Bibbity Bobbity Blair Disney Magic in O.C.
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University in Orange, CA – near Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom – showcases a century of art by renowned California Scene artists, Hollywood studio artists and animators, and the iconic Disney concept artist Mary Blair.
One of Walt Disney’s favorite artists, Blair (1911 – 1978) achieved legendary status at the House of the Mouse and was the one he chose to give vision to the concepts for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and other unforgettable Disney animated movies.
Using her paintbrush like a fairy godmother’s magic wand, Blair turned Disney’s ideas into concept paintings that would guide and inspire his teams of animators to create magical movies out of Lewis Carroll’s Alice, J.M. Barrie’s Peter, and the beloved 17th Century fairy tale about a young maiden who wins the heart of a prince.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel were eager to see the treasure trove of California art at the remodeled and expanded Hilbert Museum that founders Mark and Janet Hilbert have on display.
Caught up in the powerful works of the California Scene artists and muralists depicting the state’s landscapes and people in the 20th Century, we were still marveling at the dramatic images when…
we turned a corner and museum docent Dennis Brant beckoned us into the magical realm of Mary Blair’s Disney concept paintings.
A pumpkin coach racing through the night, a glass slipper, a boy who won’t grow up, a topsy-turvy world with a Mad Hatter and a White Rabbit.
Scene-after-scene of movie magic-in-the-making paintings covered the walls of the museum’s homage to the gifted artist.
Brant, a docent with many years at Disney, told us how Blair, a Chouinard Art Institute grad, joined Disney’s animation department in 1940 and the important role she played, conceiving the scenes animators used as artistic blueprints for Disney’s movie masterpieces.
Brant explained how Blair used the gouache painting technique (using natural pigments, water and a binding agent) that gives more control than traditional watercolors, enabling her to layer the paint, creating fine details and atmospheric effects. Capturing each scene in vivid color, Blair’s concept paintings spring into life on the paper.
In addition to the many Disney films she worked on, Blair oversaw Disney’s design of Pepsi-Cola’s memorable “It’s a Small World” pavilion for UNICEF at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. A salute to the children of the world, the exhibit was later moved to Disneyland and replicated at other Disney theme parks.
With her endless talent and energy, Blair was also in demand in the advertising and publishing worlds, putting her painting and illustration skills to use for popular brands, fashion retailers, and Simon & Schuster’s Little Golden Books series.
A woman working in a man’s world, Mary Blair reached the pinnacle of artistic success. And – with paintbrush in hand – she helped put the Disney magic into generations of childhood memories!
To see Mary Blair’s magic on display and make more memories of your own, stop by the Hilbert Museum.
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