tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59245339711380112762024-03-17T20:03:52.465-07:00inkandpaintclub-perazaA rememberence of some wonderful times by Mike Peraza who worked at one of the greatest dream factories, the Walt Disney Studios.mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-50249507861029103292023-12-22T14:18:00.000-08:002024-01-05T13:20:10.785-08:00Pat and Mike Show Christmas<p>It's our Christmas episode of the Pat and Mike Show. It’s a tribute to the men and women of animation that my wife Patty and I were honored to work alongside for many years. I designed and animated it by myself in just over 3 1/2 weeks with Patty providing dialog, ideas, encouragement and spiked eggnog. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sKP0-s3CuU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPTFCFYwH14SJJnucPmlpGC2RVnD1pQZD-xhSQxtQ415ddaCehBDweGegaSiFl_ssGFxD0arsauHQBgo3xO02P-nbwSmZg46oa6y45pE182j_2TPXQuxPq7W2uLZoLsvkB30S6ipzMLVjl98zFdaYtR-RTqA6KoxUSiGmdPcrtj4tpQi0F_pAsAh2dIHy/w400-h225/Pat%20Mike%20SHow%20Xmas%20youtube%20thumbnail%2012%2021%202023.jpg" width="400" /><br />Link Below:<br />Pat and Mike Christmas Show<br /><br /></a></div><br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-62307440477696625972023-06-12T18:16:00.000-07:002024-01-05T14:26:39.660-08:00Adventure in the Land of Aladdin!<div class="" dir="auto"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":r11u:"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7mIm8o6QRfz8q9pLFV3h65u1sT_4Pg6IfAu-q3uVDXd5W8fZaF-xUzvF-JiCNyd0koIWlO3O4OJ3HYwaKC5o1-9SfdmQn12Aq8AgrPZSjX4oZ5Dlh9hcNmhzJqdhaWrtSe_tjhI_CEM1eqHRYxr9SDgdqlHj8AMrNs-MPHyiHmcG4c2yNkDO36dsKP17l" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="851" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7mIm8o6QRfz8q9pLFV3h65u1sT_4Pg6IfAu-q3uVDXd5W8fZaF-xUzvF-JiCNyd0koIWlO3O4OJ3HYwaKC5o1-9SfdmQn12Aq8AgrPZSjX4oZ5Dlh9hcNmhzJqdhaWrtSe_tjhI_CEM1eqHRYxr9SDgdqlHj8AMrNs-MPHyiHmcG4c2yNkDO36dsKP17l" width="320" /></a></div><br />We were honored to be invited to attend the Middle East Animation and Comic Convention as their special guests. We arrived a bit early at LAX and were invited up to the lounge to relax and enjoy a sumptuous buffet of roast beef. (Did see one young lady choosing only the vegetables. I’ve never seen herbivore. LOL). <span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">The
lounge had a direct connection to the upper First Class and Business cabin on the plane so the
boarding was a breeze. Enjoying a bit of liquid encouragement to steady
the nerves before take off. In this case the designated driver is the
pilot.<br /><br /></span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirhTGY1cr1MsCumsoaIzWXd_Ht9dkJNQi1n37d50xWa4iMi3Mg1ze_GLaELaWhCtV3EGE29NaGZ6kYJB5vg34SHa_inw7gjR7AxfaG-hRYgZkFSBDE77ttSnNLXzt8D1bZuUPpj5foPuOGHXFTsyx5o_jQmLR2X3C4i7vmHouQDTEiuBd7rq5taKQWQo7U" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="506" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirhTGY1cr1MsCumsoaIzWXd_Ht9dkJNQi1n37d50xWa4iMi3Mg1ze_GLaELaWhCtV3EGE29NaGZ6kYJB5vg34SHa_inw7gjR7AxfaG-hRYgZkFSBDE77ttSnNLXzt8D1bZuUPpj5foPuOGHXFTsyx5o_jQmLR2X3C4i7vmHouQDTEiuBd7rq5taKQWQo7U" width="190" /></a></div><br />The
Emirates hostesses were incredible and brought over an assortment of
warm nuts and a tasty collection of olives. The Mojito was absolutely
the best version I have ever had of my favorite Cuban cocktail. The
seats even had their own mini bars! So I guess I would have to call
those drinks marteenies?<br /><br /></span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">Our
hostess also brought by a gluten free snack. We were handed menus as
lunch will be served soon. Gee, I’m wondering how much weight I might
gain just during the flight? Enjoying these delicious meals is like not
inviting Scrooge McDuck to join you for dinner. You never have to see
the “bill”. </span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqopmLGaZlVdviriTTQ7Yyt_Ia-Bvsk1zYlQGAbt8zvDaGgYqEPu_rDzqRh0ZVUE8_wAU6hcRJbykHJe9xN3dR4Ubejbaq034bTMxqO10em7MnGLQQ99OeW8BikXziEECCttt6eXmpYF3JdFRR7u--etChx5pz5YEsqJSBAKwRZanVZ0tcw8StaI9fZuu8" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqopmLGaZlVdviriTTQ7Yyt_Ia-Bvsk1zYlQGAbt8zvDaGgYqEPu_rDzqRh0ZVUE8_wAU6hcRJbykHJe9xN3dR4Ubejbaq034bTMxqO10em7MnGLQQ99OeW8BikXziEECCttt6eXmpYF3JdFRR7u--etChx5pz5YEsqJSBAKwRZanVZ0tcw8StaI9fZuu8" width="302" /></a></div><br />Patty
and I finished a delicious multi course dinner. Like the cows who
gamble, the "steaks" couldn’t have been much higher, at this altitude.
They served us over white linen tablecloths and used fine china complete
with heavy silverware. So like Luke Skywalker used to say during his
meal, may the forks be with you. After dessert we took in a movie before
turning in for the evening.<br /><br /></span><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":ru3:"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">They come to your seat and place a comfy fitted mattress along with a soft filled blanket and pillow. The seat control buttons can turn them into various shapes from reclining like an easy chair to a completely flat and spacious bed (your feet won’t even touch with all the room it creates!). </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfZkW51Y1_Id0HTlz9Np6v0xUPiTn9tlPTcVbLMm8lQvCioMU_khhntZeTZ8vL9kqfi4ubkWwC7m5NKzrKliVq1lb7ga8sYhyvzaHUBGNCpqUU_fWQjg1cyrE7e3C-0p9MB0ydLAdEfNzFcKrObKaW-_hkP2F5gffDlU27EKDUOcGwNeMsj-IEpYVQQcHI" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="720" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfZkW51Y1_Id0HTlz9Np6v0xUPiTn9tlPTcVbLMm8lQvCioMU_khhntZeTZ8vL9kqfi4ubkWwC7m5NKzrKliVq1lb7ga8sYhyvzaHUBGNCpqUU_fWQjg1cyrE7e3C-0p9MB0ydLAdEfNzFcKrObKaW-_hkP2F5gffDlU27EKDUOcGwNeMsj-IEpYVQQcHI" width="320" /></a></div><br />The ceiling lights are dimmed to blue and thousands of tiny little lights slowly fade up to give the feeling of a magical night sky spreading across the entire cabin. Patty was obviosly zonked and fell asleep quickly. She'll get me later for this shot, lol! Well, goodnight all.<br /><br /><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto">We
really enjoyed the flight and the helpful and friendly staff but it was nice to finally unpack at our hotel for the
evening. It was just amazing! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMt4vL5g90clJprX8yYXokM34h2llaDb_Q4pAr9hBvNKEON5ux8kRgH4ZBvyFkOSkdEFmoAbv4DhQImlTeo1jktD9XB7iszfCL2QhRm9csCvnaQsDG_uv600Mo6D5HpluJWRvE-vD0j4AEHd6iOUQSTGMw5ojRf6VR6NJYIimngjbr81Uy9SYqy8Y3QqkK" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="1000" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMt4vL5g90clJprX8yYXokM34h2llaDb_Q4pAr9hBvNKEON5ux8kRgH4ZBvyFkOSkdEFmoAbv4DhQImlTeo1jktD9XB7iszfCL2QhRm9csCvnaQsDG_uv600Mo6D5HpluJWRvE-vD0j4AEHd6iOUQSTGMw5ojRf6VR6NJYIimngjbr81Uy9SYqy8Y3QqkK" width="320" /></a></div><br />As far as taste, it was “suite”. (The
towels are so lush and thick I could hardly close my suitcase!) Patty
made me promise to take in some sights tomorrow and I readily agreed to her suggestion.<br /></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><br /><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfcvLzI4gTmIIyjPv-NRqq_pvACYRuoCOyQgNF3cX0Fbi2hi-iQ22xjQWZijBuMYoHTRmcuIYi8Tq63RQBjO9zdfz9KGLXTEGzoiH4sIZK8_jUjHtqYIeKkSaOqfTt7l4_ZyMrucOCv6Sy1gPiwMAm80ImC4vfIdlGywqq-aq0mGHDuX83gktf7faxYOPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfcvLzI4gTmIIyjPv-NRqq_pvACYRuoCOyQgNF3cX0Fbi2hi-iQ22xjQWZijBuMYoHTRmcuIYi8Tq63RQBjO9zdfz9KGLXTEGzoiH4sIZK8_jUjHtqYIeKkSaOqfTt7l4_ZyMrucOCv6Sy1gPiwMAm80ImC4vfIdlGywqq-aq0mGHDuX83gktf7faxYOPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />Patty checks out the daunting view in the main stairwell. Thank goodness there was an elevator around the corner or it would have been a toss up whether our knees or vertigo would have won out, lol.</span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto"><br /><br />We
have the honor of sharing the main entrance of the International
Artists space with our good friend Hirokatsu Kihara. He was the right
hand man of Hayao Miyazaki, founder of Studio Ghibli. You may have
enjoyed their wonderful films including Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor
Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and other animated classics.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja4fSXj_o95qYR2kqHTXBC3fZ0kg900k_EbXerpsEFOD1SvVKZHv5M4vhw_CH5w-3hSXFwxS5wILmzEPuV4jjvAf3oJ3xCWeBmEsaz9wV5uUR8I77PZlEyIJ66sG2XYyTifdSVpD04r5Pr-4Okpym0Kyr3-JeUtLrpXU3rGmPs8TVmYZ16CC17vPztfNbl" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="526" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja4fSXj_o95qYR2kqHTXBC3fZ0kg900k_EbXerpsEFOD1SvVKZHv5M4vhw_CH5w-3hSXFwxS5wILmzEPuV4jjvAf3oJ3xCWeBmEsaz9wV5uUR8I77PZlEyIJ66sG2XYyTifdSVpD04r5Pr-4Okpym0Kyr3-JeUtLrpXU3rGmPs8TVmYZ16CC17vPztfNbl" width="218" /></a></div><br />We were thrilled to be sharing our space with such an amazing and talented icon! Hiro and I are really having a blast! As he puts it, "DISNEY & STUDIO GHIBLI!" They placed our tables at the very beginning of the entry area for the International Artists and that was an honor in it self! Literally hundreds of folks came to our tables during the Expo and it was quite a nice experience to meet so many fans from around the world.<br /></span><br /><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":r5k3:"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I was happy to put on a workshop for children and adults of how to draw some of their favorite animated friends. I drew on a small digital tablet that showed my live sketching up on a large screen. People could sit at the tables and use the tablets provided to follow along. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjVjIAFb_TF43QEDapEp3WPfQ0oruCyLT5bvbOvC1lPXP10IoZNogCdt_EdXfdM791RfR4KwYfl74_buxR9Z87l2v2MtEdRNXIUCRg8YTeQ5_cloiWsvzOa2g7BP5SGH-uoue32ICMNMvYA_STaRjAqLKb43Vf7ZEhrEFtnaRqhNt95C433ZjnpdqVFNqe" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjVjIAFb_TF43QEDapEp3WPfQ0oruCyLT5bvbOvC1lPXP10IoZNogCdt_EdXfdM791RfR4KwYfl74_buxR9Z87l2v2MtEdRNXIUCRg8YTeQ5_cloiWsvzOa2g7BP5SGH-uoue32ICMNMvYA_STaRjAqLKb43Vf7ZEhrEFtnaRqhNt95C433ZjnpdqVFNqe" width="320" /></a></div><br />The area was completely filled to over flowing and they allowed the extra people who wanted to attend to stand in the back, some using their sketchbooks to follow along.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Of course I did it all while <span></span>speaking in each character’s voice which they really got a kick out of! I also told brief histories of each character's creation including in this case mentioning my old friend Carl Barks who was Scrooge McDuck's "pappa". I don’t remember the last time I received a standing ovation (actually make that a sitting ovation) for simply drawing the things I truly enjoy. They even laughed at my corny jokes!<br /><br /><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjadOCR-bx2eqatd8U6BGFJn1l7GXYKJEfyTYMfIxGmn1GeO12zaLAz2HYGvdGronArBnF-XaVctLpcJFR9S0W_WVe_nw7V1epEKYOeKJlCld_UEuU1T9bCbP-wW9meYHsKnT7DQiDj-AckKpp-h0rq5SfWCHMf4mcPZAFsV2OsR0LYgwibtl8lvkdpgFlJ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1800" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjadOCR-bx2eqatd8U6BGFJn1l7GXYKJEfyTYMfIxGmn1GeO12zaLAz2HYGvdGronArBnF-XaVctLpcJFR9S0W_WVe_nw7V1epEKYOeKJlCld_UEuU1T9bCbP-wW9meYHsKnT7DQiDj-AckKpp-h0rq5SfWCHMf4mcPZAFsV2OsR0LYgwibtl8lvkdpgFlJ" width="320" /></a></div><br />Patty
and I attempted to put on an entertaining if not downright
embarrassingly hilarious show sharing our 45 years in the often wacky
animation business. From the age of traditional hand drawn on paper to
the cutting edge of today’s digital dreams and all the bumpy roads
inbetween. Folks have been coming up to us all afternoon to tell us how
much they enjoyed it which makes us feel pretty darn good! At least no
one threw any tomatoes at us, or if they did they were terrible shots.</span><br /><br /><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":r727:"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguaA9lm7pfHKPmof6s8JK_cWE7II4h6fpnGGSQP2BCTd8iId4ehL03pG8Jw33tFFz1RSbMbRDWen2bIUz7-JzWWB67iDzDLBlCFblRWiqJXEXw3gjD9pPf1PnMpTUG8clxjA-FNmAhPKrdm6C2_bUJ2b_Pif1HO3IodmBYvzwHNVx0yuZpzBh_5ir4SOaG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1080" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguaA9lm7pfHKPmof6s8JK_cWE7II4h6fpnGGSQP2BCTd8iId4ehL03pG8Jw33tFFz1RSbMbRDWen2bIUz7-JzWWB67iDzDLBlCFblRWiqJXEXw3gjD9pPf1PnMpTUG8clxjA-FNmAhPKrdm6C2_bUJ2b_Pif1HO3IodmBYvzwHNVx0yuZpzBh_5ir4SOaG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Abdul was staying in the suite next to ours in the hotel and on the second day of the event, he decided to drop by as… me! What he didn’t know was that moments earlier I had been given a beautiful brand new box set kaffiyeh, the traditional headdress of Arab men complete with ghutah made of woven goat hair and hand embroidered white linen skull cap by a wonderful fan and new friend who placed all the pieces on my head properly just moments before he arrived.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">In Abdul’s words, <span></span>we had switched places!!</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxdXVas1Tk4P0FEX11vE4wN8MYaWZNGqO95Qao0plWSkg4QgktJbD0mojrV1vn966IFcAPoMvqdvSFhTe1xq-lksXAd9J18QdTJsp-TmQJ5N9KY071mhQdoL3hPaYZy8WPuALDPKb0Pz3keOgavIgyMmPFfhkqV_A7nFKt2buG1xHI0LJGiZDDTN7Qld48" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="959" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxdXVas1Tk4P0FEX11vE4wN8MYaWZNGqO95Qao0plWSkg4QgktJbD0mojrV1vn966IFcAPoMvqdvSFhTe1xq-lksXAd9J18QdTJsp-TmQJ5N9KY071mhQdoL3hPaYZy8WPuALDPKb0Pz3keOgavIgyMmPFfhkqV_A7nFKt2buG1xHI0LJGiZDDTN7Qld48" width="320" /></a></div><br />We
were sad to bid farewell but promised our many wonderful new friends we
would return. We set sail on the “ships of the desert” and cruised
across the sandy seas to the airport for our 16 hour flight back home to
California. It was certainly a wonderful trip and the magical memory of
a lifetime.</span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div>mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-74274902097792048662021-11-30T15:03:00.006-08:002023-12-18T13:11:09.362-08:00Duck fans Across the "Pond"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokF9mXrETKfebo9Txr90zN7vNHypXyLn5Uxtti0HKdMOc4YUij2cC2IpP7rDuU2-ipVF5tFs8HdmFBr7lKSQbGfRWDOPo-6RJetxySQEfxSP_IBGOPcQ-CdWVnAywf20LQ6ik26WnbGZr/s1431/257139398_10159183146893791_229955233091195166_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="1431" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokF9mXrETKfebo9Txr90zN7vNHypXyLn5Uxtti0HKdMOc4YUij2cC2IpP7rDuU2-ipVF5tFs8HdmFBr7lKSQbGfRWDOPo-6RJetxySQEfxSP_IBGOPcQ-CdWVnAywf20LQ6ik26WnbGZr/w640-h220/257139398_10159183146893791_229955233091195166_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>We just returned from an exciting adventure to Europe where we had the opportunity to meet the friendliest fans of the Disney Afternoon and Feature work that Patty and I were fortunate to be a part of over the years. Before we set foot into the plane though, we both were working hard months earlier to create something special for the collectors that were already contacting us about the events. In fact more than a year earlier I was commissioned to create an oil painting while Patty was likewise asked to create another of her stunning "cloth creations" which have become so well known and collected at the Disney Parks. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qqKGgn86sHcO7Gq_iN9LS6lWn9eaJGTkKWPwHNl8vzAaYNcQKFaFuv3aSHABLgLi6PrLSDcvDnNcbYtqSperk3hL07aJ1yVIAZqx3HOXJfVAfQWsrf17DZZQ1tGWaq7ODfy5u2XFU7-Q/s2048/IMG_6586.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qqKGgn86sHcO7Gq_iN9LS6lWn9eaJGTkKWPwHNl8vzAaYNcQKFaFuv3aSHABLgLi6PrLSDcvDnNcbYtqSperk3hL07aJ1yVIAZqx3HOXJfVAfQWsrf17DZZQ1tGWaq7ODfy5u2XFU7-Q/w200-h133/IMG_6586.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />My better half and I began creating some new pieces in our little studios. Obviously a certain miserly mallard from Duckburg, Uncle Scrooge McDuck, is one of our favorite subjects! My painting, "Portrait of Success," is in oil and I actually let it dry for over 8 months before applying the Damar varnish. Patty created her piece, "Number One Dime", entirely from thread, cloth, and a bit of stuffing hench the branding phrase she uses, "Cloth Creations". She was constantly cutting, re-cutting and trying new cloth and thread combinations over many weeks to get it exactly the way she wanted it.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a6vBtQ_2piR2Spi4-itWnRLm78Zwq_1WvUi0e7Miyjy8T48M-LwlKl1TtarLTRIxhDxzuuKXs40OKE-B7B1budEeEOY2ZUKsm5t1ZBz9LjiLf13UWPPFtkv2MDWsdIK9dtsYSYRRZqC1/s1006/varnish+scrooge+painting+PR+nov+2021x.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a6vBtQ_2piR2Spi4-itWnRLm78Zwq_1WvUi0e7Miyjy8T48M-LwlKl1TtarLTRIxhDxzuuKXs40OKE-B7B1budEeEOY2ZUKsm5t1ZBz9LjiLf13UWPPFtkv2MDWsdIK9dtsYSYRRZqC1/w199-h200/varnish+scrooge+painting+PR+nov+2021x.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully adding the varnish<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />From the ODOR IN THE COURT Dept: After carefully and s-l-o-w-l-y drying the painting in a custome drying box (with side vents) over a period of just under a year it was ready for the final application. Applying a couple of coats of old school Winsor Newton Dammar varnish over my dried oil portrait painting of Scrooge McDuck was a bit daunting. I heated up a jar of Dammar within a bowl of boiling water and just a hint of turpentine in the traditional method to help thin it a wee bit so it would go on smoothly. The varnish really brought all the color back to life! Very happy how it all came together, except for that smell. A day later and the smell is almost gone!<br />As Scrooge might say, "It all makes SCENTS now."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKX-gjWPRWerLrdHFVTMNznYNlyaDC-opJO-r2V-DnWsiTBU2RKqh4X3H5dWJ7rtowz8OVxUWmGJwPEc9d9Y9ifnqkPiW3JpKjfnipKJnwty7BtvsfC4-GAI_jPzv13ORTCJJiAAUVnHv/s960/257371588_10159183130138791_3928153303906586993_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKX-gjWPRWerLrdHFVTMNznYNlyaDC-opJO-r2V-DnWsiTBU2RKqh4X3H5dWJ7rtowz8OVxUWmGJwPEc9d9Y9ifnqkPiW3JpKjfnipKJnwty7BtvsfC4-GAI_jPzv13ORTCJJiAAUVnHv/s320/257371588_10159183130138791_3928153303906586993_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This photo of Patty and I was taken moments before they open the doors of the event to the public. (They're expecting over 28,000!) The jet lag might be there but hopefully no one will notice. Patty said if I start to get sleepy she'll be happy to pour cold water over my head. (what a doll!) <br /><br />It's times like this when we're signing with paint pens, that I'm glad
my name doesn't have too many letters. And for those wondering, NO, I am
not about to sign the tablecloth. They had just removed a stack of
glicees I had signed before they took this pic. They did an amazing job reproducing my oil painting 1 to 1 size on heavy weight acid free paper. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup4kgdNHyD5_zXe6_9UrBedko3C5KAbCmvOWwCzySWu6DsbZYj4oAVToKPauJqIdPQ3RXYUKxwRHsS9NS0iiqI-9v8wnwKrU1FVghu-Po8ehXkrldeIRwpyGqLDY0kCr0cAu2okw-tV3L/s1130/Scrooge+Cloth+finscan+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup4kgdNHyD5_zXe6_9UrBedko3C5KAbCmvOWwCzySWu6DsbZYj4oAVToKPauJqIdPQ3RXYUKxwRHsS9NS0iiqI-9v8wnwKrU1FVghu-Po8ehXkrldeIRwpyGqLDY0kCr0cAu2okw-tV3L/w159-h200/Scrooge+Cloth+finscan+WEB.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><br />But let me tell you about Patty's latest Cloth Creation. I really love what she has created and the photo here on the right really doesn't do it justice. Eveyone's eyes pop and jaws drop when they see it up close. I will say though that the glicee reproductions of her cloth are actually are so sharp you might think they are the original cloth instead of the stretched canvas surface! It is truly a magnificent piece fit for Scrooge's Money Bin Gallery!<br /><br />An interesting bit of trivia, Patty went with the traditional red coat used in European comics and older Disney editions while I went with the blue coat we used on our original series of DuckTales. (I prefer the red one, but don't tell anyone.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93yIB_bQ6d6H8zr1SKa0Bj08JcNrYAXAfzKp6B78LdU-aFwtop0i0TEcafkMsgP9k0tgABtfuaFg9Uz8smGkY2CYYgpaR3RirvbBdv2bLjXYN5ZiIluHZN87da-fSFtvQQ_Y8mla7pfCf/s526/257129864_10159183169513791_1110362744333960307_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="526" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93yIB_bQ6d6H8zr1SKa0Bj08JcNrYAXAfzKp6B78LdU-aFwtop0i0TEcafkMsgP9k0tgABtfuaFg9Uz8smGkY2CYYgpaR3RirvbBdv2bLjXYN5ZiIluHZN87da-fSFtvQQ_Y8mla7pfCf/w320-h315/257129864_10159183169513791_1110362744333960307_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This event also gave me the opportunity to pay tribute to my old friend Carl Barks and his character creation and the inspiration for our DuckTales series in a sculpted form in addition to the oil painting. This is the first of a series of animated characters I am sculpting that will be released as a resin cast with a gold color finish (what else would Uncle Scrooge have preferred!) and the bronze version will be a later edition. <br /><br />This wasn't a sketch sent overseas to have someone else sculpt which is unfortunately the norm for most Disney collectable pieces these days. instead, I drew it out in sketches and sculpted this piece myself. Scrooge McDuck and future Disney cartoon animation legends will also be posed atop the sculpted version of my trusty old animation disc. This was my original prototype and I was playing around with tints. The resin will be completely one color (Scrooge McDuck prefers the gold hue) but the later bronze may have value tints and even colors. The resin was reproduced beautifully and is in an even smoother finish than this.<br />I was surprised that no one I spoke with overseas was familiar with the base that I made which was "based" on an old animation disc.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincKRggyA5Ivy1uK0gcxcmaHE1f4umVu_PZ6yD4u4Vr0a3AlmaF_X6VzHvFutAAeAU2ffEcSe3vcjapCJH4ipfZZOseDrJ-Fs5lNRzGclfBrE682cFHYJFv__tiuih72itj0DaYS2HL-Pt/s1200/Bog+Forum+fans+WEB.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1200" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincKRggyA5Ivy1uK0gcxcmaHE1f4umVu_PZ6yD4u4Vr0a3AlmaF_X6VzHvFutAAeAU2ffEcSe3vcjapCJH4ipfZZOseDrJ-Fs5lNRzGclfBrE682cFHYJFv__tiuih72itj0DaYS2HL-Pt/w640-h365/Bog+Forum+fans+WEB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are a few of the lovely people we met over the three days we were there.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Patty and I have been blessed to meet so many incredible fans at the event. One person took a boat for 3 hours from the island they lived on to get there to see us and purchase a signed sculpture. Another got up at 5AM and drove over 4 hours for a print of the oil and an original pastel! <br />Thank you to everyone who has made our visit so memorable including Koushi, Kamilla, Brian, Paw, Tora, Anders, Glenn and especially Niels and to everyone who stopped by our table. We are truly humbled at all of these amazing fans and it is an honor and privilege to be able to spend time with them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJxQIXq5jbP6g1YqwBmzE5fTlVDeA6YCGV7FWLhk1TCqkU0dWaiqJd-CWX9qghSL_Eu58Nu5uuJPcSZ_l3zCM9hfHi0cnIJM7XyE-2sfXR6nZpbQlzwAkFzKbY5EtMng7kip_Yk-8Lbr/s533/257777580_10159189813438791_1888770509333964115_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJxQIXq5jbP6g1YqwBmzE5fTlVDeA6YCGV7FWLhk1TCqkU0dWaiqJd-CWX9qghSL_Eu58Nu5uuJPcSZ_l3zCM9hfHi0cnIJM7XyE-2sfXR6nZpbQlzwAkFzKbY5EtMng7kip_Yk-8Lbr/w396-h400/257777580_10159189813438791_1888770509333964115_n.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />Like all good things, even this lively fan event came to an end but as they say when one door closes, another one opens. Well that doorway was to Tivoli Gardens! Walt Disney visited here many times and found inspiration for his park to be called Disneyland. Patty is waiting for me to take the dern photo so we can get into the park.<br /><br />The park opened on August 15, 1843 and is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world. Tivoli is always evolving without abandoning its original charm or traditions. George Carstensen said in 1844: "<i>Tivoli will never, so to speak, be finished</i>", a sentiment echoed just over a century later when Walt Disney said of his own Tivoli-inspired themed park- <i>"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world</i>".
<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa2wC98KJ52yjIRzMlyzTZ6XlrWubEXeLmcnWelglXVeAs_d6tDY-bquqQhZ4aL7aE5XXmZrk2lB9pUX25MtrNQ8M6vQBijNONlcAAtXJ4u0IwcdOqhs73l3FUYFczy15zUuBJQidYFLx/s546/Screen+Shot+2021-11-30+at+9.35.23+AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="546" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa2wC98KJ52yjIRzMlyzTZ6XlrWubEXeLmcnWelglXVeAs_d6tDY-bquqQhZ4aL7aE5XXmZrk2lB9pUX25MtrNQ8M6vQBijNONlcAAtXJ4u0IwcdOqhs73l3FUYFczy15zUuBJQidYFLx/w320-h160/Screen+Shot+2021-11-30+at+9.35.23+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>It's therefore no secret that Walt was extremely impressed with Tivoli Gardens and studied elements of it as a basis for his future park to be called Disneyland. Lillian and Walt enjoying one of their many visits to Tivoli while Walt trades his usual skimmer hat for a bearskin shako in the photo on the left.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXZ1YY-l65OwRPatT6dzy22kmk13edEWuft82Wmwh4AS7OYQ4WrP-aQ3GAEqY_iB0mxxzlLrtfhP2SU7bunKxHHSzg7ombuPHe6gxlzPDwZVxCr8CKucyjSJNBhVQNrFMRyo-k0E_7vIr/s702/257920355_10159190155078791_5515777990262560849_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXZ1YY-l65OwRPatT6dzy22kmk13edEWuft82Wmwh4AS7OYQ4WrP-aQ3GAEqY_iB0mxxzlLrtfhP2SU7bunKxHHSzg7ombuPHe6gxlzPDwZVxCr8CKucyjSJNBhVQNrFMRyo-k0E_7vIr/s320/257920355_10159190155078791_5515777990262560849_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>When I was 3 1/2 years old in New Orleans, my dad gave me a bit of his steak at a steak house in the Big Easy. It was the best thing I have ever eaten and have searched with no luck across the globe for that same taste since. Well, we found it in Tivoli Gardens where Patty and I had the most scrumptious birthday dinner at Groften's Restaurant in Tivoli Gardens! The service and meal were the best! What a wonderfully romantic evening!! <br /><br />As empty as the gardens were, this place was packed, and with good reason. The food was the best I've had in a long time,... outside of Patty's cooking (whew! close call). All those years later and I finally located that delicious steak flavor, in another country!<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNrwEKMN3ZWijcztNs-7D4_wxgExT3pDzXWUN8fHfW4c5NvBgdkvzF5HLFCSQGvcd2t4zqBIz4rMQcN13FvFeUVpUzqcLjNeRdNH632Z7qs98HNUsYXjNonaQG4l7p_QkahYH6tSf1kKI/s720/257784201_10159189895308791_9088952795597493400_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="720" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNrwEKMN3ZWijcztNs-7D4_wxgExT3pDzXWUN8fHfW4c5NvBgdkvzF5HLFCSQGvcd2t4zqBIz4rMQcN13FvFeUVpUzqcLjNeRdNH632Z7qs98HNUsYXjNonaQG4l7p_QkahYH6tSf1kKI/w400-h296/257784201_10159189895308791_9088952795597493400_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After celebrating our birthdays with that delicious dinner, we left the restaurant and got something to drink from the local cauldron to wash down a swirl of cotton candy. We got the inside dope where to stand for the animated water and light show and we were not disappointed. <br /><br />If the place looks fairly empty, it's because being the last day of the season,... it was pretty much was. We weren't complaining as there were no lines for anything, and it was simply beautiful! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RjY_H7kudCVQK8zsJEF4a6d4eNBUSQa08WGKH66TtvQokOH5_f-_353UDO_JOTKUBedKams5OFIosG3Zh-jJQPaeXYwVWzZVqT1p7yVwRK8PHNUogLSKG2mjdTaCNUDtwR5BFRn4iunE/s1200/257809913_10159190038728791_1707585711901560843_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RjY_H7kudCVQK8zsJEF4a6d4eNBUSQa08WGKH66TtvQokOH5_f-_353UDO_JOTKUBedKams5OFIosG3Zh-jJQPaeXYwVWzZVqT1p7yVwRK8PHNUogLSKG2mjdTaCNUDtwR5BFRn4iunE/w200-h150/257809913_10159190038728791_1707585711901560843_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Tivoli Gardens is such a lovely park and made even more magical with the cool light mist that was wafting throughout the evening. We got the inside dope where to stand for the animated water and light show and we were not disappointed. If the place looks fairly empty, it's because being the last day of the season,... it was pretty much was. We weren't complaining as there were no lines for anything, and it was simply beautiful! Here is Tivoli's iconic whale's mouth snack stand with the old lighthouse next door still illuminating the area. You can probably tell that it was cold and a light drizzle of a fine mist permeated the park. Patty and I just loved it as it is certainly a change from perpetually warm and sunny Southern California.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxqzngad7xudSsKcfwVrEgYqiuC471HGF6sObBNIAKX7uool3Ojb9gl_sT5nyKTEqI8Z4gPPCVa1mYExb4P4rNJynLOH9sBERKzfsuwqOsDy6iZ4WcIGgpp3OgtsX6JZgCjAGjjwbsaKr/s701/258356955_10159192274843791_789845614011098254_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxqzngad7xudSsKcfwVrEgYqiuC471HGF6sObBNIAKX7uool3Ojb9gl_sT5nyKTEqI8Z4gPPCVa1mYExb4P4rNJynLOH9sBERKzfsuwqOsDy6iZ4WcIGgpp3OgtsX6JZgCjAGjjwbsaKr/s320/258356955_10159192274843791_789845614011098254_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It's easy for us folks with squeaky knees to walk around across Copenhagen as it's relatively flat, like a few of my jokes. Patty and walked across this bridge twice a day. The view of Nyhavn, Copenhagen along the canal is lovely, even when it's overcast.<br />Our lovely Copenhagen apartment is just around the corner but out of respect to the owner who graciously gave it to us during the stay I won't show any photos or give the address. <br />Every turn in this beautiful city presented us with yet another stunning view of magnificent architecture and friendly people. It's nice to see folks embrace and hold onto their architectural history and culture.<br /><br />The sign by the way is from a little neighborhood cafe and is advertising their delicious homemade Lentil soup with bread.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpndd6LGhaHpiDGfyXpOTM6gMGtTMZnrAo0Vn2nyH_PreeZjgi3WCeJEoX1d-oTEokwKyxWetr-h633azE-COlxCQIYuBuXhTfo9H_5-RvookWeSKd67HIPGQlvM0ovRSMlaRsVbc01XAe/s684/258365924_10159191508563791_6011721385593136040_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpndd6LGhaHpiDGfyXpOTM6gMGtTMZnrAo0Vn2nyH_PreeZjgi3WCeJEoX1d-oTEokwKyxWetr-h633azE-COlxCQIYuBuXhTfo9H_5-RvookWeSKd67HIPGQlvM0ovRSMlaRsVbc01XAe/w308-h400/258365924_10159191508563791_6011721385593136040_n.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />We had to visit the Little Mermaid statue while we were here. There was a small group of kind people there that helped us get closer (to Ariel) on those slippery wet rocks without falling into the water, and took the photo for us. <br /><br />Another checkoff from the bucket list. Well, we have to pack now and head home. SO relieved we don't have Covid!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p>mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0Copenhagen, Denmark55.6760968 12.568337227.514137474291037 -22.587912799999991 83.838056125708974 47.724587199999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-6746922165674790062021-02-23T09:23:00.002-08:002023-12-18T13:11:29.605-08:00Scrooge McDuck! <p>I was recently asked to do an oil painting of one of my favorite miserly fine feathered friends, Scrooge McDuck. He is of course officially licensed by Disney and will be unveiled in the fall. This is a photo Patty took of me up in the studio tickling old Scrooge with my paint brush. <br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKhNVft-4JpRV79MH_BNJfwsErAwKXQZDBGo6LYsOd6HbpsdfTeUlQ0OZrUVqbdLn7EZLVkYSzAf1-K60swCdBv6PY6yVtdrCPTEHzmhj2B7m7T5ACfKaghRVRQvXorJGGtEk7BbYPq5p/s701/mike+paint+Scrooge+portrait+PR+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="698" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKhNVft-4JpRV79MH_BNJfwsErAwKXQZDBGo6LYsOd6HbpsdfTeUlQ0OZrUVqbdLn7EZLVkYSzAf1-K60swCdBv6PY6yVtdrCPTEHzmhj2B7m7T5ACfKaghRVRQvXorJGGtEk7BbYPq5p/w638-h640/mike+paint+Scrooge+portrait+PR+WEB.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-83732993655459670282020-09-04T12:04:00.000-07:002020-09-04T12:04:07.324-07:00Disney Publishing, Then & Now<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb1RnyvWF73f11_YDQyqG2stlmzMs44aO5yDOaqomXVe_cieRr_MsLlSpYydCJe542G8s86Xa1n1LtBN51qUnJkCN4MvOImKnNQ_sf2dx9S2_2r-CiSA2h5AZER2F2cBd_9rMi43c_E3d/s2048/Sleeping+Beauty+golden+book+compare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1262" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb1RnyvWF73f11_YDQyqG2stlmzMs44aO5yDOaqomXVe_cieRr_MsLlSpYydCJe542G8s86Xa1n1LtBN51qUnJkCN4MvOImKnNQ_sf2dx9S2_2r-CiSA2h5AZER2F2cBd_9rMi43c_E3d/w400-h246/Sleeping+Beauty+golden+book+compare.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My copy is the one on the left<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_3x"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">A few of us were discussing the differences in the publishing tastes over the years regarding the classic Disney children's book illustration.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Sleeping Beauty was brought up as an example so I thought I would share my copy (on the left) with the current version on the right. The original employed an artistic take on the film's style for its cover with the other version decades later using essentially a frame of the film as the guide for its cover. Make no mistake, the interior of the original was loaded with art that was true to the film. <br /><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">You'll have to excuse the tattered look of my copy as it was given to me by my grandmother in 1957. It's a first edition written by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by the key stylist of the film- Eyvind Earl along with another huge talent Julius Svendsen. It's well worn by my reading it many times during my childhood (and still enjoyed by me today!). It also showcases many concept paintings by Eyvind which are stunning!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">On the right is the 1986 version. Although it is still published as a "Big Golden Book" it only measures 8¼" x 11" whereas the one of the left was 10¼" x 13". Also the number of illustrations in the later release was cut down by a third from the original edition.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The original was much closer to the film with its dynamic interior illustrations and style then the 80s version which is still being sold by Disney. The later/current edition has also removed all of the Eyvind Earl concept pieces that had earlier been displayed so beautifully in the original edition.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div>mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-37287244528731209442020-08-05T11:32:00.004-07:002020-08-05T11:43:13.324-07:00Little Man of Disneyland!<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2B2_uu4kekw7juQnoYIAzG9qe5NM337BPdTS9h5GlZWfrVVhdhKdJw3AeXEKNkqVzMMo8-7_1VmLatyGWv7Fpm_2OVQNnTBrQyOlG8k1dwqs_6nr8tg0pVrOTVugnOywTHTgJzahyphenhyphen7Bt/s1920/Little+Man+Disneyland+green+screen+grab.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2B2_uu4kekw7juQnoYIAzG9qe5NM337BPdTS9h5GlZWfrVVhdhKdJw3AeXEKNkqVzMMo8-7_1VmLatyGWv7Fpm_2OVQNnTBrQyOlG8k1dwqs_6nr8tg0pVrOTVugnOywTHTgJzahyphenhyphen7Bt/w328-h184/Little+Man+Disneyland+green+screen+grab.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening Green Screen test<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Since it’s difficult for our family to get together during this pandemic as it is for many, Patty and I thought why not adapt some of our favorite picture books into little animatics that we could share via email? “Walt Disney’s Little Man of Disneyland” is one of the lovely Little Golden Books we used to read to our daughters Kimberly and Kristin at bedtime. With Disneyland’s re-opening delayed to help insure the health of guests and cast members, we decided to share that one.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Our adaptations are not animated but more like simple camera moves across the artwork. The credits title card was fun way of sharing the names of the illustrator, author and composer of the music we used. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70e22O7oGX5CFWCsYNnYXL1nbX43sHwUIwH7Bd63xvKnPOZcohyphenhyphencjqbSbmLBMMZ29cM63rfx12VEh1H5o2PXi0bljVc21Y3ZbQQCmX8nuqpMvfSGllPv80c940iMva2lxvG8-RzsME49x/s2000/LITTLE+MAN+ART+EXAMPLESxxxx.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="2000" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70e22O7oGX5CFWCsYNnYXL1nbX43sHwUIwH7Bd63xvKnPOZcohyphenhyphencjqbSbmLBMMZ29cM63rfx12VEh1H5o2PXi0bljVc21Y3ZbQQCmX8nuqpMvfSGllPv80c940iMva2lxvG8-RzsME49x/w410-h363/LITTLE+MAN+ART+EXAMPLESxxxx.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>In some cases we added and repainted the book illustrations a bit to adapt from a book page image to the video format. <span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Some
folks were asking what we changed so here are a couple of examples that will help
illustrate what we did. </span><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Make no mistake though, Dick Kelsey is a legendary Disney artist who did a magnificent job on the original book. Dick Kelsey is one of my favorite artists from
the Little Golden Book era of Walt's day and had quite a successful career in
feature animation at Disney.<br /><br /></span> <span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The frame above by the way is from the opening Patty and I created for the adaptations. I modeled the entire set and Patty did textures and animation. I've always wanted to live in the cartoon world so this was my big chance, lol.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">This was our first experience using our cheap little homemade green screen and it was a blast! The only thing that is "real" in this shot is me! In case you were wondering, that's Patty's lovely photo over the fireplace.</div></div></span><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">For those that have been asking, the last shot at the end of the film is INDEED taken from a photograph of the actual tree that Patrick resides within at Disneyland! Yes, it is a real thing so have fun searching it out with the kids!<br /><br /></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">We hope children (of ALL ages) will enjoy these stories.<br /><br />Here's the link to the animatic:<br /><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FrYhgfPXFM<br /><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4FrYhgfPXFM" width="320" youtube-src-id="4FrYhgfPXFM"></iframe></div><br /></div></div>mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-67873707437998881482020-08-05T11:22:00.002-07:002021-01-14T13:11:33.693-08:00Drawing Max as Powerline<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DisneyD23/videos/665416564273272/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhspC0johyphenhyphenSj7hoW6xyi-MpL9Or3cB5K2nX-RBwY0B4tPgtCDtI_2ZgLrDqJiwkv4zS_uRAjwrusZ-nOOhBC7CePHDokoz6nEFKwoJuzBI17GxH8Od_mH2rUXGfrYipd4FcuXtTGRC0b-/s640/mike+%2526+max+combo+PR+frame+WEB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DisneyD23/videos/665416564273272/">A frame grab from the drawing lesson with my little buddy, Max</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I was asked to donate a drawing lesson of Max as Powerline, I had to say yes! After all, he is a charter member of the original series “Goof Troop”, that I had the honor of creating and developing for Disney Television years ago. He’s also the son of one of my favorite “Fab-Five”- Goofy, Gwarsh! <br /><br />I only had a weekend to do the rough sketch, video and editing so it’s a very simple clip. Hopefully it will entertain kids (of all ages) that enjoy drawing him. It’s an effort to get their minds off what is happening right now across the world with the Coronavirus, and while they are quarantined at home, remind them how much fun drawing can be. I hope you will enjoy it and I’ll do more of these when I can. Patty and I wish everyone the best. <br /><br />Please take care and stay safe.<br /><br />Here's the link:<br />https://www.facebook.com/DisneyD23/videos/665416564273272/<br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-24687449269104051862020-03-26T17:34:00.006-07:002020-04-30T12:09:28.141-07:00Terrors That Flap in the Night...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESyeV4ws2b-UYzcWAO5F9sy6erW2SPtUcdm-0oHPwYJcWO20UPXYKALvJ2UN36ja_OihiccrHJBfHYcWYYJV3IS7pthhePqgHFhtB7aAIu_OWB-TNLaEPE-muXKb_TqE9XP8BJ6Y9qGVE/s1600/darkwing+publicservice+coronavirus+peraza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESyeV4ws2b-UYzcWAO5F9sy6erW2SPtUcdm-0oHPwYJcWO20UPXYKALvJ2UN36ja_OihiccrHJBfHYcWYYJV3IS7pthhePqgHFhtB7aAIu_OWB-TNLaEPE-muXKb_TqE9XP8BJ6Y9qGVE/s640/darkwing+publicservice+coronavirus+peraza.jpg" width="473" /></a></div>
This was a very quick little doodle I did for a neighbor's child that is having a rough time with the Coronavirus safety guidelines. His mom was lamenting she had to take him with her to the store to pick up groceries but he refused to wear a mask or use the hand gel. He is a new fan to the original Disney Afternoon. He is binge watching with mom during the quarantine and especially loves the old DuckTales and Darkwing Duck series. I sent this over via email, keeping that 6 foot distance they recommended, and he loved it!<br />
<br />
He even washed his hands now!mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-90744092679031681832019-08-09T14:43:00.005-07:002020-08-07T14:08:29.728-07:00Mickey Mouse D23 90th Tribute<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ0FSC3GPOCZLgFaPM0T7s0MLypnUFw3enGSyfXca_NBtCBfTND7ZA8DbWgoCCNiGzByzTQ3HJgJwoFnnyuYcQdpmwDaY26hVkxyUwpbxD3HIB26RCcgRb66ZpCKYH4kTKX0yRDyA85tl/s1600/mark+henn+90th.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1124" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ0FSC3GPOCZLgFaPM0T7s0MLypnUFw3enGSyfXca_NBtCBfTND7ZA8DbWgoCCNiGzByzTQ3HJgJwoFnnyuYcQdpmwDaY26hVkxyUwpbxD3HIB26RCcgRb66ZpCKYH4kTKX0yRDyA85tl/s200/mark+henn+90th.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show">Mark Henn and his official 90th piece</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">During
lunch at the Disney Studio commissary not long ago I was asked by a
well known and important member of the Disney company if I would be
interested in doing Mickey Mouse’s 90th portrait. I couldn’t answer
quick enough, “YES!!” Who wouldn’t be excited for such an honor. I went
home and against Patty’s advice, did research, thumbnail sketches, color
studies and created an original oil painting<span class="text_exposed_show"> over 3 feet tall! Patty scolded me to wait until I had a contract but I ignored her (that can get a husband in trouble!).<br /> </span></span></span><br /><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show">
3 weeks later I met the same wonderful person and was about to show them the image
on my phone of the finished painting when they shared that they
had hired “a well known animator” to do the piece. I was shocked and
beyond disappointed. </span></span></span><br />
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The animator who got the honor, Mark Henn, is an extremely talented
fellow and a long time friend so as sorry as I was for me, I was truly thrilled
for him. His wonderful and inventive painting was unveiled last year during Mickey's
birthday celebration. I went home and wrapped my painting in a ventilated box and stored it into my studio closet.<br /> <br /> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAdEBrxTO10cKuOIiOdrNa8VGUg1xMV_DGApOD8DZo66tqdmmQFNcblOAQjxWM9WaRlb_yeAcJ1z4e5dVVggr5J-jaySnlgV5I5RGFnzNDrrXu2v2fetROWYS0Qb6xyyLLjDfGpKmVyfo/s1600/Mickey+90th+peraza+fin+WEB.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAdEBrxTO10cKuOIiOdrNa8VGUg1xMV_DGApOD8DZo66tqdmmQFNcblOAQjxWM9WaRlb_yeAcJ1z4e5dVVggr5J-jaySnlgV5I5RGFnzNDrrXu2v2fetROWYS0Qb6xyyLLjDfGpKmVyfo/s320/Mickey+90th+peraza+fin+WEB.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tribute to a special little fellow</td></tr>
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Fast forward to
earlier this year. While attending a group of Disney historians, I was
sharing a few photos of what I had been up to. One of the top D23 people
(and a very nice guy!) saw the photo. To make a long story short, my
Mickey Mouse painting is now out of the bag and will be into D23 EXPO
this month! <br /><br />My painting featured Mickey sitting on one of the old Hyperion era director's chairs on a mockup set from the old Mickey Mouse Club. He's holding an iphone as a nod to his bridging decades of innovation right up to the current class of electronics. It may not be the official 90th portrait of the mouse but it
at least will be seen in public. The original painting and limited
edition prints will be available for purchase! I’m beyond thrilled,
Mickey has been and continues to be a large part of my life! Thank you
Mickey and D23!<br /> </span></span></span>mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-34927227373212216942019-06-13T16:08:00.000-07:002019-06-13T20:38:41.460-07:00Mickey's All Stars! A 90th Tribute<div data-contents="true">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b8uu-LIuBSxoSDEK4aMcmj-4lV7bBSNzRVicOCrjGPV-0LsSKy6p9ESXBWZkrIjNCQR2vJETQkVGtgxYQirIGYyxq2oiCpjq4dq0s_cUe0EYJYjKekkNHvr2HEvoYX9w6pLh-Rd72Lu2/s1600/mickey+comic+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1500" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b8uu-LIuBSxoSDEK4aMcmj-4lV7bBSNzRVicOCrjGPV-0LsSKy6p9ESXBWZkrIjNCQR2vJETQkVGtgxYQirIGYyxq2oiCpjq4dq0s_cUe0EYJYjKekkNHvr2HEvoYX9w6pLh-Rd72Lu2/s400/mickey+comic+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few top panels for the new collection by Mike Peraza</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="9rbrv-0-0"><span data-text="true">On November 18, 1928, the movie going public first got the opportunity while viewing a new cartoon from <b>Walt Disney</b> titled, "<b><i>Steamboat Willie</i></b>" to enjoy a new character who suddenly squeaked his way into hearts across the country and eventually around the world. He was a spunky little fellow dressed in a buttoned shorts that would revolutionize popular culture for decades to come: <b>Mickey Mouse</b>! Ninety years later, that superstar mouse is being celebrated with great fanfare by bringing together exceptional guest artists!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUolthghbwBgyGshoO9bpTcCh527CJEob3zdO1eiWSBajXxnA8VvInTwlRjxTy0M05MgW9Js2G_F7JTba8JIfFelmrwQmuBlhlA4q8iFdIxj6l4ExdIAB_RLDWBqw-tSdaSFqOTpYh3ci/s1600/_mickeyAS01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUolthghbwBgyGshoO9bpTcCh527CJEob3zdO1eiWSBajXxnA8VvInTwlRjxTy0M05MgW9Js2G_F7JTba8JIfFelmrwQmuBlhlA4q8iFdIxj6l4ExdIAB_RLDWBqw-tSdaSFqOTpYh3ci/s200/_mickeyAS01.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front cover of the book</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="5booc-0-0"><span data-text="true">To honor this special event, the premiere Disney Art publisher <b>Glénat</b> <b>Editions</b> extended an invitation to 50 leading artists of contemporary comics and animation from around the world to create 50 original unpublished stories in one page each. The same simple instructions were given to each participant to follow when creating their comic book page. <i><b>"First box: Mickey enters through a door; in the last box: he goes out"</b></i>. Between the two: anything and everything is possible! From this imposed postulate, each author/artist has been allowed to express his creativity and deliver his artistic vision of the character in a tribute to his life.<br /><br /><b>Mike Peraza</b> chose to tell his story from the golden age of Disney animation of the 1930s. He drew his Mickey as he looked in those early years as well as other characters including a couple of famous animators who were well known for their stellar work with the mouse. A lot of research went into his backgrounds as he wanted to include a tribute to the <b>Hyperion</b> studio of that time period both interior and exterior detail where under Walt's guidance, so much of the magic took place.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1mJDisNQlk2S7gwBex25zYTJw_5KQZcYGStHwgfU4aQf9SYJfmS4Ag0iYjpy6HK2uAJqny_zAESchFJkoJjeyBsYUyqyT4fcC_sfRHgLPVAV1dxXiicC9NBOhBdJ0N4UjT0exSqVpg8g/s1600/Mickey+comic+Mike+Peraza+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1500" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1mJDisNQlk2S7gwBex25zYTJw_5KQZcYGStHwgfU4aQf9SYJfmS4Ag0iYjpy6HK2uAJqny_zAESchFJkoJjeyBsYUyqyT4fcC_sfRHgLPVAV1dxXiicC9NBOhBdJ0N4UjT0exSqVpg8g/s640/Mickey+comic+Mike+Peraza+WEB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mike Peraza</b> in front of a vintage Disney Animation Studio storyboard with some of his concepts for the <b>Mickey All Stars</b></td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="asi1l-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /><i><b>50 international talents</b></i> including <i>Bertollucci, Brüno, Camboni, Cestac, Clarke, Dab's, De Poortere, Domecq, Keramidas, Lapone, LeDessineux, Munuera, Nesme, Parma, Peraza, Pirus, Supiot, Tebo</i> and <i>Zanzim</i> and many others have been assembled in an exceptional tome for their collective tribute to the one and only ...<b> Mickey Mouse</b>!</span></span></div>
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mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-34813118355878013882019-05-18T08:29:00.000-07:002019-05-18T08:29:58.572-07:00Darkwing Duck joins the new DuckTales!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT44ie0mmcQ-fb4vi7pff64-i3wMi7Sw9wc7-Xe25qW8qge0Qc-JvbI5t4juFktBgYGfrbdmvKx232xsdYZ9xPKXEnXaJ3VQzg-GNbeaOE54riN-_Ighw8fkI39hjdjRW-3jmQzcnCsqwR/s1600/darkwing.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT44ie0mmcQ-fb4vi7pff64-i3wMi7Sw9wc7-Xe25qW8qge0Qc-JvbI5t4juFktBgYGfrbdmvKx232xsdYZ9xPKXEnXaJ3VQzg-GNbeaOE54riN-_Ighw8fkI39hjdjRW-3jmQzcnCsqwR/s200/darkwing.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Last year I was sitting down at a clandestine meeting with the new <b>DuckTales</b>
crew. They quietly closed the door, and after making sure no one was
listening at the keyhole, told me they were planning to have <b>Darkwing Duck</b> officially join the cartoon cast. I was ecstatic after all I was a key member on his <a href="https://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2010/08/double-o-darkwing.html" target="_blank">development team</a> back in the day. So after being sworn to secrecy (<i>following the initiation ceremony of the ancient</i> <i><b>Order of the Junior Woodchucks</b></i>),
they showed me the boards. The story they had come up with did a fine
job of connecting loose ends and creating a thrilling back story. When
the torches were relit, one of the hooded figures told me they wanted me
to create a <b>Darkwing Duck</b> “<i>comic book</i>” for that special
episode. He explained that a young Darkwing fan who admired the winged
scourge would be reading the comic on the show. As the quack chants grew
louder I was then blindfolded and led back to my car.<br />
<br />
So here
are some of the panels from that imaginary “comic book” I illustrated.
Sorry I couldn’t say anything over the last few months to my <b>Darkwing Duck</b> fans, but after all, wasn't it an exciting surprise? Thanks Frank, Matt, Sean, Suzanna, Tanner and the entire new <b>DuckTales</b> team for inviting me once again to be part of the terror that flaps in the night!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3mBZSaQ5trsLIN3QjkDUS1WZMie7tdm-K6jNmlAHta_Thc1ugCLJw9Ast2KQ7vy9oihSK7ONugDGHDrH1yqk9hwrsYuIQnCCqHVZcGjqgj0lfipqpNnl0PqYBbfahEtA5gNuM0UwOsP9/s1600/darkwing+comic+banner+WEB.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3mBZSaQ5trsLIN3QjkDUS1WZMie7tdm-K6jNmlAHta_Thc1ugCLJw9Ast2KQ7vy9oihSK7ONugDGHDrH1yqk9hwrsYuIQnCCqHVZcGjqgj0lfipqpNnl0PqYBbfahEtA5gNuM0UwOsP9/s640/darkwing+comic+banner+WEB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darkwing comic by the original Darkwing Duck concept artist <b>Mike Peraza</b></td></tr>
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mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-75228454316228351542019-05-07T23:44:00.003-07:002019-05-07T23:44:06.043-07:00The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Setteled Disneyland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS79L22R2FJ74Ul5mmRdL5cGcKAMVn29FFfn9ilg_obgce2kMJOYjV2Zk_OaDsKJL-AG-Y6lsRYhocq2zk-7OmmQbxm8DHQFLPSFJrpqa2WS4u7Lp2dtjaR80esbSVd2XOPhUztikMoX0I/s1600/55ers+cover+revised.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS79L22R2FJ74Ul5mmRdL5cGcKAMVn29FFfn9ilg_obgce2kMJOYjV2Zk_OaDsKJL-AG-Y6lsRYhocq2zk-7OmmQbxm8DHQFLPSFJrpqa2WS4u7Lp2dtjaR80esbSVd2XOPhUztikMoX0I/s320/55ers+cover+revised.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKWYFpaXFfaYwkloO6pUbuJoAKiXGe-MLOeVhwsyVV45B_uQCWjgpje_NG4CG_NN9Rppp-POff-onj3zwZlAqKAyUtpz65GnyQJjz98SfVOQeh8SaHmLwOm7apnanjDuh0VfjFmz3wHap/s1600/f7ef4a392b448bcbf2582be970b7549e_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKWYFpaXFfaYwkloO6pUbuJoAKiXGe-MLOeVhwsyVV45B_uQCWjgpje_NG4CG_NN9Rppp-POff-onj3zwZlAqKAyUtpz65GnyQJjz98SfVOQeh8SaHmLwOm7apnanjDuh0VfjFmz3wHap/s200/f7ef4a392b448bcbf2582be970b7549e_original.jpg" width="151" /></a>This is a brand new large-format coffee table book celebrating Disneyland's original employees of 1955 by well known Disney author and historian <b>David Koenig</b>. Walking through Disneyland of today you'll see cast members dressed as cowboys in Frontierland, jungle explorers in Adventureland, and small-town shopkeepers on Main Street. But back when the park first opened in 1955, the employees weren't pretending. They were true-to-life characters, hand picked for their roles because of their amazing backgrounds.<br /><br />Now for the first time you will get to see these fascinating personalities and hear their stories in the new coffee-table book, <b>"The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland"</b> by <b>David Koenig</b>. In this collection of never before seen photos and rare interviews you'll meet close to 700 "Year One" cast members from every department in the Disneyland Park. Anecdotes from firemen, ticket sellers, newsboys, ride operators, show performers and many more. The book is nearly 300 pages of glossy magic with a full color jacket of original art designed expressly for this book by <b>Mike Peraza</b>.<br /><br />The "55ers" is a true labor of love and gratitude, recognizing those trailblazers who were the first to be able to call Disneyland their home. Over the past 30 years, more than 1,000 Disney cast members have shared their stories with me. What I soon realized was that the cast members themselves were the best stories of all. This book will be unveiled in time for this years D23 EXPO. Be sure to get your copy.<br /><br />Also, check out the <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/373772146/the-55ers-the-pioneers-who-settled-disneyland?fbclid=IwAR34e1hf7pEvj4njl253SwHObjQXuV_HkOpL2xkWfqC83pIdNbBnGmNpzEU" target="_blank">kickstarter</a> that will help get this book published and in the fine style it so deserves:<br /><br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-65137301519249665982019-02-28T01:21:00.002-08:002020-01-01T14:48:15.839-08:00Dreaming Tree Gala<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Posted by the Walt Disney Hometown Museum:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patty and Mike Peraza Keynote Speakers</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6S7sD9RRWskXpeMV_xb1wr29QyOKuYQQuQsRdIh4msF3IRQBX2GcEiddjbR4GjTD_kImm-oBcCQ_bGaZjh-fxqNZed8BPAvvseJFddi4qY48Hldww_Iznr5AeC6RvsaXUP1Y63ITcol-/s1600/72466920_10157154254433791_982406904909135872_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6S7sD9RRWskXpeMV_xb1wr29QyOKuYQQuQsRdIh4msF3IRQBX2GcEiddjbR4GjTD_kImm-oBcCQ_bGaZjh-fxqNZed8BPAvvseJFddi4qY48Hldww_Iznr5AeC6RvsaXUP1Y63ITcol-/s320/72466920_10157154254433791_982406904909135872_n.jpg" width="195" /></a><br />
We welcome you to the 3rd annual Dreaming Tree Gala, supporting and raising funds for the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. In 2019 we returned to beautiful Walt Disney World, to celebrate in the American Pavilion located in the heart of the EPCOT World Showcase. Our keynote speakers were Mike and Patty Peraza. It was a night filled with amazing Disney stories, surprise visits and of course spectacular fireworks.<br />
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For many of us, Patty and Mike Peraza’s film and television credits are the very foundation of our childhood. From The Fox and the Hound to TRON, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast… The Black Cauldron to DuckTales and Goof Troop, their unique talents at an animation desk helped expand our own youthful imaginations and given many of fond memories of our childhood.<br />
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On Sunday October 6, 2019, Mike and Patty combined their talents for a nostalgic night of hilarious, magical and warm reminiscences of 80 combined years at Disney, set in the stunning and majestic rotunda of the American Adventure Pavilion in EPCOT. Among the treats they shared was a wonderful documentary they created for the event entitled, "Walking in Walt's Footsteps". It combined many photos of Walt's life we had never seen before with new animated segments they drew that were delightful!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NWJfMyqlhmqYZ5PdUVcWnxkxjKTVndoZmZ1X5ZCCylgd_LXDw_lB1OeMCM8TCnmyHS-XViVAxApZYMgWSAteHT59XunqAIZnjcn0HmKrOgBP7B_nWA2WNgP7PEDD3Exeis5BASQRUtz0/s1600/73013987_10157183781788791_3401506367767314432_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1200" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NWJfMyqlhmqYZ5PdUVcWnxkxjKTVndoZmZ1X5ZCCylgd_LXDw_lB1OeMCM8TCnmyHS-XViVAxApZYMgWSAteHT59XunqAIZnjcn0HmKrOgBP7B_nWA2WNgP7PEDD3Exeis5BASQRUtz0/s320/73013987_10157183781788791_3401506367767314432_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Imagineering" documentary by the Peraza's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69deld37ZXUzVfVVsFG0IBd0zfm71uaSlCkSmmBnxo983X4y49IKl9KhpdqLQdtXNSqaGswl0izTuE3GR4zPFf9JMrFQgtSAfpHE66ENQJjVAOtd-l_m2qH5lgnGSnjFDMOSSuWdft7_G/s1600/72164483_10157150250248791_8462627573753446400_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1200" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69deld37ZXUzVfVVsFG0IBd0zfm71uaSlCkSmmBnxo983X4y49IKl9KhpdqLQdtXNSqaGswl0izTuE3GR4zPFf9JMrFQgtSAfpHE66ENQJjVAOtd-l_m2qH5lgnGSnjFDMOSSuWdft7_G/s320/72164483_10157150250248791_8462627573753446400_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Patty on stage at the American Adventure Rotunda</td></tr>
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Walt Level Table guests were treated to a private pre-gala cocktail party set on the shores of World Showcase Lagoon. Then we returned to the rotunda to enjoy Mike and Patty's talk. We enjoyed their reminiscences and photos from their films and park work over 40 years. They also included a peek at the "Imagineering" documentary they have been working on and other exciting projects. <br /><br />After dinner all of our guests retired to the stunning Italy Isola for a private viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Located in the Italy Pavilion, Italy Isola can be reached
by crossing over a grand staircase that matches the beautiful
architecture of the piazza. This private, exclusive area allows
attendees to overlook the World Showcase Lagoon and enjoy a magical
evening under the stars.<br />
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We love being spoiled by our friends at Walt Disney World, and we were very excited to return to Florida for the second time in our brief gala history. Disney knows how to do things right!<br />
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<br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-7732539880460379452017-08-15T14:52:00.000-07:002017-08-15T14:52:53.487-07:00Bugs Bunny Turns 75!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVQgAt7BGs-Bhc0nEcNoNZhm597gWItnlbfy8eiQ1Gi6GAk7JxiWXDVQp3cUrcXEE9LsENT-pDn1nl-aq-vkBPl3q4MGTaEC1_zDgqr-P4wNZT_rWSVHwgUasYuFGuOFDTQcz0yLEZfaD/s1600/Bugs+75+PRxxxx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVQgAt7BGs-Bhc0nEcNoNZhm597gWItnlbfy8eiQ1Gi6GAk7JxiWXDVQp3cUrcXEE9LsENT-pDn1nl-aq-vkBPl3q4MGTaEC1_zDgqr-P4wNZT_rWSVHwgUasYuFGuOFDTQcz0yLEZfaD/s320/Bugs+75+PRxxxx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Working in the field of animation means you'll most likely have the opportunity to work for a few studios. The upshot of that of course, well besides staying employed, is that you'll get to experience much more diversity in styles, story telling and even subject matter. Plus you get to meet lots of different people. I've enjoyed working for the Walt Disney Studio for many years but also found happiness creating for Warner Brothers, Don Bluth Studios, MGM, ILM, Lucasfilm and others.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrP3uT_mWRNmNcOuyXJP-hM_CyHdBVj66AQ543H9aKTzwrD6yeilrZ0fEpGqLU_uNsnr1QhlEYJxlvtrCpRRzW_hNCfiozTq2ts478w_oP1b9xDCAA4bJCl6h6E8mWxoXD_dGbJZdkTtiU/s1600/150px-Mel_Blanc_-_1959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrP3uT_mWRNmNcOuyXJP-hM_CyHdBVj66AQ543H9aKTzwrD6yeilrZ0fEpGqLU_uNsnr1QhlEYJxlvtrCpRRzW_hNCfiozTq2ts478w_oP1b9xDCAA4bJCl6h6E8mWxoXD_dGbJZdkTtiU/s1600/150px-Mel_Blanc_-_1959.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs</span></td></tr>
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I was asked to create an illustration to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Bugs Bunny. What Mickey Mouse is to Disney, Bugs Bunny certainly fills the same role for Warner Brothers. As in most animated characters, Bugs was not the sole creation of any one person but rather developed by a few key people while appearing in shorts, one of the earliest being "Porky's Hare Hunt" directed by Ben "Bugs" Hardaway in 1938. <br />
Mel Blanc gave the hare a voice and his wise acre delivery was somewhat inspired by Groucho Marx.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0ViT3LAhYF6lcpfaGtjps9TgoqznsI7jDy1PSB4MKxxVajnrL1nZoQBNQr6JRheC43qSj84jDk1oBv_PsX_w1EGrnODN8X7HIKtpE9pD9cIG3bN_ptBWDm-W9E4Ccil9jP7yRlu8NKpF/s1600/220px-FirstBugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0ViT3LAhYF6lcpfaGtjps9TgoqznsI7jDy1PSB4MKxxVajnrL1nZoQBNQr6JRheC43qSj84jDk1oBv_PsX_w1EGrnODN8X7HIKtpE9pD9cIG3bN_ptBWDm-W9E4Ccil9jP7yRlu8NKpF/s1600/220px-FirstBugs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Bugs' first appearance in </span><i style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wild_Hare" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="A Wild Hare">A Wild Hare</a></i><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"> (1940).</span></td></tr>
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It may not have been the first but "A Wild Hare" directed by Tex Avery and released in 1940 is widely regarded as the first official Bugs Bunny cartoon. This short also heard Bugs utter for the first time his immortal line," Ehh... what's up Doc?" It was also honored with a nomination for Best Cartoon Short Subject the same year.<br />
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<br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-90570410439322412412017-06-29T08:55:00.000-07:002023-12-18T13:12:05.390-08:00DuckTales 30th Anniversary!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R-5LkAUx34O9J2VIFRR7Ka108LDr3HaXUMBTsq_vgxEA3-9OsHSUkZZzRtTICTeLcDbzslHgRxd4mhskWK79rWZtrkzeLQ8ApVhUgZcmUQ7XPmUIrmWl50mmmaHRrSmQcCq8gxfKtq-W/s1600/DuckTales_D23_facebook_Peraza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R-5LkAUx34O9J2VIFRR7Ka108LDr3HaXUMBTsq_vgxEA3-9OsHSUkZZzRtTICTeLcDbzslHgRxd4mhskWK79rWZtrkzeLQ8ApVhUgZcmUQ7XPmUIrmWl50mmmaHRrSmQcCq8gxfKtq-W/s640/DuckTales_D23_facebook_Peraza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>D23</b> is the biggest Disney fan event of the year and eagerly awaited by fans around the world. For this year’s 2017 event, I did a tribute illustration to a series that I had a key role in bringing to the small (<i>and big</i>) screen, <i><b><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/DuckTales" target="_blank">DuckTales</a></b></i>. You can click on this <a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/DuckTales" target="_blank">link</a> to read behind the scenes of the original series and see a little of the concept art I created for it along with stories of its creation and fabulous and very talented crew I was fortunate to work with.<br />
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This summer when <b>D23</b> erupts, <b>Disney Television Animation</b> will be unveiling a new version of <b><i>DuckTales</i></b> while at the same time celebrating the <b>30th Anniversary</b> of the beloved series that is credited with being the very cornerstone of the <b>Disney Afternoon</b>. Has it really been that long? Well, in one word, <i>yes</i>! WOO HOO!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyj8igG05_2Yq6hUfwyijmwwZegSgjecstZ4FXufPactjNeSSVq69K3xMeiU6rddM-LmnvxKc4C1dgjYgS6xeguXO4nlGxts5-Y-WVAKL_lN9pBIEIrwG9puz7X1TX75ZF_h4TQaiiOCU/s1600/cork+board+ducktales+egypt+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="800" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyj8igG05_2Yq6hUfwyijmwwZegSgjecstZ4FXufPactjNeSSVq69K3xMeiU6rddM-LmnvxKc4C1dgjYgS6xeguXO4nlGxts5-Y-WVAKL_lN9pBIEIrwG9puz7X1TX75ZF_h4TQaiiOCU/s400/cork+board+ducktales+egypt+WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All in a day's work for me back in the 80s</td></tr>
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<b>Marc Buhaj</b>, Senior Vice President Programming at Disney XD had made the announcement a couple of years ago that a new series based on the late 1980s hit show would be coming to TV in 2017. Well here we are finally and the newest version is set to travel on more amazing adventures. It will include the same beloved characters from our old series including <i>Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Launchpad, Donald Duck, Gyro Gearloose, Magica DeSpell, Ma Beagle </i>and her boys and all the rest of the Disney denizens of <b>Duckburg</b>.<br />
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Boy do I wish we had the digital tools back in the day when we cranked out the old series. In those days it was strictly the <i>"3 P's </i>", <b><i>paper, pencil and paint!</i></b> Oh the things we could have done with a Cintiq during the limited time we were allowed for the shows! Oh well, those bells and whistles can now be appreciated with the latest incarnation that will be exploding across small screens this summer. I can only wish the new crew the best and hope they achieve as much success and appreciation among the fans with their reboot as we were able to enjoy with the original series. Both crews, old and new were and are incredibly talented!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhKxwmOwOAl8dKSlYsHBWdBC4G4cNFHIZ6ulh5BNueDPAM4jCGi-CAzVKWYnCjtvSpb8z5Ti1x6gKBGReAVvYSQhAY0VOb97IGyTcDgYucaAy1hN6s4BaSFp7RowRBV4bzuoTr8GIS7YZ/s1600/scrooge_family_fireplace_web_nomatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhKxwmOwOAl8dKSlYsHBWdBC4G4cNFHIZ6ulh5BNueDPAM4jCGi-CAzVKWYnCjtvSpb8z5Ti1x6gKBGReAVvYSQhAY0VOb97IGyTcDgYucaAy1hN6s4BaSFp7RowRBV4bzuoTr8GIS7YZ/s320/scrooge_family_fireplace_web_nomatt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/DuckTales" target="_blank">One of my old concept pieces for the original series</a></td></tr>
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For the original series, there were definite changes in the character design along with the look of the backgrounds. I didn’t use <b>Carl Bark’s</b> look of the McDuck Mansion which was simply laid out as more rectangular, and decided to design a sprawling country manor home with helio-port, swimming pool and so on. I naturally incorporated the dollar sign motif into everything I could think of while design those areas to celebrate McDuck's love of money. I was very apprehensive when I ran these designs by Carl to get his feedback. To my relief he laughed and though they were great. He said, “<i>I wish I had thought of that!”</i> Of course he was being humble as <b><i>he</i></b> was the man who had created the entire realm of Duckburg, it’s citizens their exciting adventures and I was just giving my take on some revisions for some key locations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWFXSJ1fwdolQA4aRp4hZi5Ig7MR7w7Jz4Cae8hZ4F8VcsIaJHum3ksBsfZBh0CNJmNO3Wa6HD9HbscICUl8YjQIOR53_kYxcXzJ6bSM1AbUM12YP56oEtf9U6fPC3vwlwOYXtBN1xsOz/s1600/j7dnya0snemges41laxa.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWFXSJ1fwdolQA4aRp4hZi5Ig7MR7w7Jz4Cae8hZ4F8VcsIaJHum3ksBsfZBh0CNJmNO3Wa6HD9HbscICUl8YjQIOR53_kYxcXzJ6bSM1AbUM12YP56oEtf9U6fPC3vwlwOYXtBN1xsOz/s320/j7dnya0snemges41laxa.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new crew of DuckTales</td></tr>
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Nevertheless I know I actually blushed with that compliment as it was from the master himself. There would not have been a DuckTales series or a reboot if not for Carl and his comics creation.<br />
For the record, (I know there is discussion among DuckTales fans about it) Carl actually really enjoyed the first season of the animated series. I can share that viewpoint because that is what he told me. All of our artistic endeavors went through the talented hands of <b>Brad Landreth</b>, great friend and head Art Director of the series.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><b>Frank Angones</b> and <b>Matt Youngberg</b> share the Co-Producers hats along with shepherding storylines to make sure the new <b>DuckTales</b> does its lineage proud. From what I’ve seen, it does exactly that!</span>While the old characters from the original show were constructed in the traditional rounded shapes, the new versions are made up of more straights and sharper edges which is a very interesting departure and will definitely be a fresh take. <b>Tim Moen</b> is one of the key artists heading up character design on the show and is part of the extremely talented crew. When the studio invited me over to see the early design look for the new version, it was still being fleshed out within a fairly slightly grayed color scheme.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg56mTtZ6hmXhVDEepTr3SPb8uswe_0qXT86zZYmF4CZfFRkxYUKQb86_rzp9qSE1lMqjnLutf7HUUxV90Y215DCH_SHzQArtHdNG1heocdgGaghl_ZAEfcp0SHtLNOH5IZuCuHXtvdBo/s1600/DuckTales+beak2beak+WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg56mTtZ6hmXhVDEepTr3SPb8uswe_0qXT86zZYmF4CZfFRkxYUKQb86_rzp9qSE1lMqjnLutf7HUUxV90Y215DCH_SHzQArtHdNG1heocdgGaghl_ZAEfcp0SHtLNOH5IZuCuHXtvdBo/s400/DuckTales+beak2beak+WEB.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 30th Anniversary piece sold out the 1st Day!</td></tr>
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Since then, the palette was pushed slightly more into a realm of saturation by its brilliant art director <b>Sean Jimenez</b> and I think it really helped breathe more life into the cool settings. The backgrounds are simplified in their design compared to the original series and use a linear floating line over underlying swatches of subdued hues with crisp dynamic shapes. Together with the spunky character styling this is certainly a fresh new look for the old series and I applaud them for trying something so bold and dynamic.</div>
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For my tribute piece, I wanted the <a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/DuckTales" target="_blank">old original cast</a> that I had worked on headed up by their fearless leader <b>Uncle Scrooge</b> to be rounding an old winding stairwell and coming face to face, er… make that <b><i>beak to beak</i></b>, with their mirror images of the new reboot of the series.You can see a small closeup snippet of my new painting on the left showcasing a few of the original members who have just come across something that has taken their breath away and stopped them cold in their tracks. That something is of course their <i>duck dopplegangers</i>. The new painting was unveiled this summer at <b>D23</b> to coincide with the new series. I had hoped the old fans as well as the new fans would enjoy my painting as the tribute it is meant to be to the old and the new and was happily surprised.The original painting, all of the giclee framed prints and the entire run of deluxe prints sold out the very first day they were offered at D23! WOO HOO!!</div>
mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-41502700095194975122017-06-28T15:39:00.000-07:002017-06-28T15:42:04.396-07:00"A Pirates Life for Me!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <b><i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i></b> attraction at <b>Disneyland</b> is so well known and enjoyed by the millions who have adventured through its caverns that its almost impossible to even imagine the park without it. The fact is that the pirates didn’t hoist their sails or stow their gear until eleven years after Disneyland opened it’s gates and lowered the castle drawbridge.</div>
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<b>Marty Sklar</b>, Disney Legend and former Principle Creative Exec at Walt Disney Imagineering admitted that it had originally been planned as a fairly modest walk through with wax figures donning the pirate garb. However when the popularity of the Disney projects at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair proved many of the new innovations his team had pioneered, Walt scrapped the old concept in favor of something much grander in scale. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc Davis and Walt share a laugh</td></tr>
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You landlubbers might be surprised to learn that the success of the boat vehicles of It’s a Small World at the fair directly affected the Pirates ride and became the transportation method of choice. it was a way of directing the guests towards each tableau and keeping things running on a time schedule so they could move guests through without prodding.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yale tides up a Pirate</td></tr>
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Another Fair attraction that influenced Pirates was the audioanimatronic magic of Great Moments with Mr. Linclon. When it was decided to scrap the wax figure idea in favor of the emerging field of animatronics, a few of the Imagineers wanted to lean towards a more caricatures and cartoony look. Walt immediately vetoed that suggestion and told them to go for the more natural appearance of Lincoln for an example. “It’s all about breathing life into these characters”, he explained to his team.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMsvymxdynpwj0tvnWxUDcYW6Oich63-wUDD_EWmjtuTeDq7U_R_hilDzY7x0zC2voFrhAPD-PMk6cSUk6L7xqK3zKobdPPEG0JcgZx6xKYWrTBFs6UofewCd1XpLiABNSRVuoB-GKLO6/s1600/pirates_construction_mike_peraza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMsvymxdynpwj0tvnWxUDcYW6Oich63-wUDD_EWmjtuTeDq7U_R_hilDzY7x0zC2voFrhAPD-PMk6cSUk6L7xqK3zKobdPPEG0JcgZx6xKYWrTBFs6UofewCd1XpLiABNSRVuoB-GKLO6/s200/pirates_construction_mike_peraza.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Francis Xavier Atencio</b>, or "X" as we call him, wrote the legendary lyrics with music by George Bruns that became a theme song for the attraction, <i><b>"A Pirates Life for Me!" </b></i>You also might recognize X's voice as the talking skull that greets the guests before the plumes down their first waterfall which he also penned.</div>
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Imagineer <b>Yale Gracey</b> (and former Donald Duck unit head of Layout under director <b>Jack Hannah</b>). Yale created the astounding effect for the fire sequence. It was so realistic the Anaheim Fire Department was hesitant to approve it fearing the guests would panic at the frightening sight. Marty Sklar recalls with a laugh, “We had to convince them it wasn’t real.”<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claude Coats "Onsite Art Director"</td></tr>
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Another spooky tidbit for you Pirates fans. Did you know that Walt and the Imagineers were disappointed with the skeleton characters that were originally set to be installed in the attraction? In his book Pirates of the Caribbean:From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, Disney Producer Jason Surrell elaborated on the tale. They were so upset that the faux skeletons were , <i>"just too unconvincing"</i> that they contacted <b>UCLA Medical Center</b> to <i>"borrow"</i> some boney bodies from the anatomy Department. Over the years as sculpting and casting methods improved most of the real skeletons were replaced by the newly cast ones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Skull"-duggery on display</td></tr>
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However there are still reported to be a few of the real variety "<i>skull</i>"-king around the ride. Of the many reports they seem to be whittled down to these: two skulls on the sand bar after the second waterfall and a skull and crossbones adorning the headboard of a bed. They are darker and more realistically aged than the other skulls. The main evidence cited is the extra details inside the skulls and around the nose not to mention the very teeth themselves.<br />
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<b>ARRGGH</b>, and yes maties, political correctness creeped in to the Pirates attraction as it has into so many creative crevices in our country. In the 1990's some bitterly lonely folks berated the company for having those dastardly pirates chasing wenches, er... I mean women. So the company buckled and turned the tables with women chasing the poor pirates. So I guess stealing loot, attempted murder, drunk and disorderly and wide scale arson are OK but don't you dare chase the fair ladies! Lucky for Walt the political correctness police hadn't corrupted an innocent and entertaining expression of historically hilarious fun back in his day. <b>X Atencio</b> heard about these ridiculous changes and now refers to the ride as "<i>Boy Scouts of the Caribbean</i>."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUfpSJ4jfvHQPaoTJYuf5lE4b-Ze2ESVoHtn13T3NOAlTLaH4x9AoLNfpye-0dFFXPNTbGCjtkBccqxkDBPJ-jPY0wIV6CesfzQ9g223MQoA03Hs5FX-5sVLcWuZuJhbGBXS2m6idmYBj/s1600/RetroPirate_digital2paint04_11_17Jflat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUfpSJ4jfvHQPaoTJYuf5lE4b-Ze2ESVoHtn13T3NOAlTLaH4x9AoLNfpye-0dFFXPNTbGCjtkBccqxkDBPJ-jPY0wIV6CesfzQ9g223MQoA03Hs5FX-5sVLcWuZuJhbGBXS2m6idmYBj/s200/RetroPirate_digital2paint04_11_17Jflat.jpg" width="132" /></a>I was very fortunate to know and in some case work with many of the key Imagineers that created the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. These include <b>Marc Davis</b>, (<i>wife</i>) <b>Alice Davis</b>, <b>Claude Coats, Herbie Ryman, X Atencio, Yale Gracey</b> and others so writing this post has been a combination of happy nostalgia mixed with sadness that except for Alice they are gone, but a realization that I was fortunate to at least have had them for friends.<br />
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So here we are, 50 years later. I was asked to do a tribute piece for the attraction that was in the same vein of my <a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2014/07/haunted-mansions-45th-anniversary.html" target="_blank">Haunted Mansion</a> piece that earlier celebrated its anniversary. So I created a “<i>sister</i>” piece that is in the retro styling I seem to be somewhat known for in some circles. The tough part for me was attempting to narrow down so many wonderful experiences from the ride into a smaller number that could fit on one poster. I knew I wanted to use a warm theme after all, there’s always some drunken pirate yelling out <i>“we wants the redhead”</i>. I kept the guests in a cocoon of cool colors to keep them separate from the world of pirate make believe. I hope ye like it ya bloomin cockroach and if yer ship docks at D23, pick one up for yer booty an' stop by me station and I'll be a happy to sign it, arrgghh!</div>
mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-62514634237131291802017-03-11T22:51:00.004-08:002017-04-01T12:06:53.944-07:00"It's a Small World After All"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting the "Blues" while listening to them.</td></tr>
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To celebrate the famous attraction's 50th Anniversary, I decided to create a painting in my retro style as an artistic acknowledgment to the time period in which it opened in 1967, well at the Disneyland location anyway. I wanted to show the iconic facade with a nod to the famous balloon motif along with the streamlined boat filled with happy guests.</div>
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The familiar tune is famous the world over and whether it recalls the colorful attraction at <b><i>Disneyland</i></b> or simply the arrival of a local neighborhood ice cream truck, it elicits smiles from children young and old. The original creation was devised at the <b><i>Walt Disney Studios</i></b> and over at its sister studio <b>WED </b>and here's some of the backstory.<br />
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The destination was to be the <b><i>1964 World’s Fair in New York</i></b>. A major soft drink company, <b><i>Pepsi-Cola</i></b> had wanted a major attraction at the fair but the board of directors argued over what exactly that would be. Board member and actress <b><i>Joan Crawford</i></b> who had recently been widowed by the former president of the company called upon her Hollywood friend, <b><i>Walt Disney</i></b>, to help them out. Pepsi execs jumped at the chance and traveled to California in February of 1963 and ran into "Admiral" <b><i>Joe Fowler </i></b>who was the construction honcho for <b><i>Disneyland</i></b>. He informed the disappointed Pepsi execs that they (Disney) were already working on 3 previously committed attractions and because it was less than a year left couldn't possibly take on another. Walt found out and from all accounts he hit the roof. (There's reportedly still a dent there, the roof, not Walt). Anyway he told Joe and the rest, <i>"<b>I'll make those decisions! Tell Pepsi I'll do it!"</b></i><b> </b> Walt explained that they were never going to be too busy for a great opportunity like this to showcase what the Disney company could create. You have to watch those kinds of missteps or you can be demoted from an admiral to seaman in one quick cut.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Mary Blair's lovely concepts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Installation at World's Fair</td></tr>
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Walt was well aware that he had already committed his talented team of Imagineers to projects for the <b><i>State of Illinois</i></b>, <b><i>General Electric</i></b> and <b><i>Kodak </i></b>but was still game for the challenge. Walt commissioned a feasibility study but everyone involved already knew it was a done deal. The challenge was that they had to deliver the completed pavilion in only 11 months, yes I said it, <b>ELEVEN MONTHS</b> people! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening Day with Walt and kids </td></tr>
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<b><i>Joan Crawford</i></b> then dictated to the board that they would accept Walt Disney’s proposal no matter what he presented. Because of the short lead time to come up with a concept and construct the attraction. Disneyland was about to celebrate its wildly successful first decade so the man obviously knew what he was doing and had the right people to back up his dreams. Some of the most talented Imagineers from WED pitched in to make the last minute attraction a reality. <b><i>Mary Blair,</i></b> one of the key creative concept people (and one of my favorites!) at the studio in the 1940s through the 1950s had left to work on her own. Walt asked her to come back and lend her talents to the attraction and she was happy to oblige. The Small World dream team included <b><i>Marc Davis</i></b> one of the 9 old men and his lovely wife <b><i>Alice Davis</i></b> who designed the costumes for the dolls. <b><i>Claude Coats</i></b> came up with additional color studies. <b><i>Rolly Crump</i></b> came up with inside toys and eventually the outdoor display named Tower of the Four Winds. <b><i>Blain Gibso</i></b>n was charged with sculpting the doll faces.</div>
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The attraction was originally called <b><i>“Children of the World”</i></b>. Walt was immersed in a “walk thru” of the model settings with a couple of his song writers, the <b><i>Sherman Brothers</i></b>. During the visit, he told them he needed, <b><i>“… ONE song that can be easily translated and be played as a round”.</i></b> For those reading this unfamiliar with the term “<i>round</i>” think back to your early school days when your class was divided into groups singing different sections of “Row, row, row your boat.” The song the brothers came up with was so memorable that they even changed the attraction's name to, you guessed it, <b><i>"It's a Small World."</i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marc's audioanimatronic sketches</td></tr>
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The married team of Marc and Alice Davis supplied a One-Two punch of creativity. Marc designed many of the various lands within the attraction while Walt personally asked Alice to oversee the costumes. Have you ever counted the doll population in Small World? Well someone did, and it's over 300! That's a sizable group which translates to quite a few colorful and culturally accurate fashions from around the world thanks in large part to Alice Davis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsLaLzgfD3RFRUYx88UxNm4_HtyD2zkaH8OXGZhs9PwX8WQkzvL1qB7zY3bfOmKsA4bnsyWKPjP9zqG0zTlLf3E3ezmU94IbYnKFsJ_h9x8KWDSYuucO5k7HovSRu_IiLD8cwHZoBJPJZ/s1600/Alice+Davis_Mike+Peraza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsLaLzgfD3RFRUYx88UxNm4_HtyD2zkaH8OXGZhs9PwX8WQkzvL1qB7zY3bfOmKsA4bnsyWKPjP9zqG0zTlLf3E3ezmU94IbYnKFsJ_h9x8KWDSYuucO5k7HovSRu_IiLD8cwHZoBJPJZ/s200/Alice+Davis_Mike+Peraza.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Davis sizes up doll</td></tr>
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Over 90 percent of the guests of the 1964 World's Fair the opening year made it their mission to attend "It's a Small World." For some reason even though Pepsi was the sponsor of the original attraction, when it migrated to Disneyland, <b><i>Bank of America</i></b>, one of the key backers of the park took over the steering rudder by taking over sponsorship of the <b><i>"happiest cruise that ever sailed."</i></b><br />
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Sadly Rolly Crump's marvelous <b><i>"Tower of the Four Winds"</i></b> didn't join the move to Anaheim. It was replaced by another of his crafty and creative concoctions of a 30 foot clock centered within a facade based on Mary Blair's styling that symbolized structures and shapes from around the world. The guests in line, along with those in the loading area get to watch the toy soldiers trumpet the parade of dolls every quarter hour. So if it's a very crowded day, well, you're going to get to enjoy that parade over... <i>and over.</i>.. <i>and over</i>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating 50 Years of the Happiest Cruise that ever Sailed!</td></tr>
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As per Walt's vision the imagineers kept attempting to improve on what was there. They added visual imagery projected onto the facade set to music that even included surprised gusts in the audience that very day. Imagine looking up and seeing a closeup of Aunt Mildred bigger than life on the Small World facade devouring her third delicious Dole Whip? Yikes!<br />
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From January to November 2008 they dry-docked the happy little cruise while the fiberglass boats were replaced by a more durable plastic body. The water propulsion was upgraded to smoother and more powerful electric water jet turbines. Other additions have included installing characters from Disney films within the lands such as Alice, Lilo, Stitch and even Woody numbering 29 new characters in all. It has been argued (quite successfully) that the them song, <b>"<i>It's a Small World</i>"</b> is the single most performed and translated piece of music on Earth. I was even told by no less an authority of the Sherman Brothers themselves that somewhere in the world, it's being played at this moment. I believe it, and have to thank Walt and his talented team of imagineers for one of the most magical and memorable of all Disney attractions! <b><i>Happy 50th SMALL WORLD!</i></b></div>
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mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-8386756876292518572017-03-08T08:50:00.000-08:002020-01-02T20:17:01.242-08:00Disney Cruise Line Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disney Cruise collectible artwork</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The maiden voyage for the beautiful <b><i>Disney Magic</i></b> ship was July 30, 1988. This ship has astounded its guests with beautiful views from the exquisite staterooms to the magnificent Grand Atrium Lobby which guests enjoy when they first enter the ship. Yep that is a big'n as we say down south. As impressive as it is on the outside, the interior is breathtaking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Each Inside stateroom has a "virtual" porthole showing rolling waves and Disney characters swimming by all in HD. And you won't guess the next item. One of the most popular features is the first ever water roller coaster at sea - the <b><i>Aqua Duck</i></b> is 250 yards of transparent tubing that sends guests soaring over the top decks and at one point - over the ocean! Donald Duck may have had something to do with this inventive aqua adventure.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Aqua Duck overhanging one of the many spas </td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When I was approached by Disney to create artwork for the Cruise line I first asked about the ports of call. After discovering that it visited the Caribbean I had my theme! I painted the pieces in gouache just as we used to back at <b><i>Disney Studios</i></b> from <b><i>Pinocchio</i></b> of the 1930s and on into <b><i>Rescuers</i></b> of the 1970s. Well they did sneak in some oil paint for <b><i>Bambi</i></b> but that my friends is as they say another story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>Mickey Mouse</i></b> and <b><i>Minnie Mouse</i></b> were my obvious choice of a happy couple enjoying a cruise together. I used a palette of tropical colors to give the settings a bright colorful feel that would remind the guests of their wonderful vacations on the Disney Dream while down in the Caribbean. I then requested the Disney framers use bamboo motifs as the framing element to finish it off. Left to right are: <i><b>Cruise the Caribbean, Running Through the Waves</b></i>, and<b><i> Tubing Offshore</i></b>. I sincerely hope you like all three of them.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disney Cruiseline limited edition art</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The <b><i>Disney Magic</i></b> offers the latest designs in contemporary staterooms, elegant restaurants, and fabulous entertainment. In addition to the kids' clubs, there are nightclubs and lounges, as well as theaters for movies and live shows. And don't forget the artwork. Bon voyage!</span></div>
mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-79657339735590636352017-02-06T16:30:00.003-08:002020-01-01T14:55:16.606-08:00"A Lifetime of Achievement"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECga-vuiIOYwD-ZfuMzatKz6a9QjbjLpVQN8fphnAaA3inGSdRUp0Bhfbj_BXNzSJSLRxXyYkLkL8ZHnQBQbof4GcNo2cxPoSVbqr_aNV5LrrKzeB4UEsKyImda53Ytmidl1MT55THMhj/s1600/disney+awards+book_cover_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECga-vuiIOYwD-ZfuMzatKz6a9QjbjLpVQN8fphnAaA3inGSdRUp0Bhfbj_BXNzSJSLRxXyYkLkL8ZHnQBQbof4GcNo2cxPoSVbqr_aNV5LrrKzeB4UEsKyImda53Ytmidl1MT55THMhj/s400/disney+awards+book_cover_WEB.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disney Award Book cover Mike Peraza</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's the early press release for a book about the awards presented to Walt Disney over his lifetime:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>" Walt Disney</b> received over six-hundred personal awards and honors over the course of his amazing life. The accolades were given by a wide variety of private and public organizations as well as governments from around the world. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Besides being recognized for his contributions to the field of entertainment, Walt Disney was also acknowledged for his innumerable contributions to public service, the environment, education, and technology. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walt receives special award for Snow White</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A Lifetime of Achievement</b></i><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by author David Lesjak, chronicles all of Walt’s myriad collection awards and goes into depth describing the reasons he received each one. The awards are portrayed throughout the volume in photographs, some of which have not seen the light of day in decades. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book, with amazing cover art by renowned Disney artist <b>Mike Peraza</b>, will be available for purchase in the Fall of 2017 through <b>Amazon</b> and the publisher, <b>Theme Park Press</b>."</span></span></span>mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-35274741394139458672016-07-25T20:32:00.003-07:002016-07-25T20:32:20.698-07:00Walt's Birthplace!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSSuJBgXlZfUEMoXhCi3Hvtz5CmEgZOosUY9DS-OoreCGAMN9-z4DFWb4qqug_68XfdEucge36fs_2stWVomCTj5r1bu4bA0c7wEm8QAgom2IHxZ9xNsKqJ0RJmc76Wvaxv8vj2a3DGaF/s1600/walt_FDisney_birthplace+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSSuJBgXlZfUEMoXhCi3Hvtz5CmEgZOosUY9DS-OoreCGAMN9-z4DFWb4qqug_68XfdEucge36fs_2stWVomCTj5r1bu4bA0c7wEm8QAgom2IHxZ9xNsKqJ0RJmc76Wvaxv8vj2a3DGaF/s640/walt_FDisney_birthplace+banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lEchvTmV7s-WldhDsw2oKwcv4j1dMi0Mv91-GHXGaER_9u2g7odcT20JaANcxOwPrAgIRTPVQVH7sai17DJJ0Q41nHbQ3cAqrZ07voTjec9BB2yavOIQ74M5VZb4GuM258JNd_bCW5hu/s1600/Flora_and_Elias_Disney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lEchvTmV7s-WldhDsw2oKwcv4j1dMi0Mv91-GHXGaER_9u2g7odcT20JaANcxOwPrAgIRTPVQVH7sai17DJJ0Q41nHbQ3cAqrZ07voTjec9BB2yavOIQ74M5VZb4GuM258JNd_bCW5hu/s200/Flora_and_Elias_Disney.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flora and Elias Disney</td></tr>
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In the late 1800's<b>, Elias Disney</b> and his wife <b>Flora</b> decided to put down roots in Chicago and build a home for their growing family of two sons. The family gained two more boys, Roy on June 24, 1893, <b>Walt</b> on <b>December 5, 1901</b> and a daughter Ruth on December 6, 1903. Eventually Elias sold the property when the family moved on to Marceline, Missouri.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtqQZZEG9dliuP6H7dwhjFdVVoY1aB0TGZZte5GAYsgVhr2j0VyMvBkezdG_KprdY6X9e_YA_7_PTYNGwQ1uMU3IHJ18Y0w-gzwdeq1Dbo3mzOJOnQd7AsnPHQbU6pdInOPmCbhn-ZM_T/s1600/dina+brent+truman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtqQZZEG9dliuP6H7dwhjFdVVoY1aB0TGZZte5GAYsgVhr2j0VyMvBkezdG_KprdY6X9e_YA_7_PTYNGwQ1uMU3IHJ18Y0w-gzwdeq1Dbo3mzOJOnQd7AsnPHQbU6pdInOPmCbhn-ZM_T/s200/dina+brent+truman.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dina, Truman and Brent</td></tr>
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The property went through various owners and was about to be placed on the chopping block until purchased by Dina Brenadon and Brent Young. This wonderful couple are making it their mission to restore the home to it’s former 1901 appearance and to protect it there after as a historical landmark that will be enjoyed by the public.</div>
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Patty and I were invited up to join the festivities surrounding <b>Roy Disney’s</b> birthday and take to part in a “Creativity Days” event at the birthplace of Walt Disney. Dick Van Dyke and his lovely and talented wife Arlene would also be there to liven the celebration so we had to say yes. Todd could invite us to an earthquake and I would probably still say yes, he's that nice of a person.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOUm_sTs1SbXUqGHk3N5dqKSLtUffLJsmlwAZFseUCW8cYoCT6TsCmi1nsxJBF0jNTIrMfH6822Oh_TCiKMb5b4VSIkyaGzXaYJDP1ipn7EX3efw5uc5MUSMAN0c1DwdFlDwKhKacP9CL/s1600/ls+house+mike_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOUm_sTs1SbXUqGHk3N5dqKSLtUffLJsmlwAZFseUCW8cYoCT6TsCmi1nsxJBF0jNTIrMfH6822Oh_TCiKMb5b4VSIkyaGzXaYJDP1ipn7EX3efw5uc5MUSMAN0c1DwdFlDwKhKacP9CL/s200/ls+house+mike_WEB.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All we needed was a <br />
blank sidewalk</td></tr>
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Since Dick was going to be there, I decided it would be fun to don his movie costume (albeit an enlarged version) as the sidewalk artist from Mary Poppins. Todd liked the idea so Patty and I arrived at Walt’s home early in the morning before anyone was scheduled to show up and got out the chalk. It didn’t take long though before neighborhood folks started gathering to see what we were doing on the sidewalk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23NT7OhsDCAFdktAdKJ4Sr0jQzwNa-eL0ZIlhLDa7lO6kJjuEQTW7w_JPuRqZpQzHQAFtNcqlGhcp5hKncr_O-gkIDd8JLqn3f4r7iD_gejo12SbvTfXkUIWsklx2OsaW5LJAivHbN4ww/s1600/patty+sidewalk+artist_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23NT7OhsDCAFdktAdKJ4Sr0jQzwNa-eL0ZIlhLDa7lO6kJjuEQTW7w_JPuRqZpQzHQAFtNcqlGhcp5hKncr_O-gkIDd8JLqn3f4r7iD_gejo12SbvTfXkUIWsklx2OsaW5LJAivHbN4ww/s200/patty+sidewalk+artist_WEB.jpg" width="200" /></a>The pose of Mickey I designed was purposely sketched in an elongated perspective to be seen from a child’s view so that when they approached the home, it would appear that Mickey Mouse was actually rising in 3D from the sidewalk. I wanted Mickey to join in with the restoration of his "poppa's" place.<br />
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Now I was raised in the deep south and Patty is from the East coast so we're used to humidity but living for decades in Southern California has gotten us both used to what everyone calls, a "dry heat". To say it was humid is an understatement. (<i>It was so hot in Chicago that weekend that the cows were giving evaporated milk and the chickens were laying hard boiled eggs</i>). I had to be careful not to let my perspiration hit the chalk which made having “Bert’s” scarf a welcome sponge of an accessory to my sidewalk artist wardrobe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR3ccSoypOLVJPPSWYUC8pWimLu2dTpzReDvlcSe_qJfgI20F-Cesp1Y0HfElAiuFDbB6sbtQK1xK2ci0i9jH8wN2S53DVcJB6c_0VHdVV4fSBOOajCQQHkp-va6K5wkRj_jH02PHRm8U/s1600/13495073_10153934511028791_3535435434541664791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR3ccSoypOLVJPPSWYUC8pWimLu2dTpzReDvlcSe_qJfgI20F-Cesp1Y0HfElAiuFDbB6sbtQK1xK2ci0i9jH8wN2S53DVcJB6c_0VHdVV4fSBOOajCQQHkp-va6K5wkRj_jH02PHRm8U/s200/13495073_10153934511028791_3535435434541664791_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patty, Truman and Me (Bert's brother Ernie)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaAKcbrOG1HG9L9gcb4_dtowWrJHrK3WS2fkZTJtRzd19bd8yxpg2g50gWK3J6BSOLlTkUR6oCoBnaNVSwGzlgzNjOfFIzAkKqcTQs05sVjPukzkc-uMKGB4i_Qs-Cy0X3wp7zVazRgX1/s1600/SidewalkFinal_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaAKcbrOG1HG9L9gcb4_dtowWrJHrK3WS2fkZTJtRzd19bd8yxpg2g50gWK3J6BSOLlTkUR6oCoBnaNVSwGzlgzNjOfFIzAkKqcTQs05sVjPukzkc-uMKGB4i_Qs-Cy0X3wp7zVazRgX1/s200/SidewalkFinal_WEB.jpg" width="133" /></a>We weren't sure we would finish it before the crowds started showing up if we finished it at all. With my Disney animator wife Patty at my side or I should say at my "sidewalk", we both were able to complete it in plenty of time. It was a joy spending time with home owners Dina, Brent and their precocious son Truman who acted as my "supervisor" while I drew Mickey Mouse.<br />
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The crowd easily numbered over 1,000 and the smiles on the faces of those young and old made the entire weekend one filled with magic.<br />
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Dick soon showed up and the excitement grew as children were called up to place wishing stones they had each painted at the base of the newly planted tree in Walt's front yard.</div>
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The assembled group then treated everyone to a rousing chorus of <b><i>"Let's Go Fly A Kite"</i></b> as the children held up the kites they had made during the event. Dick's acapella group the Vantastix provided a strong backing to the community sing-a-long.<br />
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We were then driven over to the next event on the schedule and that included our meeting up close and personal, our favorite automobile in the world, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." Dick assured me that it gets better milage in the air than on the ground but nevertheless it was a treat to get behind the wheel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favorite people<br />
Dick Van Dyke.</td></tr>
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Later that evening we were entertained further by Dick, Arlene and the amazing acapella group, The Vantastix (which reminds me that yodeling is often a cry for Alp). Patty and I really enjoyed spending time that evening chatting with Dick and Arlene Van Dyke and sharing a few stories. We want to thank everyone who participated and who made this magical weekend possible: Todd, Lance, Dina, Brent, Truman, Dick, Arlene, Rey, Patty and so many others who contributed their time and passion.<br />
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Happy Birthday Roy!</div>
mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-60983199304529396282016-01-27T20:15:00.002-08:002016-01-28T17:51:34.075-08:00Happy Birthday Bill Peet!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqhyoWq3ua3wQ8RhH8Hjm6jp53L5Gl2JXzQ5WYYFhH4yA5aiKYARY_F7tnQFRawML_vXrhOahYk1kKJXsQc8-mdu4p68wHkZodpSc-8s9F-Xnr38BTUavtxpLjGicmjh0Xv7xM3XpAJ5K/s1600/bill_peet_banner_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqhyoWq3ua3wQ8RhH8Hjm6jp53L5Gl2JXzQ5WYYFhH4yA5aiKYARY_F7tnQFRawML_vXrhOahYk1kKJXsQc8-mdu4p68wHkZodpSc-8s9F-Xnr38BTUavtxpLjGicmjh0Xv7xM3XpAJ5K/s640/bill_peet_banner_WEB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill's (and mine) layout desk</td></tr>
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It’s a particular honor to pay tribute to hands down one of the greatest story men and concept artist ever to work at the <b>Walt Disney</b> Studio, <b>Bill Peet</b>. I met Bill a couple of times when he came to the studio in the 1970s to visit Don Griffith because he certainly wasn’t there to see a gangly little kid like me. However he always made me feel like part of the “gang” when he was around. We would go out to <b>“Sloppos”</b>, which was the nickname we all used for a Mexican Restaurant across from Warners that Don and many of his Disney compatriots used to haunt. It was unfortunately demolished and turned into a parking garage back in the 1980s.<br />
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Ironically, I met many of the "old guard" that were no longer working at Disney at restaurants like Sloppos than at the studio. You can bet when any of the Disney "vets" came visiting in the 1970s, they almost certainly made stopping by to say hello to <b>Don Griffith</b> an important stop. He was that kind of wonderful man.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill creating more magic</td></tr>
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I really enjoyed Bill and his colorful stories about the old days at Disney. He is also one of my biggest influences as to technique. I used to try to emulate his work, never knowing much about the artist who created them until Don shared some of his personal stories of Bill with me.<br />
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My love of working in charcoal was due directly to Bill and to a great friend and teacher Ken O’Connor. Don also clued me in about Bill’s vast library of children’s books he not only wrote but illustrated in the same lively style he had used for years at the mouse factory. If you don’t own any Bill Peet books, I suggest you make amends and buy an armload of em. Two of my favorite momentos from the old studio days are a couple of Bill's books personalized for Patty and I as birthday gifts by the master storyteller himself. If I can figure out a way to hang them without breaking the binding one day they'll be framed and up on one of the studio walls next to his other work.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Bill's stunning Song of the South story sketches</td></tr>
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<b>Eric Larson</b>, one of the 9 old men also shared his appreciation of Bill’s talent by allowing me to study the pastel and charcoal story sketches from <b>"Song of the South"</b> he had framed and hanging directly behind his chair in his office. One time when I dropped in on Eric he even offered in his chuckling voice, “Are you here to see ME Mike, or just look at my etchings?” meaning Bill’s sketches. If you study the little banner I made, you’ll see evidence of the immeasurable talent Bill had and the effect he poured into so many classic Disney films. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for the pitch!</td></tr>
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Bill himself enjoyed the fact that I was using HIS desk while working for <b>Don Griffith</b> in those days. Bill used a story desk in his early days but gravitated to the larger layout model in later years due to the built in cork board and extra shelving. I told him the trouble I had opening the drawers that seemed to be stuck. I pulled and pulled until finally the big one on the lower left flew open. Inside were over a hundred smashed story sketches from Alice to Junglebook. I had torn quite a few of them in the process of getting it open. When I took a handful of the sketches over in the next room to Don he told me who had drawn them. Over lunch Bill told me the rest of the story. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit1VT9Mx55b-tPVxePBzT7ncfxxUXdnuPp1n8Zn-bRBTETNo3XFtOYDP3RvZ6PDd4QOyzKxvXzDSz8V7qHw2Gk-Gtpiv1wN_aDNY-FnWR2uUYYYyfVsKsLyw9be4edGE5FxssSr4kgzHG/s1600/tumblr_mj28gmHFYT1rp6dxbo6_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit1VT9Mx55b-tPVxePBzT7ncfxxUXdnuPp1n8Zn-bRBTETNo3XFtOYDP3RvZ6PDd4QOyzKxvXzDSz8V7qHw2Gk-Gtpiv1wN_aDNY-FnWR2uUYYYyfVsKsLyw9be4edGE5FxssSr4kgzHG/s200/tumblr_mj28gmHFYT1rp6dxbo6_500.png" width="200" /></a>He had a falling out of sorts with Walt over some story development ideas on Jungle Book. It wasn’t the first time he had a disagreement with Uncle Walt but unfortunately it would be the last. Bill wasn't the type to mince words and he was in fine form on this day. It happened upstairs in Walt’s favorite sweatbox on the 3rd floor. It was on a Wednesday January 29, 1964. I was surprised Bill remembered the date but when he related that it happened on his birthday of all days it of course made sense. Of course Walt wasn’t the sort to back down to anyone and didn’t have to. Still, for this to happen on his birthday! Not the sort of gift one wants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0aI5HR0qgSBKjMrPD1J7W_coqbST800UKdFFyMe-5kOK5Xx7f5HoHpAli7j4heXUC8BEdJ1AMG2iSTukYsQDNfA3NLX_1FLz4Sd1z-T12IQT4NjGnEzg_2KvZF4FrCUqNCGt8KP3LnOj/s1600/6685.Gravy-Train-1.jpg-500x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0aI5HR0qgSBKjMrPD1J7W_coqbST800UKdFFyMe-5kOK5Xx7f5HoHpAli7j4heXUC8BEdJ1AMG2iSTukYsQDNfA3NLX_1FLz4Sd1z-T12IQT4NjGnEzg_2KvZF4FrCUqNCGt8KP3LnOj/s320/6685.Gravy-Train-1.jpg-500x0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The end result was that upon returning to his desk that afternoon in 1964, he was understandably upset and slammed his drawers into the desk which were full to over flowing with his drawings. Apparently those stuffed drawers hadn’t been opened since that fateful day.<br />
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But don’t make the mistake of thinking Bill was a hot head, far from it. He was simply an incredibly talented artist who worked extremely hard at his craft and was ready to take up for his solid ideas, even with Walt. Thank goodness for all of us, that passion can be found throughout the great Disney classics for generations to enjoy. Happy Birthday Bill and thanks everything!mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-9828156523859794802015-08-01T02:15:00.000-07:002016-09-26T13:22:54.768-07:00DISNEYLAND Diamond Jubilee Celebrates 60 Years of Dreams!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIOX45d8NjABc-pUmqhU8dM0NVEdXFp0NZFF7Rw9QjlqOSoBIWqfJ_aOO8CdwLulZwYmaaXI3Al9ogX1IPgvnbsmaHzI1fUpouqesm_UEC4DVr6rV9hKpwqN6SsfOljId-od4Zn3vYzBl/s1600/disneyland60th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIOX45d8NjABc-pUmqhU8dM0NVEdXFp0NZFF7Rw9QjlqOSoBIWqfJ_aOO8CdwLulZwYmaaXI3Al9ogX1IPgvnbsmaHzI1fUpouqesm_UEC4DVr6rV9hKpwqN6SsfOljId-od4Zn3vYzBl/s640/disneyland60th.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm delighted to have the opportunity to present 3 new designs to honor Disneyland's 60 Anniversary!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFJUOpea1Q0N33Gg6Ga0DiBw_SW8iSYmlv7-BUMva4Nkhdup1z_mfRrCF-n6GjCHme5d_pgkvtKseza3GyuS4Ib45BtsSO9_31AImRSgcfYGk1yPkoM3DJIydA3pWlMMrXwXzywjjJv4t/s1600/Peraza_PR_06_01_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFJUOpea1Q0N33Gg6Ga0DiBw_SW8iSYmlv7-BUMva4Nkhdup1z_mfRrCF-n6GjCHme5d_pgkvtKseza3GyuS4Ib45BtsSO9_31AImRSgcfYGk1yPkoM3DJIydA3pWlMMrXwXzywjjJv4t/s200/Peraza_PR_06_01_2015.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blocking in <b>"Retro Retlaw"</b></td></tr>
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The <b><i>"crown jewel"</i></b> of all amusement parks is celebrating its <b>60th Diamond Anniversary</b> on July 17, 2015 and I was asked to join a select group of amazing artists to design something to help usher in the sparkling celebration. My three original gems are entitled, <b><i>"Retro Retlaw", "Road to Dreams"</i></b> and <b><i>"60 yEARS!"</i></b> are of course designed and painted in traditional methods instead of using a computer. The final paintings are all gouache, the very same medium we all used at Disney Studios in the 1930s on <b>Pinocchio</b> up into the 1970s, and the pieces measure around 18" x 24".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EmO6FmBox2MQgev4ZJjlfDy3dhzcUpYoZ9cOvwd_QoyPK1aJhyzSiwBo5Z9igmWhlUqMfDpTJ0o_GT2Sw3a4YcfTlz3t38-KUBkEVAkr8f2MkCV-hxDKCNeUfs2J46vyk_BaaT0qBynS/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqV%252C%2521ncFH2OtpYNSBSF-%2528%2528h--w%257E%257E60_35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EmO6FmBox2MQgev4ZJjlfDy3dhzcUpYoZ9cOvwd_QoyPK1aJhyzSiwBo5Z9igmWhlUqMfDpTJ0o_GT2Sw3a4YcfTlz3t38-KUBkEVAkr8f2MkCV-hxDKCNeUfs2J46vyk_BaaT0qBynS/s200/%2524%2528KGrHqV%252C%2521ncFH2OtpYNSBSF-%2528%2528h--w%257E%257E60_35.JPG" width="127" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening Day</td></tr>
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You would be hard pressed to find a child or adult who, if they haven't visited the park, has at least dreamed of doing so. Well I'm one of the millions of lucky kids (of all ages) who dreamed of going to <b>Disneyland</b> and subsequently realized that magical dream coming true, well it came true <i><b>frequently</b></i> in fact. And I have to admit, I <u><i><b>never</b></i></u> get tired of visiting the magic kingdom, especially with folks who are first time or infrequent visitors whereas I can enjoy it again through their eyes. I also just plain enjoy watching people as they enjoy themselves at the <b>"happiest place on Earth!"</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNOsI5zt9ZCUeBziHOUMEvNamM2Y1OyUoky5Q4CS0Fxe52u1dJBFKUkUEeGFTjPHqsijcpv2V6C0NYRzxix0WcZM4_9Fk-KJuTVwU5tbxaNZMnfAfpqL67c-kRJdJKvF4iMWy9zvJQYub/s1600/TWDA-MSIChicago-Disneyland-Ticket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNOsI5zt9ZCUeBziHOUMEvNamM2Y1OyUoky5Q4CS0Fxe52u1dJBFKUkUEeGFTjPHqsijcpv2V6C0NYRzxix0WcZM4_9Fk-KJuTVwU5tbxaNZMnfAfpqL67c-kRJdJKvF4iMWy9zvJQYub/s200/TWDA-MSIChicago-Disneyland-Ticket.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ticket sold!</td></tr>
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<b>Disneyland</b> is the <i><b>ONLY</b></i> theme park designed and built under the direct supervision of <b>Walt Disne</b>y. Maybe that's why it always seemed to have an edge over all the other later parks in some kind of special feeling within its gates. As Walt once recollected during an interview, being the head of a thriving studio kept him very busy and he looked forward to weekends, especially Sundays at <b>Griffith Park Carousel</b> watching his daughters Diane and Sharon reach for the brass ring. Walt wistfully dreamed about a place where parents, children and friends could all enjoy a family experience together as opposed to sitting there waiting for a ride or two to finish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKKsaUSHgU9ucz_QCZQFRdf1YF4zPPv-ZNoKmPjidp-5zeDUYy7-aA5GbKrWIrY14Hnx2ACuIbxq68boaptxMMSWPhTHm3zvkIICj2ua-rDdE6dyW0hpkHO6xl30ccGBYn-8jHWbtrK_q/s1600/D23_burn+pieces_Peraza_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKKsaUSHgU9ucz_QCZQFRdf1YF4zPPv-ZNoKmPjidp-5zeDUYy7-aA5GbKrWIrY14Hnx2ACuIbxq68boaptxMMSWPhTHm3zvkIICj2ua-rDdE6dyW0hpkHO6xl30ccGBYn-8jHWbtrK_q/s320/D23_burn+pieces_Peraza_WEB.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disneyland 60th artwork ad</td></tr>
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<b>Walt Disney</b>, as he usually did, surrounded himself with people that would help enable his dream to become a reality. Originally it was going to be built in Burbank across the street from the studio but Walt's plans quickly outgrew that tiny corner of real estate. His unbridled imagination eventually stretched to take root across 160 acres of orange groves that was owned owned by no less than 17 different families in the middle of a place no one had ever heard of called <b>Anaheim</b>. (Ana-who? no Anaheim!).<br />
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Week after week on Sunday evenings we would see the progress on Walt's TV show entitled what else? <b>"Disneyland"</b> and marvel as the park took shape. As the weeks went on American families grew more excited about this magical kingdom that Walt Disney was creating. The wait was finally over on July 17th 1955, when Disneyland lowered it's drawbridge and opened its doors to the world on live television, spreading happiness and magic for millions ever since. Shown here on the left is the first <b>Disneyland</b> admission ticket and it was purchased by Walt's older brother and important partner of the Disney empire from its beginning, <b>Roy O. Disney,</b> for $1. Gee, prices have gone up a bit wouldn't you say?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcRU4UoqykI5Z9BAWI5HmZURwixFhE3vlN6AGkze6VKA05TeADJK4Z-VTy5SC4AH4RG1N4G4BFEgNcvRpMZTBqajLUYBYTK7tXRImb7wMoh9-MYSyxPaA0TT0FDcWP-Te7K1dYROvOaOr/s1600/retro_fun_ad_B_Peraza_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcRU4UoqykI5Z9BAWI5HmZURwixFhE3vlN6AGkze6VKA05TeADJK4Z-VTy5SC4AH4RG1N4G4BFEgNcvRpMZTBqajLUYBYTK7tXRImb7wMoh9-MYSyxPaA0TT0FDcWP-Te7K1dYROvOaOr/s320/retro_fun_ad_B_Peraza_WEB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another playful parody ad for the celebration</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8xYmpAOLUs-9OmJDhBX0hmjyUITegq9gHSdJpSWPVWHxEikIZxKd4hyMYTgsd4NxVYmHlxerwTcpnwMAv3d8BfXv7Htu8o8iYkJCvc7Q9rew7Q6KsJ9FuKzEkeiapfAYwtgze0uhBPKb/s1600/house+tomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8xYmpAOLUs-9OmJDhBX0hmjyUITegq9gHSdJpSWPVWHxEikIZxKd4hyMYTgsd4NxVYmHlxerwTcpnwMAv3d8BfXv7Htu8o8iYkJCvc7Q9rew7Q6KsJ9FuKzEkeiapfAYwtgze0uhBPKb/s200/house+tomorrow.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monsanto House of the Future</td></tr>
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For my tribute pieces I decided to pay homage to the <i><b>"retro style</b></i><i><b>"</b></i>I seem to have become associated with that harkens back to mid century design aesthetics, so I guess I'm a retro kinda guy these days. Although I can and have worked in a multitude of styles, media and techniques, I felt that to properly pay respect to an event from the 1950s it would be nice to use a style keenly embraced by graphic designers and <b>Madison Avenue</b> firms during that time period. I also created a series of parody ads to humorously help herald the event using, what else? a 1950s magazine ad feel. A couple of them are included here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqCP9HpEH70OZKJ2w2V30JHnhMOpj6iL5QfzX-8l8PbDW9C5KbcZY44HE4Jc1sO40hN0WMC9QIUmY2ik26uGmFDCiuKDpRn8NGLtQ7LAqhJyjxNZ9eI2_p3QVuHZ7zqJIGxy_lbfgubTm/s1600/skybuckets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqCP9HpEH70OZKJ2w2V30JHnhMOpj6iL5QfzX-8l8PbDW9C5KbcZY44HE4Jc1sO40hN0WMC9QIUmY2ik26uGmFDCiuKDpRn8NGLtQ7LAqhJyjxNZ9eI2_p3QVuHZ7zqJIGxy_lbfgubTm/s200/skybuckets.jpg" width="119" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember the Sky Buckets?</td></tr>
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With Walt in charge, the<b> Walt Disney Company</b> was always on the cutting edge with regard to design, and the commercial art side of things from the earliest days of Disneyland's conception was certainly no exception. That contemporary style carried through into maps, tickets, signage, and print advertisement during the first decade of the park. I am a big fan of that now vintage look and in fact used it back in the early 1970s when I was a commercial artist working for an advertising firm not unlike a smaller version of that on the series <b>MAD MEN. </b>We operated out of a tiny two story building so the falling man title sequence from Mad Men opening just wouldn't have had the same impact. These new retro pieces honoring <b>Disneyland's 60th</b> will be unveiled as prints along with the originals at the Anaheim Convention Center during this years <b>D23 EXPO</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzK5Bo_iRXCkuRi_SHeF2YcsNCXeTl3MOtVddsExMYJ1g2uC1OKH17Di003k9foXgoP0r2aiykkGXXBaoq5K9lspkow6YVKQMPEMxdmhNUHfOFUTdN_Tq3ZrIbgnJO5_4ua40Sl2W_jnH/s1600/PR_paint_Road_Dreams_06_19_2015_E_WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzK5Bo_iRXCkuRi_SHeF2YcsNCXeTl3MOtVddsExMYJ1g2uC1OKH17Di003k9foXgoP0r2aiykkGXXBaoq5K9lspkow6YVKQMPEMxdmhNUHfOFUTdN_Tq3ZrIbgnJO5_4ua40Sl2W_jnH/s320/PR_paint_Road_Dreams_06_19_2015_E_WEB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting Disneyland's 60th Anniversary artwork</td></tr>
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I was "bi-desk-al" meaning I worked back and forth on these three pieces at two different desks so while one painting was drying I could scoot over the the other one and keep going. Those of you familiar with my posts know I am the happy owner of the original Walt Disney Studio architect <b><a href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/the-beautiful-failure-of-disneys-burbank-studio-79406.html" target="_blank">Kem Weber's</a></b> prototype animation desk and his concept/story desk model that was actually used by a legendary imagineer at WED by the name of <b>Herb Ryman</b>.<br />
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My wife, Disney animator <b>Patty Peraza </b>was the first to notice the delightful irony that here I was happily nestled up in my studio, designing poster artwork to celebrate <b>Disneyland's 60th Anniversary</b>... on Disney Legend <b><a href="http://www.designingdisney.com/content/herb-ryman" target="_blank">Herb Ryman's</a></b> desk! <b> </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIs8ZyaNv0Q9SqFaFyUfF22UxyorBIM7KrlEc9g_rU9h34LAMd6AEVufvKJ79fPZ1dcmRllT0ec-n_HK5x8qUqac0_RuCK_fBTi1QcaIqLwarJt16-z0XHeDy7sg_b4oK6ldxc_wGLErC/s1600/ryman_disneyland1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIs8ZyaNv0Q9SqFaFyUfF22UxyorBIM7KrlEc9g_rU9h34LAMd6AEVufvKJ79fPZ1dcmRllT0ec-n_HK5x8qUqac0_RuCK_fBTi1QcaIqLwarJt16-z0XHeDy7sg_b4oK6ldxc_wGLErC/s320/ryman_disneyland1953.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herb Ryman's iconic original concept design for Disneyland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfalsGI-pT3aIDM5uwxE_d8WRi9nZfvtBEO6D9yBQo5c3zfYFfQyrGPKDWF7e2u9qVywXvrfBf0eK8AXogJgmSv6hWlYsl9E0RBDJxw1ZAzzwh0I_D6OLKpNMAcX2hXgOTPB6MyDBEPBKR/s1600/11891186_1004358059595873_2316875374207659005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfalsGI-pT3aIDM5uwxE_d8WRi9nZfvtBEO6D9yBQo5c3zfYFfQyrGPKDWF7e2u9qVywXvrfBf0eK8AXogJgmSv6hWlYsl9E0RBDJxw1ZAzzwh0I_D6OLKpNMAcX2hXgOTPB6MyDBEPBKR/s200/11891186_1004358059595873_2316875374207659005_n.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patty and Whatshisname</td></tr>
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For those of you who may not know who Herbie is, well he was a long time artist in the company, and a stunning talent valued by <b>Walt Disney</b> himself. In 1952, Walt had set up an independent company that would concentrate on bringing his dreams of a new kind of amusement park to life. To get a full head of steam with visuals, Walt Disney spoke to Herb Ryman on Spetember 23, 1953 a Wednesday morning and implored him to come to the studio right away for something important.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DISNEYLAND 60th ANNIVERSARY ART<br />
Road to Dreams</td></tr>
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For the next few days Walt and Herbie were inseparable as Walt <b><i>"described"</i></b> and Herb <b><i>"inscribed"</i></b>. Monday morning found a worn out Walt and Herb along with a huge ink drawing on thick vellum paper. That drawing was rolled up and taken to New York by Walt's brother Roy to line up some early but important financing for the new Disneyland park.<br />
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So here I was decades later using the master's magical desk to compose posters of that wonderful new idea of Walt's, <b>DISNEYLAND</b>! I'm very proud and humbled to have been able to contribute my designs in a small way to help celebrate <b>Disneyland's 60th Diamond Anniversary</b>. I sincerely hope you like them and will stop by and say howdy at D23 and at the Disneyanna Gallery! I won't be alone by any means and in fact I am in good company with a fantastic and talented group of artists and I encourage you to check out their fabulous creations. So Happy Birthday <b>DISNEYLAND</b> and thank you <b>Walt</b> and all those original Imagineers for 60 years of magic at the <b><i>Happiest Place on Earth</i></b>!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the signings at the Disney Dream Store</td></tr>
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<b>UPDATE</b>: We really enjoyed our time at <b>D23 Expo</b> meeting so many wonderful Disney fans from around the world. <b><i>All of my original paintings sold out within the first five minutes of D23 opening its doors on Friday!</i></b> On Saturday the Giclees followed with the smaller prints going before they closed the magical doors on Sunday! Patty and I were happily surprised!<br />
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By the way, we made our own outfits to celebrate the <b>Diamond Anniversary</b> and as such we made sure they were "dazzling"! The local arts and crafts stores enjoyed our repeated visits to buy more and more sparkling sequins, glass beads and foam sheets. <b>D23 EXPO</b>, my favorite part was spending time chatting with and meeting Disney fans. After all, I'm a Disney fan myself!<br />
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<br />mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-20541403703346515572015-03-01T17:29:00.000-08:002020-01-02T20:20:16.108-08:00WARD KIMBALL, Genius!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UkW-Eo-Sk-4yzTNgj_DegXNewiuE967p5g5wLOpEY0MrNk_jJyo7YsgDLuH75JJ4u4LAsaaW_nKjs8ZJlQpvaHA4K2ruOaLVYrCY-GKtlehUpOKyQQl2hfAwwB8UJK6QzW3dFLaG22_8/s1600/ward+birthday+banner_peraza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UkW-Eo-Sk-4yzTNgj_DegXNewiuE967p5g5wLOpEY0MrNk_jJyo7YsgDLuH75JJ4u4LAsaaW_nKjs8ZJlQpvaHA4K2ruOaLVYrCY-GKtlehUpOKyQQl2hfAwwB8UJK6QzW3dFLaG22_8/s1600/ward+birthday+banner_peraza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ward Kimball holding court at his<br />
"Grizzly Flats" next to Chloe</td></tr>
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March 4, 1914 gave us one of the most talented, one of the biggest cutups and one of the most beloved artists in the <b>Walt Disney</b> <b>Studio</b> stable- <b>Ward Kimball</b>. Ward was so many things it’s hard to put a label on him-<i> jazz trombonist, fine artist, toy collector, imagineer, train buff, animator…</i> well let’s just use the moniker that <b>Walt Disney</b> himself bestowed on Ward- <b>GENIUS!</b> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Ward's endless model sheet spoofs</td></tr>
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As with many of the Disney “old timers” (<i>Now that my dark hair has for some reason gone gray,</i> <i>I'm not sure I like that phrase</i>). I first met Ward at Cal Arts back when I was enrolled in the Disney Animation program back in the mid 1970s. He made quite an impression on me and others in the brief time he was there but what I noticed was that he really stood out from the other fellows, not just because of his owlish oversized spectacles but his big grin and voice to match it. <b>Ken O'Connor</b>, who was our Basic Drawing and Perspective teacher was a close friend of Ward's and had worked in the<b> Kimball </b>Unit on many of his popular projects at <b>Walt Disney Studio</b> and was able to help set up the visits.</div>
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For those who might be unfamiliar with Ward's work he brought to life with his magic pencil many famous delightful Disney characters including <b style="font-style: italic;">Jimminy Cricket, Tweedledee </b>and<b style="font-style: italic;"> Tweedledum, Mad Hatter </b>and<b style="font-style: italic;"> Cheshire Cat</b> and oodles more. He was an inspiring director and was responsible for the Academy Award winning short, <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iVf0pPHvjc" target="_blank">"Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom"</a></b> and a series of shows about outer space working with other Disney legends like <b><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/Ken%20O%27Connor" target="_blank">Ken O'Connor</a></b> that helped Americans understand our "race into space."</div>
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I was quite the practical joker at Disney and probably spent too much time planning out gags to play on my co-workers (<i>The soap bubbles incident, re-arranging rest room labels, setting a For Lease sign in front of the studio, etc.</i>) when I suddenly found myself loaned out to WED. (<i>they did that frequently, I should have developed an inferiority complex</i>). On one of those “loan outs” I was assigned to work on <b>EPCOT</b> with Ward on <b>“World of Motion” </b>with <b>GM </b>as the sponsor. If they thought it would quiet me down management was mistaken because it was more akin to pouring gasoline on a fire. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walt and Ward</td></tr>
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Ward was patient as I was trying to get my head around the job and he made the time fly by giving some of the “<i>suits</i>” the business, one fellow in particular was an ongoing target for Ward’s humor. The ride was a send up of the history of transportation and with Ward in charge it was a funny one to be sure. I did a few gag sketches on Leonardo Da Vinci attempting flight and quite a few doodles and a pastel for the turn of the century traffic jam. Ward was turning out stunning train sketches that were not only amazing, but the guy wasn't using any reference!<br />
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We had a song, <b>"It's Fun to Be Free"</b> written by <b>X Atencio</b> with music by <b>Buddy Baker.</b> Ward would half hum and half sing, <b>"It's Fun to be Me..."</b> while doodling madly at his desk. Unfortunately I can't print his memorable version of the lyrics here. Within our sketches and even the models, <b>Mickey</b> would wind up pounded by a caveman, flattened as a traffic jam victim or tied to a train track with a steam loco on its way. Moments before a presentation there would be a hilarious sign or two added amidst the "<i>official</i>" traffic signs and <i>let me tell ya they wasn’t there to clear up any traffic jam sister!</i> While adding his hijinks to the process, we still turned out a ton of work, maybe even because of it. Ward just made it a joy rather than a job.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ward at his desk in the animation <br />
building long before we met</td></tr>
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They would usually limit my time on these <b>WED</b> excursions to two to three weeks per project and sure enough one day when I came in Ward told me I had been reassigned to the <b>American Adventure</b> pavilion. I was a bit upset about it but Ward tried to cheer me up and presented me with a cut out cardboard folder rendered like a traveling suitcase covered with his ridiculous made up stickers he had applied including with names including <b>World of Notion, World of Potion, World of Lotion, </b>well you get the idea. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqq7KDq-YVZDTf7Oymlz56XytLApTVZLgNfmxvoSPFWA8k_U7tkw-347Ie_BTeC9Cg8tUo2hjhFjBWnpKUTSO62wZpx3w8X0fcSBiNVKdlXclS2YiznjGp8o17E0-0SpPJR0ptKTvilHp/s1600/KIMBALL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqq7KDq-YVZDTf7Oymlz56XytLApTVZLgNfmxvoSPFWA8k_U7tkw-347Ie_BTeC9Cg8tUo2hjhFjBWnpKUTSO62wZpx3w8X0fcSBiNVKdlXclS2YiznjGp8o17E0-0SpPJR0ptKTvilHp/s1600/KIMBALL1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a while you realized there <br />
was no one on the other end</td></tr>
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I opened that case to find a cel of a funky looking red bird from one of Ward’s Academy Award winning projects,”<b>It’s Tough to Be a Bird”</b>. He dedicated it,<b><i>” From one bird brain to another! best wishes Mike, Ward Kimball”</i></b>. I treasure that creepy little "<b><i>boyd"</i></b>.</div>
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I really wish I could have worked with Ward at the animation studio on a feature but at this stage in his career he had moved on and spent most of his time for the company hanging out at at <b>WED</b> although he had just recently produced a show called “<b>The Mouse Factory”</b> in the early 1970s. Sadly that although I would run into Ward a couple of times later on (<i>when they would get the Disney veterans together for photo shoots or publicity interviews at Grizzly Flats </i>) that brief team up at <b>WED</b> was to be the only time I would have the chance to work with that lovable legendary loonytoon. On a sour note I was ticked off that because of the animation strike I wasn't able to attend the wrap party for the ride. <b>Ward, Dave Michener,</b> <b>Ed Hansen</b> and <b>Dick Lucas</b> did sent me materials like booklets, pins and other souvenirs but it's not the same as being there. Then again I really didn't contribute much to the <b>WOM</b> ride when all is said and done outside of a few charcoal gag drawings and some pastels. It was Ward's baby from start to finish, and what he came up with was entertaining even if the mechanical side of the attraction had a nasty habit of breaking down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walt named him a genius so<br />
who am I to argue?</td></tr>
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Ward also founded the legendary Dixieland band, <b>“Firehouse Five Plus Two”</b> where he played one outspoken trombone. The reach he had with that elongated instrument among his fellow musicians like Disney animator <b>Frank Thomas</b> and Art Director/Imagineer <b>Harper Goff</b> was hilarious. Fire helmets would accidentally get knocked sideways at times as he would swing around. I want to be clear on something, as silly as he would act up there, he could really play that trombone as good as anyone and they performed a couple of lunchtime concerts for us at the old studio which were unforgettable. That band of his released no fewer than 13 LP records and toured clubs and jazz festivals with Walt's OK, as long as it didn't interfere with the animation production. Being a Naw'lins native and lover of Dixieland jazz, I have two of those records and scratch them up on my record player regularly.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Ward's "Art Afterpieces"</td></tr>
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He also illustrated a famous series of paintings poking fun at famous masterpieces called <b>“Art Afterpieces”</b> which have been copied by some cheesy artists over recent years who pretended they came up with the idea (<i>ironic ain’t it, copying a copy?</i>). Those copies however never equaled Ward’s brilliance. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">In addition a lot of people don’t realize what a fine artist Ward was which evidenced in his life drawings, stills and paintings. He just rather enjoyed doing more comically inclined cartoon designs over realism. He married his best gal Betty and raised 3 talented kids, </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Kelly, Johnny</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> and </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Chloe</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">. I worked with </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">John Kimball</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> over in TVA while doing </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/DuckTales" target="_blank">DuckTales</a></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> and other series for the mouse. Betty by the way worked in Ink and Paint in the 1930s and among her contributions to the Disney Studio was to develop the "</span></span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">dry brush</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">" technique used on cels for a soft feathered rendered look used to great effect in </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"Fantasia"</b><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">. They married in 1936 and Betty left three years later to raise a family and manage the full size backyard train set of Ward's called </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"Grizzly Flats" </b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">which had to be seen to be believed and even then it was </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px;">unbelievable!</span></span></div>
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One of the important lessons I learned from Ward was to be a chameleon and don't get pegged with one style. Another important thing he taught me was when I was working on a time machine design for a project. I was hitting a dead end creatively and happened by for a visit. He told me to collect every time machine photo and drawing I could find, pin them all up, ...<b> <i>then do something different!</i></b> I did just that, and based mine on an Aztec Calendar of stone which when parts were rotated, stone segments rose to seat the time traveller. The other machines that had been designed for films were almost entirely of Victorian design and what we might call Steampunk these days so I opted for something much more ancient. The project was eventually shelved but the time machine design I came up with really impressed everyone at the meeting with its originality. I owe you for that one Ward, thank you!</div>
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Happy Birthday to a crazy and wonderful genius, <b>Ward Kimball!</b></div>
mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-87579628672838043512014-07-26T20:02:00.001-07:002014-10-08T17:34:40.353-07:00Haunted Mansion's 45th Anniversary!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">HAUNTED MANSION 45TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S ART DISNEYLAND GALLERY MIKE PERAZA</span></span></td></tr>
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<b><i>"Welcome Foolish Mortals</i></b> ... " to a celebration of <b>Disneyland's</b> <i>horribly humorous hair-raising </i><b>Haunted Mansion</b>. As most of you know, there are multiple versions of this spooktacular attraction at Disney parks around the world with each one celebrating their unique differences from the architecture outside to many of the ride elements inside. The one located at <b>Disneyland</b> is of course the ominous original, opening it's creaky doors to the public on August 9,1969. This year celebrates its <b><a href="http://disneyparksmerchandise.com/events/haunted-mansion-45th-anniversary-product-release-signing/" target="_blank">45th year</a></b> of <i><b>happy haunting</b></i>. I was asked to create some eerie original artwork to celebrate this <b><i>tombstone</i></b>... I mean <b><i>milestone</i></b>, and so I'm unveiling part of my <i>ghostly gouache</i>. Before I get to the painting however, a bit of history of the Haunted Mansion is in order, and for goodness sakes don't you dare pull back on the safety bar, we'll do it for you! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Disneyland's Haunted Mansion 45th Anniversary artist Mike Peraza HAUNTED MANSION, </b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harper Goff's early rendition of the attraction</td></tr>
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<b>Walt Disney</b> first considered a haunted house attraction in <b>Disneyland</b> two decades before the first shovel was turned to lay the attraction's groundwork. The original sketches by <b>Harper Goff</b> for the structure included drawings for a gothic mansion resembling (<i>at least to me</i>) the one that would be built years later in 1960 for <b>Hitchcock’s Psycho </b>with a graveyard and church sharing the plot.<br />
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However when <b>Disneyland</b> lowered its drawbridge and opened its magical castle to the public on <b>July 17, 1955</b>, it did so without the benefit of a spine tingling creepy crypt. In 3 short years however, Walt's never ending park expansion created a new land named <b>“New Orleans Square”</b> (<i>being a native of the "big easy" I certainly like the sound of that</i>) which would provide literally lay the foundation for the spook house in 1962. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>HAUNTED MANSION 45TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR ART</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikY5W9-2sMCsJttp0k7Wlc40lwDvpCuLS-LV66AmIf7YduI5C4a3U9CbKt6XAlLk4G2GV597Y0C2norZJFrTanw2cduJL46YEmj29qWlM1MACV6Ycep2mwJqjKO5BFJjHL25KNuPWoMlrq/s1600/Disneyland-Haunted-Mansion-Concept-Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikY5W9-2sMCsJttp0k7Wlc40lwDvpCuLS-LV66AmIf7YduI5C4a3U9CbKt6XAlLk4G2GV597Y0C2norZJFrTanw2cduJL46YEmj29qWlM1MACV6Ycep2mwJqjKO5BFJjHL25KNuPWoMlrq/s1600/Disneyland-Haunted-Mansion-Concept-Art.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ken Anderson's original design</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam McKim's color interpretation</td></tr>
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Although early concepts by Ken Anderson portrayed the mansion as an old dilapidated haunted house, <b>Walt Disney</b> thought that might be a grave mistake and wanted it to have a pristine look to match the rest of the park. As numero uno imagineer Walt himself put it, <b><i>"We'll take care of the outside and let the ghosts take care of the inside."</i></b><br />
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It then stood empty for years while the Disney company concentrated on its responsibilities for the <b>1964 World's Fair</b>. When <b>Walt Disney</b> passed away in 1966, the imagineers were in the midst of planning the new attraction. They were suddenly at a loss of whether to make the attraction scary like <b>Claude Coats</b> had wanted or funny like <b>Marc Davis</b> had planned. Actually "loss" is not accurate when recounting those times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many Marc Davis concepts</td></tr>
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The imagineers I talked to, including Marc and Claude themselves (<i>and they o'uta know, ya know </i>) described the situation a bit like going into battle without a commanding general to coordinate the troops. In the end of course they combined both directions into an eerie entertaining experience that people line up for to this day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haunted Mansion 45th Event<br />
<b><span style="color: white;">Mike Peraza</span></b></td></tr>
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As many of you may know who have read my blog over the years, two of my mentors: Disney Legends <b>Ward Kimball</b> and <b><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/search/label/Ken%20O%27Connor" target="_blank">Ken O’Connor </a></b>used to advise me in essence to be a <i>chameleon</i>. In other words, don’t just create in one style or medium but be open to many approaches but try to do each well. In this respect I created my newest piece to celebrate the <b><a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/07/the-art-of-haunted-mansion-45th-anniversary-collectibles-at-the-disneyland-resort/" target="_blank">Haunted Mansion’s 45th</a></b> in a style I like to refer to as “<i>retro </i>” and let me tell you, it was a hoot to work on. I wanted to avoid doing the <b><i>"stretches"</i></b> or just limit myself to the <b><i>"hitch hikers"</i></b> and hoped to include as much of the ride in the image as possible without getting too complicated. I solved the problem by using a whimsical approach and starting with a simple base composition to build upon. The end result is almost a companion piece to my <b><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2013/08/art-for-park.html" target="_blank">"Seasons of Magic"</a></b> painting that was very well received by Disney fans and was subsequently showcased in the <b>Disney Gallery</b> vault for many months.<br />
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As my wife <b>Patty</b> put it, <b>“</b><i><b>It’s an advertising style that was being used when the original attraction opened, so it’s fitting to return to that stylized look to celebrate it 45 years later!"</b> </i>She has so many good ideas and of course <i>if you want a happy life- you keep a happy wife</i>, so I used her suggestion<i>. </i>And once again I'm also using the medium of choice from the old Disney Studio of the 1930s through the 1960s which is <b>gouache</b> with the original illustration measuring 18 x 24 inches. You can see it within the ad poster to the left. The look was decidedly different from my previous pieces for the<b> <a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2014/02/steampunk-day-at-disneyland.html" target="_blank">Disney Gallery Steampunk Show</a></b><a href="http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2014/02/steampunk-day-at-disneyland.html" target="_blank"> </a>. Once I had finalized my thumbnails, it was frighteningly fun adding little hidden treasures among the Haunted Mansion many points of interests. <b><span style="color: white;">Mike Peraza Haunted Mansion 45th Anniversary collector poster. HANTED MANSION</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yale Gracey and "Hat box"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yale Gracey with chip off the old block</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">I even included cryptic characters from the ride that were removed from the attraction like the legendary </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">“Hat box Ghost" </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">although he is making a "spirited" </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">return<b> </b>. Here's a photo of </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Yale Gracey</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> working on that original problem child that never seemed to come off the way they had hoped. Before he transferred to WED, Yale was a brilliant layout guy for </span></span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Jack Hannah</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> back in the day doing <b>Donald Duck</b> shorts among many other projects at the old studio. When Jack introduced him to me I had no idea he was an imagineer at that time because the discussion was mainly centered on animation and layout from his work at the old <b>Disney Studio</b>. When he eventually got around to sharing <b>Disneyland</b> stories I was even more blown away by Yale's accomplishments.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The original design of the Hatbox<br />Ghost by Collin Campbell</span></td></tr>
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He was a nice guy and is missed to this day by everyone who was fortunate to know him. If you ever wondered if there was a real <b>"Master Gracey"</b>, well this is the amazing gentleman who was honored with that title.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Mike Peraza whimsical take on Hat Box Ghost</td></tr>
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By the way, the original design for the <b>"Hat Box Ghost"</b> was by another old friend, <b>Collin Campbell</b> and is included here. Speaking of <b><i>"Hatty",</i></b> here is my retro rendition of that ghastly ghost. I have also planted multiple <b><i>“hidden Mickeys”</i></b> and other treasures throughout the graphic graveyard so have fun unearthing them. Before you pull down on the safety bar even though we told you not to, come on down to the Disney Gallery and join our spirited celebration of the <b>Haunted Mansion's 45th!</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the crowd waiting outside to get in, <br />
while there was just as many inside waiting to get out.</td></tr>
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If you're looking to pick up fine art prints signed for you by their apparitional artists celebrating the <b><a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/07/the-art-of-haunted-mansion-45th-anniversary-collectibles-at-the-disneyland-resort/" target="_blank">Haunted Mansion's 45th</a></b> but worried your walls are too full, let me paraphrase the last line you hear when leaving the Haunted Mansion, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"...there's always room for one more." </i>So come on out <b>August</b> <b>Saturday 16, 9:00 AM</b> to the <b>Disneyland Gallery</b> located on <b>Main Street</b>, on the right when you enter the park. I'll be there along with a ghoulish group of extremely talented and terrifying artists just dying to meet you.<br />
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<b>UPDATE</b>: The signing event was huge success and sold out of all of my paper prints, canvas prints and the original painting before it was even half over. I had the pleasure of meeting so many incredible folks who came by to pick up a print and then stuck around to talk and share some great times while I signed. Of course that is wonderful news but what is also exciting is that prints are again available at the <b>Disney Gallery</b> for my <i><b>"Happy Haunts"</b></i> in both formats and will continue to be offerred for all of the Haunted Mansion fans out there.</div>
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<span style="color: white;">#hauntedmansion45th #mikeperaza #disneyfineart #YaleGracey #Disneyland #Disneygallery #Disneyfineart</span></div>
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mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924533971138011276.post-67632282652837724112014-07-21T19:16:00.003-07:002020-01-01T14:58:03.357-08:00Amazing Al Dempster<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB9W8Y_QJxN4EY3YIdX8SOBBZdKuTmzcomiXr8jBrUSF7m4jcGojBNoJY4UiVekDjS7J7yoCEGb1wLFwsAE35NKh4dxUg4ct2l56dynh2tiLm_REGmBloUOqoARN_B0ZXWR5tQnUXRsEZ/s1600/al+dempster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB9W8Y_QJxN4EY3YIdX8SOBBZdKuTmzcomiXr8jBrUSF7m4jcGojBNoJY4UiVekDjS7J7yoCEGb1wLFwsAE35NKh4dxUg4ct2l56dynh2tiLm_REGmBloUOqoARN_B0ZXWR5tQnUXRsEZ/s1600/al+dempster.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning John Hench and Al Dempster collaboration</td></tr>
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There have been many amazing talents that have worked in the Disney background department and created stunning concept pieces over the years. Of course names like <i><b>Mary Blair, Eyvind Earle, Claude Coats, Walt Peregoy</b></i> and others spring to mind but there are others equally deserving of credit due their talented offerings. One that comes to my mind is <b>Al Dempster</b>. </div>
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He was born July 23, 1911 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After relocating to Los Angeles he got a job with the Disney Studio in 1939 and when Walt saw his painting skills first hand, he was quickly transferred to the background department. Those skills benefitted the studio on classic like <i style="font-weight: bold;">Fantasia, Dumbo, Saludos Amigos, Victory Through Air Power, The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music </i>and <i style="font-weight: bold;">Song of the South</i>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill Justice-pencils, Al Dempster-paint</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R Don Griffith, Al Dempster</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">He left the studio in 1945 but came back in 1952 to create more lovely backgrounds for Walt’s Peter Pan. He stayed on to contribute to <b><i>Lady and The Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmations, Sword in the Stone, Jungle Book </i></b>and more. He left a lasting mark when he teamed up with close friend <b>Don Griffith</b> to create the look for all of the <b><i>Winnie the Pooh</i></b> featurettes.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al's take on Johnny Appleseed</td></tr>
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At Walt’s personal request, Al translated many of the studio’s films into lavishly illustrated children’s books, usually with pal <b>Bill Justice</b> providing the pencils. He retired from the studio for various reasons but agreed to return to help with <b><i>The Rescuers</i></b> in 1973 which is how I met him albeit briefly.<br />
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I wasn’t working on that film but was attending the <b>CalArts</b> Art School (<i>the Character Animation Program had not yet been created</i>). <b>Don Duckwall</b> introduced me to Al and the rest of the small background department. His time on Rescuers was not an enjoyable one as there were a few bumps in the road during production and soon the same reasons he had left the studio before reared up again. Since Al had only committed to 6 months or so on that production, when the time was up, he skeedaddled back into retirement and did his own paintings, this time in oil. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al creates more magic with Alice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walt choose Al's version of Jungle Book</td></tr>
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Years later I did have a chance to spend more time with Al during our regular Thursday lunches at Sloppos with <b>Don Griffith</b>. I was a huge fan of his work and had a few of his spectacularly illustrated books for Disney. Al eventually signed my books and gave Patty and I a couple of his original oil paintings as a wedding present which we have hanging to this day over the stairway to the upstairs studio. </div>
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So check your old Disney story books. If the illustrations have an extra special feeling of Disney magic like the images here, you may just own an Al Dempster collection. <b>Happy Birthday Al!</b><br />
<b>#aldempster </b></div>
mike perazahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218832344478449495noreply@blogger.com0