The magic of Disney transformed

The magic of Disney transformed

by Ayesha Ahmad
Staff Writer

Aug. 12, 2004

Submitted photo
Disney artist Mike Kupka touches up a giclee (or high-resolution laser) print of his painting of
Cruella de Vil at the opening reception of the "Magic of Disney" exhibit in Historic Savage Mill.

These days, a walk through the Hands of Time art gallery at Savage Mill is something of a walk down memory lane few images evoke childhood the way Disney can.

The art on display and sale at the gallery since July 24 captures Disney characters in everything from original production celluloids to paintings of scenes that seem whimsically imagined from the movies.

"It's an emotional appeal," said Steve Wetzel, director of creative development for Collectors Editions, the California-based publisher of Disney fine art. "People really connect with Disney characters. I don't think you can find a person that doesn't have a favorite Disney character."

Visitors can find their favorite hero, heroine or villain among the pieces on display. There is an art nouveau Cinderella stepping out of her carriage, and a sepia-toned Cruella de Vil, smirking next to a swirl from her red-tipped cigarette.

In a dreamy, twilight wooded scene, dwarves troop across a quaint stone bridge overlooking Snow White as she sings to a bird. In one unusual scene, the head and hand of a young girl appear to have ripped through the canvas of a painted sky over a distant landscape, with Tinkerbell perched on the girl's finger.

"We've always been big on Disney," said Robert Capone, Hands of Time gallery director. "The characters are so heartwarming, for the most part," though villains may be the most collected.

Everyone from Maleficent to Scar, and from Donald Duck to Belle, are represented in some form and of course, there is plenty of Mickey.

There are also original drawings, fine-art porcelain and crystal sculptures. Collectors Editions exclusively publishes the fine art, from painters such as "Disney legend" Peter Ellenshaw and James Coleman, who began as illustrators with Disney.

Some of the artists have visited the gallery. On the opening weekend of the exhibit, Mike Kupka demonstrated how he embellishes giclee (or a special high-resolution laser printer)-on-canvas prints with paint. And Disney Classics sculptor Bruce Lau will visit during the Hands of Time Annual Collectors Fair on Aug. 28.

The "Magic of Disney" exhibit will run through Aug. 29.