Tony Hart
Artist and children's presenter Tony Hart has died, aged 83.
Hart, who lived in Surrey, had suffered from health problems for a number of years, including two strokes. His family said he died peacefully.
Isn't it sad when you hear that one of your favourite childhood influences pasts away. For those old enough to remember Tony Hart will recall beautiful memories of a charming man presenting art programs aimed at children who loved art. He gave us insights to techniques and ways of producing art with his long standing plasticine friend morph.
The gallery section was always my favourite, I used to sit there in front of the wooden surround television remarking on different pieces as they appeared claiming that I knew how they did it or I could do better; the fact was, they all entered their artwork, I however never got around to it (nothing new there!)
Hart, who lived in Surrey, had suffered from health problems for a number of years, including two strokes. His family said he died peacefully.
Isn't it sad when you hear that one of your favourite childhood influences pasts away. For those old enough to remember Tony Hart will recall beautiful memories of a charming man presenting art programs aimed at children who loved art. He gave us insights to techniques and ways of producing art with his long standing plasticine friend morph.
The gallery section was always my favourite, I used to sit there in front of the wooden surround television remarking on different pieces as they appeared claiming that I knew how they did it or I could do better; the fact was, they all entered their artwork, I however never got around to it (nothing new there!)Before his Take Hart program he appeared on a program that I always thought was aimed at people who were deaf, today I don't know if that is true - I will have to look further into this. The program had a brilliant title image - Vision On - it looked like a bug when vertical, then when viewed horizontally revealed what the title was, as a very young boy this was amazing.
He was a gentle man, I last saw him at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea where I was exhibiting at the time, he was running a short fun session or children, he looked extremely frail but to go up to him and say thank you was very special.
Whether using paints, clay, textiles, foodstuffs or a cast-off object of almost any description, Hart had the magical ability to produce competent, entertaining pieces of work at impressive speed and in an unpatronising fashion. His avuncular, mildly eccentric manner made him the ideal host for children of all ages; indeed, at the height of one of his popularity in the mid 1980s, Hart’s request that viewers send in their own pictures to exhibit in “The Gallery”, a large wall showcasing their efforts, generated 6,000 submissions a week.
Throughout this time Hart also worked on the original Blue Peter programmes, the first of which was broadcast in October 1958. In the weekly transmissions he told and illustrated stories, invariably about a little white elephant called Packi. His loose involvement with Blue Peter continued into the 1960s with the creation of the galleon which became the programme’s well-known logo . Aware of Blue Peter’s enormous popularity, Hart asked for a penny for every time his design was used. His request was turned down and he was paid a flat fee of £100 instead
Throughout this time Hart also worked on the original Blue Peter programmes, the first of which was broadcast in October 1958. In the weekly transmissions he told and illustrated stories, invariably about a little white elephant called Packi. His loose involvement with Blue Peter continued into the 1960s with the creation of the galleon which became the programme’s well-known logo . Aware of Blue Peter’s enormous popularity, Hart asked for a penny for every time his design was used. His request was turned down and he was paid a flat fee of £100 instead
The affable presenter inspired children to paint and draw on shows like Vision On, Take Hart and Hartbeat for nearly 50 years before he retired in 2001.
Fellow artist Rolf Harris led tributes, calling Hart "a very gentle and talented guy".
"He enthused and inspired a whole generation of kids into creating their own works of art, simple or complex."
Hart's agent, Roc Renals, said the presenter had died in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He said: "I was for many years his best friend, agent, manager and publicist. He suffered two strokes many years ago and his health declined since then."
"Thousands and thousands of young people who are now grown up will thank him for inspiring them to take up art," he added.
Wilf Lunn, Hart's friend who worked with him on Vision On for nine years, said he was a television pioneer.
"His legacy was the fact he really started all these children's programmes, Art Attack and all that, and he was the guy, right at the beginning.
"And he was the guy who had all these little tricks that teachers used to use because they make things look easy, and we got people into doing it. And he was such a nice man."
Fellow artist Rolf Harris led tributes, calling Hart "a very gentle and talented guy".
"He enthused and inspired a whole generation of kids into creating their own works of art, simple or complex."
Hart's agent, Roc Renals, said the presenter had died in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He said: "I was for many years his best friend, agent, manager and publicist. He suffered two strokes many years ago and his health declined since then."
"Thousands and thousands of young people who are now grown up will thank him for inspiring them to take up art," he added.
Wilf Lunn, Hart's friend who worked with him on Vision On for nine years, said he was a television pioneer.
"His legacy was the fact he really started all these children's programmes, Art Attack and all that, and he was the guy, right at the beginning.
"And he was the guy who had all these little tricks that teachers used to use because they make things look easy, and we got people into doing it. And he was such a nice man."
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