MENTOR'S FINE ARTS

FILM PAINTINGS

Mentor Huebner, was a Primary Production Illustrator, a Film Designer, a Conceptual Artist and Visual Choreographer of Complicated Sequences, and a unique Conceptual Story Board Artist. He was very accomplished in all aspects of Film Making. But due to his expertise he would also be asked to do a painting for a film. A few of them are represented here.

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FORBIDDEN PLANET

This film is a Classic. It was the first Science Fiction Film to make use of modern technology. It made incredible and long lasting impact. Although the paintings were not created as props and therefore not seen on camera, so not really eligible for "Film Paintings", and no doubt are more appropriate "Production Designs", under 'Drawings'; never-the-less I felt they deserved to be displayed under Film Paintings, due to their exciting look. I know they don't belong under Fine Art, but Nostalgia prompted me to place them here.

In very many Pre Production meetings, Mentor and Irving Block, the writer/director for the film, met in our kitchen and over strong coffee, had lively discussions, about the film and art and everything else. At the time I was unaware this film would become a significant part of our lives. Not Mentor, nor Irving Block, nor I had any idea it would last forever.

Bebe and Louis Barron composed the exciting electronic very appropriate music for the film. Then years later, coincidentally, when I cut my album, "Seduction Through Witchcraft" at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, the popular composers were hired to create the haunting back ground for my spoken words.

We all four bonded. The association was very 'Cosmic' and always will be.

Mentor created the Conceptual Designs for Robbie the Robot, the main character of the film. Everyone in the Industry knows this. But the general public believes that the mechanical design was the original. Not so. Mentor had the vision. He designed Robbie and the scenes.

FORBIDDEN PLANET
Conceptual Paintings
Mentor Huebner (c) 1955

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THE GREAT RACE

Mentor worked on many epic films. This Blake Edwards film also won the Oscar after receiving numerous nominations. Although the film was released in 1965, Mentor had created many of the designs in 1964.

Mentor not only designed the scenes he was also responsible for deigning every single vehicle which were a vital part to the film.

A bit of Trivia: Because Mentor had designed so much of this film he immediately was contracted to create designs for the film Fortune Cookie. And thanks to Mentor working on that film and thanks also to a very happy of lucky Public Relations guy at the Studio, I was Invited to the Set and asked to do the Astrological Charts for the Leads: Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.

And then later on , thanks to all of that, one Saturday afternoon, while shopping at the Antique Guild in Culver City, Mentor and I bumped into Jack Lemmon, and he flirted with me. He was very cute.

Please return to this spot as I intend to display many of the Great Race Production Drawings and Paintings once they are scanned.

THE GREAT RACE
A Conceptual Design Production Painting
Mentor Huebner (c) 1964

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Photographic transparencies of the paintings and drawings created by Motion Picture industry Icon, Mentor Huebner, were shot by two talented brothers, Academy Award wining Visual Effects Artist's, Robert and Dennis Skotak. ~ Robert Skotak is an Effects Supervisor, Film Historian, Writer, Author, Editor and Publisher. Dennis Skotak is a Cinematographer, Lighting and Color Expert. The Skotaks working as a team are the exclusive archivists and official photographers for the collection of Mentor Huebner's artwork.