Last January, I was lucky enough to visit Epcot for the first International Festival of the Arts and it quickly became my favorite festival at the park. It celebrates all forms of art, including culinary and theatrical, but the emphasis is certainly on visual mediums, with artists and pop-up art shops throughout the park. Sadly, I won’t be able to visit the vacation kingdom of the world during this year’s festival, which runs through February 19th, but thanks to Shop Disney, I can at least peruse some of the talented pieces produced by Disney artists and have them shipped to my door if I desire.
What follows are twenty of my favorite pieces currently available to Disney fans and art collectors. None of the event exclusive artwork is available online (yet), but Disney fans around the world can have their own Festival of the Arts with this virtual gallery.
“Scrooge McDuck” by Darren Wilson
This is my favorite piece for a few reasons. The biggest of which is that I feel it’s a self portrait that Scooge McDuck would actually have hanging in his own mansion, a salute to his first love, money. Second, the textures that Wilson has included make it feel dated, like a lost treasure recently discovered. Having grown up on the first Ducktales series, it would also be fun to have a piece of Duckburg adorning my walls. Lastly, the piece gives any financially ambitious Disney fan money bin life goals.“Scrooge McDuck” by Darren Wilson can be purchased on canvas or paper with various framing options. Prices range between $120 and $175.
“Mickey’s Magical Colors” by Jim Warren
As the title suggests, “Mickey’s Magical Colors” speaks to me first for it’s creative use of colors. The rainbow that projects out of Sorcerer Mickey’s fingertips is a mix of pastel and neon colors, calling to mind the colors from the 1970’s “trippy” poster for Fantasia. Something about these colors also remind me of 1980’s EPCOT Center, and the presence of Sorcerer Mickey out of his element reminds me of Fantasmic. Mickey is in the process of some playful mischief, and a pod of dolphins are ready to play along. “Mickey’s Magical Colors” by Jim Warren is available on canvas for $149.50.
“When Stars Collide” by John Rowe
I find myself eternally drawn to stars in art pieces, Disney or not. To me, they represent hope and wish fulfillment and this piece by John Rowe called “When Stars Collide” is the epitome of those themes. Cinderella’s wish has come true as she’s about to share her first kiss with Prince Charming. The vivid constellations in the heavens shine down on them as the entire scene is romantically reflected in a crystal clear pond. As joyful as the piece initially appears, those who know the story may feel a bit of melancholy as well. The kiss is not to be, as the clock strikes midnight just before their lips can touch, delaying their happily ever after to another day. They’ll get there soon enough though, and theres an optimistic tone in “When Stars Collide by John Rowe, available on canvas for $149.50.
“Things from Wonderland” by Clinton Hobart
Clinton Hobart’s pieces reflect timeless Disney classics as real objects. “Things from Wonderland” collects objects from Alice in Wonderland and displays them all at once. Part of the fun is the varying size of the objects. For example, the Mad Hatter’s hat, which we know to be quite large, is not much bigger than the White Rabbit’s watch, and appears to be about as tall as the “Drink Me” vial next to the door (with Doorknob). Things are never what they seem in Wonderland, which is perfectly captured here. “Things from Wonderland” by Clinton Hobart is available on canvas for $149.95.
“Time for Tea” by Clinton Hobart
Like “Things from Wonderland,” “Time for Tea” by Clinton Hobart adapts Beauty and the Beast as ordinary household items. At first glance, it appears to be just a painting of Mrs. Potts and Chip, until you realize that they are reflective porcelain, not made of Disneyite, and their poses appear fixed forever. On the same tabletop is a candle, alarm clock, and a simple red rose. To me, it evokes both joy and sorrow, a table of disenchanted objects. “Time for Tea” by Clinton Hobart is available on canvas for $149.95.
“The Hero of Never Land” by Tim Rogerson
Fans of Mary Blair will appreciate the way Tim Rogerson has captured her whimsical style in “The Hero of Never Land.” It’s most evident in the tropical wall behind floating Peter Pan, where a dark black base is covered by uniquely styled plants and flowers, all in Blaire’s magical colors. Captain Hook’s Jolly Rodger is just on the horizon, parked in the lagoon plotting a way to capture Peter Pan. The color of the sky is also a Blaire-ism, an unconventional yellow blue. Disney fans should pay close attention the next time they watch the film to the number of times the sky in Never Land is an unnatural color. Looking closely, there’s a trail of pixie dust surrounding Pan from the middle of the Lost Boys/Darling children to his left shoulder where the Pixie hovers next to her hero. “The Hero of Neverland” by Tim Rogerson is available on canvas for $149.95.
“Tinker Bell” by Randy Noble
The feisty fairy is having a demure moment in this piece by Randy Noble. Often likened to the beauty of Marilyn Monroe, Tinker Bell is a fitting subject for any work of art. But what speaks to me the most about this piece is the clash of colors behind her. For years, Tinker Bell greeted television viewers every week on the Disney serial program and during the majority of its time on TV, from The Wonderful World of Color onward, she would fly in and use her magic wand to ignite firework splashes of color. When I look at this piece, I think of Tinker Bell landing after causing such an explosion, the beautiful aftermath settling around her and a look of satisfaction in a job well done in her expression. “Tinker Bell” by Randy Noble is available on canvas or printed with a variety of framing options between $120 and $175.
“Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust” by Noah
Quite a different take on Tinker Bell is “Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust” by Noah. His signature style of using primarily black with pops of neon color is utilized most effectively here, where a trail of pixie dust and Tink’s radiant wings are the only source of light. She’s quite playful here and upon first glance, it’s not quite clear what she’s doing. Is she flirtatiously blowing a kiss, or brushing her shoulder off like she just did something extraordinary? The answer is left to your own imagination, which is part of the intrigue behind it. Think of it as the “Mona Lisa” of this collection of artwork. “Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust” by Noah is available in a number of framed options, ranging between $295 and $650.
“The Way to His Heart” by Noah
Noah continues to work with one vivid color in “The Way to His Heart,” depicting Minnie Mouse serving Mickey Mouse a slice of cake. The entire scene is in black & white, with the exception of the frosting, the flower in Minnie’s hat, and the heart shaped icon on top of the piece Minnie is serving to Mickey. With such a sweet scene on display, this would make a perfect Valentine’s gift for the love of your life. “The Way to His Heart” by Noah is available in several framed sizes ranging in price from $325 to $675.
“Homeward Bound” by Rodel Gonzalez
When you first look at “Homeward Bound” by Rodel Gonzalez, it’s easy to initially miss the Seven Dwarfs marching home across a log. The brightness of the sky is what attracts my eyes first and it isn’t until I look closer at the details that the dwarfs appear. They’re easy to miss if you walk past this painting quickly, but become a source of delight as viewers discover them. The piece evokes the beauty and grandeur of nature, as well as the comfort and joys of home. There’s also a hidden message of hard work leading to just rewards. “Homeward Bound” by Rodel Gonzalez is available on canvas for $149.95.
Click to the next page to see the other half of this curated gallery.