The Artistic Flair of Mary Blair

I was unable to stop by the Cartoon Art Museum to see their exhibit of Mary Blair art while I was in the Bay Area but I hope to return and catch it soon. For the uninitiated, Mary Blair is the influential artist, designer and illustrator whose colorful, expressionistic art captured the imagination of Walt Disney. The exhibit, The Art and Flair of Mary Blair (presented through March 18, 2008) features her work for children’s books and advertising, as well as pre-production art she created for Disney animated films, including the pictured piece for Alice in Wonderland (which, you’ll notice, features Tulgey Wood, the madly confusing forest that’s this blog’s namesake and inspiration). You can find out more about the Blair exhibit (and see a photo of Mary plus some of her art) at the blog of curator Andrew Farago.

From the Peanuts Gallery: Crybaby Boobie

One aspect of the Peanuts comic strip I absolutely love is the varied cast of sharply drawn (in personality as well as pen-and-ink) characters Charles M. Schulz introduced into his magnum opus. From the more obscure side of Schulz’s comic panel “stage” one of my favorites is the constantly complaining tennis player, Crybaby Boobie, introduced into the strip in 1978 at the height of Snoopy’s tennis mania. Even the name of this whiny Wimbledon wannabe makes me laugh, but the fact that Schulz drew her with a perpetually upturned nose and downturned open mouth is a priceless touch. Crybaby Boobie’s unsportsmanlike behavior gives even bad sports a bad name. Could it be that because Charlie Brown was such a “bad” loser, Schulz felt it was only good form to introduce a sore loser in the form of this hilariously histrionic athlete?

More Hiawatha for November

Little Hiawatha was part of the Silly Symphony series of cartoons so it only seems appropriate the little brave made the cover of this 1955 Silly Symphonies "Giant" comic book. Of the other characters features only Bucky Bug came from an actual Silly Symphony, Bugs in Love (or at least Bucky was inspired by a character from that Silly... or was it the other way around?) Anyhow, Hiawatha finds himself in some mighty big company on this cover drawn by Paul Murry.

Snoopy TV

Now that Halloween has come (and gone) it's truly the season for Peanuts on TV. We had It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and soon there will be A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, followed by the ultra-classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Perhaps prophetically, Charles M. Schulz drew a TV-themed cover for this 1958 comic book. Do you suppose Charlie Brown and Snoopy are watching It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown?

Peanuts Lives

Today I visited the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. For those of you who know of my love for the Peanuts comic strip and my admiration for Mr. Schulz, you know this visit was a wonderful experience for me, as it would be for any one who values Peanuts, art and the comic strip medium. The Schulz Museum is a world-class facility and has much to offer, certainly more than can be experienced in one visit. In the days ahead I plan on sharing with you some of the sights I saw and the information I enjoyed at this beautiful museum.

Bruce Gordon

I'm sorry to report my friend Bruce Gordon died suddenly on November 6. An Imagineer, Disney author and historian, skilled designer, popular speaker and a key member of the Walt Disney Family Museum team, Bruce was a giving friend, always happy to share his knowledge and technical expertise. I never felt more complimented or honored than when Bruce would say to me, “You’re one of the good ones.” He wrote, designed and contributed to many Disney books, including one of his best (pictured here), The Art of Disneyland. I posted about the forthcoming Imagineering book written by Jeff Kurtti and designed by Bruce here. As Bruce was a longtime Imagineer this much-anticipated volume will serve as a fitting tribute to him. Bruce, you were one of the good ones. For that and a million other reasons you will be missed.

Follow This Good Scout into 2008

The Walt Disney Collectors Society has just revealed a closely guarded secret: The 2008 Membership Gift Sculpture. It’s Donald Duck, in his first appearance as a Collectors Society Gift Sculpture, merrily marching his way straight out of Walt Disney’s classic Oscar-nominated cartoon, Good Scouts. Join the Walt Disney Collectors Society for 2008 and this good scout will be yours free (with paid membership). Donald’s going to be marching in place until January 1, 2008, however—he’s not available until the new Society Membership year of 2008 starts. There’s still time to join the Walt Disney Collectors Society (your Membership includes a subscription to Sketches Magazine) for 2007—and you get a full year of Society Benefits as long as you join by December 31, 2007. For more details go here.

Masked Avenger Studios

In my last post I mentioned Ruben Procopio, illustrator, Disney animator and sculptor for the Walt Disney Classics Collection and many other lines. Visit Ruben’s blog to see photos from his recent European signing tour for the Classics Collection, and for art, news and background on his many exciting projects. If you love comics and animation, adventure and fun, you’ll love Ruben’s work!

The Light Will Overcome the Darkness

Yesterday, October 31st, was All Hallows Eve, making today, November 1st, All Hallows Day or All Saints Day. In Fantasia, Walt Disney paired “A Night On Bald Mountain” with “Ave Maria” to make a powerful visual-and-musical statement regarding goodness overcoming evil. As seen here, the Walt Disney Classics Collection presents a magnificently malevolent sculpture of Chernabog, the personification of evil. This Numbered Limited Edition of 1000 was sculpted by Ruben Procopio, who has a website you can visit here.

Happy Hiawatha Month!

To help celebrate Thanksgiving (November 22 this year), I’ll be posting this month about Walt Disney’s delightful character Little Hiawatha. Introduced in the charming 1937 Silly Symphony, this little boy “brave” never appeared in another film, but Hiawatha was too intriguing and adorable for Disney to allow him to simply fade away. This is the original theatrical poster on which the cartoon is incorrectly titled Hiawatha. Stop by this blog throughout November for lots more of Little Hiawatha.