After
starting his career with John Hubley, Weidman worked on the backgrounds and
other paintings for UPA cartoons such as “The Boing Boing Show,” “Mr. Magoo’s
Christmas Carol” and “The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo” that helped create
the distinctive modern style for which the studio was known. He also worked on
Jay Ward’s “Fractured Fairy Tales,” “Crusader Rabbit” and “Popeye” TV shorts.
He had
already begun working as a silkscreen artist with his own gallery on La
Cienega Blvd. in the mid-60s when he returned to animation, working for Hanna
Barbera on “Wacky Races” and “Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines”
and for UPA on the last Mr. Magoo TV special “Uncle Sam Magoo.”
Weidman continued
creating ceramics, posters and prints for several decades until his art
came to the attention of the “Mad Men” set decorators, who found his colorful
stylized forms to be the perfect fit for Peggy Olson’s office and other rooms
at the ad agency.
As he was
rediscovered, a book documenting his career was published, Urban Outfitters
licensed pillows decorated with his artwork, and several art exhibits helped
introduce his work to a new generation.
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