ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Autumn Leaves

I thought this background from ALICE IN WONDERLAND had a decidedly Autumnal feel to it, as well as the strong influence of the brilliant Mary Blair. It's from the "A E I O U" song sequence. I hope you enjoy it!

This is the last day of November. I've been waiting for months for December 1st, so I could post Holiday related artwork. I've prepared lots of wonderful treats for good boys and girls. Be sure and check back tomorrow...

:)

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Rabbit House

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Corridor

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Bread & Butter-flies

This ALICE IN WONDERLAND background is a marvelous example of economy of detail and subtlety, yet brimming with style. Great colors, too, don't you think?

FLOWERS FROM WONDERLAND

Another floral fantasy background from ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Follow That Rabbit!

Beautiful bunny backgrounds!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Here's an ALICE B/G unlike any I've ever created. As Alice walks down the path, the foreground lighting fades and the upper left is lit. It's a wonderful effect.

I've composited both sections together, and of course Alice was intentionally vaporized.

The multiplane cameramen might have seen this during a lighting test. But here it is, now presented for the ANIMATION BACKGROUND audience for the very first time.

ALICE'S SEAT: The Un-Birthday Tea Party

You wouldn't believe how much time it took to digitally eliminate a tiny teacup from the table. But... the result is an unobstructed view of this delightful ALICE background painting.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Horsefly

I was looking through my archives of re-created backgrounds tonight (including artwork from ALICE IN WONDERLAND). Couldn't resist posting this. Incredible green and blue color palettes (thank you, Mary Blair) and wonderful play of light.

Lovely, eh?

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

This recreated pan background is from the scene in which Alice sees (and follows) the White Rabbit. ("I'm Late!")

I particularly like the well-worn path, with its shaggy patches of grass dotted with daisies, and the beautifully rendered aquamarine water.

I especially love the brooding skies, equally stunning on both sides of the artwork, and yet rendered completely differently.

Gotta say it again... while the overall film may not have been Disney's most enchanting, it contains artwork that is among Disney's best.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Tiger Lilies Love the Dandy-Lions

When I get into the mode of recreating backgrounds for a particular movie, it can border on obsession. Such was the case with this ALICE B/G. Why?

Well, it becomes a matter of getting at the background art, no matter how difficult. I'll bet no one at Disney ever envisioned a day when technology would allow dis-assembling the films one frame at a time.

But here we are.

I almost gave up on this one. The Tiger Lily and Dandy-lion sway all over the screen, making it a tremendous challenge to eliminate the animation and get to the background art.

But as I watched the "Golden Afternoon" sequence, I was struck by how reminiscent this particular B/G was of the background art in the "Waltz Of The Flowers" segment in FANTASIA. So I hammered away, one little section at a time. And by George, I succeeded!

So... here it is. There are several things I love about this piece. There's the extraordinary Mary Blair color styling, which is very subtle here but still a "wow." And I love the "dabs of color" that add such wonderful texture to the "background within a background."

All this could well go unnoticed in the mere 4-5 seconds it's on screen. It's obscured by the lively animation. And, it's over just as soon as it gets started!

But, now, here it is, re-created, and we can savor each and every lovely detail.

Enjoy!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951)

The dazzling artwork of ALICE IN WONDERLAND was hugely influenced by the virtuoso color styling of Mary Blair. This re-created pan background which opens the "Golden Afternoon" musical sequence is truly stunning.