ARTWORK SHOWCASED.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The fanciful creations of more than a dozen local animators will go on display today at the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery, which is hosting ``The Threshold of Imagination - Animation, Cartoon, Illustration and Fantasy Art '' through Oct. 1

Unlike traditional paintings of still life or landscapes, these artists use tools ranging from pencils to paints to computers to bring characters to life.

``We have some wonderful cartoonists, animators and illustrators right here in the valley, and it's a wonderful opportunity to showcase them,'' said Curator Norma Gurba said. ``This is our first one like this.''

The gallery will hold a public reception from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, with the featured artists scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. about their works, as well as cartoon and animation techniques.

The show will include the works of artists Jonathan Baker, Frank Dixon, Tom Hames, Gary Horton, Ronnie Kelsey, Barbara Ludwig, Kate Reed McAllister, Arlinda Miller, Jorge Rivas, Richard Scott, Donald A. Towns, Gary Winterboer and Vaughn Wright.

``I'll be discussing my techniques and my vision of how to draw comics,'' said Wright, who helped organize the show and will display 17 pieces of his art, including cells and posters from his comic books.

At this showing, visitors will be able to see the creative process behind animation, from story sketches to stunning conceptual background paintings. Walt Disney Studios has loaned the gallery some art pieces from ``Aladdin,'' ``Beauty and the Beast'' and ``The Little Mermaid,'' created by Donald A. Towns, a local animator.

In addition to the featured artists, this show will also examine the early history of cartoons and animation and showcase early Antelope Valley cartoonists and animators such as the late Theo Lynn Karp and Walt Lee.

Karp was a longtime resident who worked at Walt Disney Studios on such classics as ``Fantasia,'' ``Bambi,'' ``Pinocchio,'' and ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.'' Lee created the ``Dudley Dudd'' comic strip that was popular in the late 1920s.

< The Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery, 44801 N. Sierra Highway, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For information, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Artist Donald Towns poses with his work, titled ``Noah's Ark,'' which is among artworks on display starting today.

(2 -- color) Showing off his high-flying aeronautical art is Gary Winterboer, whose works will be on display.

(3) TOP LEFT: Kate Reed McAllister shows off her work, titled ``The Acoustical Hut.''

(4) TOP CENTER: Arlinda Miller's work has an American Indian theme.

(5) TOP RIGHT: Vaughn Wright shows his computer-generated art.

(6) RIGHT: Artists, from left, Vaughn Wright, Donald Towns, Gary Winterboer, Arlinda Miller and Kate Reed check out some of the art that will be on display at the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer