Joshua Meador lived most of his life in big cities. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and lived and worked in the LA area as Director of Animation Effects at Walt Disney Studios. But Josh was raised in a small Mississippi town and the imprint of small town gentility never left him.

When Josh became an artist, he often painted small town scenes. Be it the Pacific Coast, the Eastern Sierra or the desert southwest, he would go to town and paint a scene or two and luxuriate in the small town feel of the place.

Meador's favorite locale was the Pacific Coast. In the earlier years of his career, he and his family would vacation in Sonoma County, setting up camp in Bodega Bay. Later, Josh had galleries and studios in Carmel Highlands and after that in Caspar near Mendocino. He took breaks from painting the sea and headed inland to paint the small towns, farm scenes and ranchlands. Here in Sonoma County, he created many scenes in Bodega Bay, Valley Ford, inland Bodega, and the historic town of Sonoma.

When Josh was 14 years old in the sweltering summer of 1925, he loved his hometown of Columbus, Mississippi. Today, Columbus has a population of 23,500 people, but in 1925 its population was just 10,000. For the 14 year old Josh, the small town of Columbus was a magical place, containing everything he needed to grow into his considerable array of talents.

Joshua Meador, Genesis, c1960-1965
a dramatic seascape from Mendocino County
Available for sale, Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery

Over the next four years, Josh piled up a series of high school achievements, all pointing to a limitless future. In the classroom, he excelled in both science and math. Beyond the classroom, he was a good athlete, and he nurtured a somewhat private interest in drawing and painting. And Josh had a high school sweetheart, Libby, who was his constant companion.

Josh's father took a great deal of pride in the accomplishments of his son, and he campaigned to get community support for Josh's appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. This would be a high honor anywhere in the Country, but in the deep south, this appointment to a military academy was a great civic honor. His father's efforts succeeded, and, after his graduation from high school, Josh was nominated and set to attend Annapolis.

Joshua Meador, Rainy Day, c1950-1955
Also of a scene from the inland town of Bodega
Private collection, sold by our gallery

But for Josh, the appointment was a crisis. He didn't want to become a Naval officer. He wanted to study art and become an painter. And he had to summon the courage to tell his father he did not want to go to Annapolis, but wanted to study art.

Young Josh dug deep and found the strength to tell his father that his deepest desire was to become a painter. To his father's great credit, he listened to the heartfelt dreams of his son. Together, Josh and his dad embarked on a train journey, first to New York to take a look at the Art Students League and then on to Chicago where they looked at the Art Institute of Chicago. Josh decided to attend the Art Institute of Chicago.

After Josh and Libby were married, the newly wed couple moved to Chicago (to attend the AIC). They found an apartment and managed with frugality and determination. After graduation, art jobs were scarce. Then, on the suggestion of a friend -- more of a dare to be precise -- Josh submitted his portfolio to the young up-and-coming animator in California, Walt Disney. The couple embarked on a daring trip. Libby and Josh ventured to California in the hopes of finding a real paying job as an artist. Their focus, Walt Disney and Disney Studios.

Libby and Josh left Chicago and headed to Detroit where they arranged to drive a new Detroit automobile to California. Yes, that's how new cars got to California in the early 1930's. It was one of the ways for young people to travel in those days.

After arriving in California, Josh visited Disney Studios for his interview with Walt Disney with no guarantee of success. But Walt liked Josh straight away, and more importantly, Walt loved Josh's inventive artistic skills. Walt hired Josh on the spot.

Soon Josh was at work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Within two years, he was one of the directors of Fantasia. He was soon named the Studio's Director of Animation Effects, a title he would hold for nearly 30 years, and a career in which he made major contributions on most Disney feature films. As a member of an Oscar-winning effects team for 1954's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Josh gained an industry wide reputation as an animation effects genius.

As the years went by, Josh's list of film credits grew. He settled into one of the most legendary careers in the history of animation.

At Disney Studios, Josh was highly successful operating in the collaborative environment of film production. He had many close friendships with his fellow artists. When Libby Meador visited our home in Bodega Bay in 2008, she was in her early 90's. She was pleased to see our enthusiasm for Joshua Meador and beamed when she emphatically told us, "Josh loved his job at Disney!"

But there was another side to Josh. He also loved the solitary life of a painter. Painting was his work, his recreation and the stuff of his dreams. On their painting excursions, Josh went about his business of painting while Libby and Philip took long walks or explored. As Josh stood beyind his easel, he often collected an audience. Josh was kind to these people, in part because he often made sales right off his easel.

For nearly 20 years, Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery has offered paintings by Joshua Meador. To view a selection of Meador's paintings, please contact us. We will arrange a viewing of the paintings which most interest you, either in Bodega Bay or at our Gallery Showroom in Graton. On occasion, we have made presentations in clients' own homes. Call or text 707-875-2911 or email us at Art@BodegaBayHeritageGallery.com.

Art Trails 2023 is here! September 30, October 1, 7 and 8. Linda has been busy painting and making her studio ready along with her Atelier One artist neighbors, Britta Kathmeyer, Elizabeth Peyton, Nishi Marcus and Nancy Dempster. Atelier One (2860 Bowen St, Graton CA) is a great stop along the Art Trails trail, as there are five artist studios just steps away from each other under one roof. We hope to see you all there, and that you find a treasure most meaningful to you and make it your own.

Art Trails Catalog '23
click photo to view the entire catalog on the Art Trails website.

ART TRAILS '23 is fast approaching
Saturday and Sunday, Sept 30 - Oct 1  &  Oct 7 - 8, 10-5

Linda Sorensen's OPEN STUDIO, #5, Atelier One,
2860 Bowen Street, Graton, CA 95444
LindaSorensenPaintings.com / Art Trails
707-875-2911 / LindaSorensen@earthlink.net

Bentonville, AR
Crystal Bridges
Museum of American Art

Visit our gallery showroom in GRATON, CA ...

Have us bring selected works to your home ... Call or email for a an appointment. (up to 200 miles from Bodega Bay).

Or, purchase from our website. We offer FedEx shipping (usually included in price) in the U.S. for major purchases. 707-875-2911.