Jan Domela

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Jan Marinus Domela 1894 - 1973

Seascape

"Tracks in the Snow"

Jan's birth name was Johan Domela Nieuwenhuis, and he was born in Amsterdam in 1894. At age 21, he came to San Francisco, and in America he shortenend his name to Jan Domela. He studied at the California School of Fine Arts in Los Angeles. He returned to Europe continuing his art studies at Rijks Academy and the Academie Julian in Paris.

In 1928 he returned to California and for 40 years worked in Hollywood in the art department of Paramount Studios for whom he created their mountain logo, a true bit of Americana. He maintained his studio in Santa Monica until his death in 1973. He is noted for the translucency of his waves.

A partial list of his matte artist/special effects credits include:

1938 Her Jungle Love and Spawn of the North* Academy Award
1939 Union Pacific
1940 Typhonn and Dr. Cyclops
1941 I Wanted Wings and Aloma of the South Seas
1942 Reap the Wild Wind
1943 For Whom the Bell Tolls
1949 Samson and Delilah, A Connecticul Yankee in King Arthur's Court and The Great Gatsby
1951 When Worlds Collide
1953 War of the Worlds and The Girls of Pleasure Island
1955 Conquest of Space
1956 The Ten Commandments Academy Award

Sources: AskArt.com, CaliforniaViewFineArts.com