21.25x21.25” high quality wood frame has opening revealing oil painting on masonite w/13.5x17” image area. Done in 1994, this preliminary was specially designed for Disney Art Editions to celebrate Donald Duck’s 60th anniversary. Delightful scene has Donald holding fishing pole being startled as he’s surprised by a large cast of characters, including many created by Carl Barks. Huey, Dewey, and Louie have party horns, Daisy Duck has a valentine, Gladstone Gander holds a “Happy Birthday” sign. Grandma Duck is at right side opening a birthday cake as Uncle Scrooge waves from nearby bushes. Pond in background has riverboat w/ Gyro Gearloose operating a remote controlled mechanical Donald who is dancing on the deck as an homage to Donald’s first cartoon “The Wise Little Hen” in 1934. The Wise Little Hen flaps her wings nearby as Gyro’s anthropomorphic light bulb character waves a pennant atop flagpole w/ “DD” flag. Gus Goose waves an ice cream cone in the background and Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow wave. Duckburg can be seen in the distance. Lower left is signed in white paint “ Carl Barks Prelim Sketch”. Blank margins have ruled pencil lines as done by the artist, otherwise Exc. The final finished painting has a few subtle differences- Peter Pig dancing on the hill behind Gyro Gearloose, no birds flying in background trees and a large "$" gold coin design on Uncle Scrooge's Money Bin in Duckburg skyline background. Finished painting sold at auction in 2011 for $38,837. Carl Barks (1901-2000), known as “The Good Duck Artist” did nearly 500 comic book stories and numerous covers, then spent his retirement doing paintings for his legion of fans. While this painting is indeed a preliminary for a larger painting, there is nothing rough or unfinished in the scene. Simply put, a superb example of Barks mastery of the medium featuring wonderful images of some 15 beloved characters.