"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Concept Oil Painting

More "Fantasia" items in the Cowan Collection...

This is a fantastic piece. What attracted me to the piece was its dark and sinister mood -- very different from the water color pieces that are in our collection.  In fact, this piece has to be displayed in a very bright location so the viewer can see the tremendous shadow detail.  I'm afraid photographs don't do a very good job of capturing the extraordinary artistic work...

One individual mentioned that it may have been done by Tom Codrick (I'm not sure about the spelling), but I don't have any verification of that fact...

Fantasia Oil Painting (click to enlarge)

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From “Fantasia” (1940).  The Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence.  An oil painting of the stairs leading to the Sorcerer's lair.  Dark, mysterious.  Note: Perhaps drawn by Tom Codrick. [ From Sotheby's: Walt Disney color study from "Fantasia," 1940.  The oil on paper is a conceptual study of the Sorcerer's lair from The Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence, inscribed "Prod 2004 Seq. 004", matted.  9.5x11.5 ]  Sotheby's auction 7491.  [Item: 17-3/4"W x 16"H]  SeqID-0714

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Autumn Fairy Cel

More items in the Cowan Collection from "Fantasia"

A very nice Courvoisier featuring cels of the Autumn Fairy and flowers...

Autumn Fairy Cel (click to enlarge)

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From “Fantasia” (1940), the Nutcracker Suite sequence.  The Autumn Fairy dancing above a blue flower on the pond -- surrounded by orange flowers.  [ From Sotheby's: Walt Disney Celluloid from "Fantasia," 1940.  The gouache on celluloid depicts an Autumn Fairy from Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker Suite sequence, applied to a Courvoisier airbrushed background, stamped WDP lower right, Courvoisier Galleries ® label on the reverse, matted and framed.  8.75x14 ]  Sotheby's auction 7491, Lot 237.    BACK: Courvoisier sticker; The Bonfoey Co., Cleveland, OH 216-621-0178.   FRONT: WD ink stamp lower right.  [Image: 14"W x 8-3/4"H.  Frame: 19-1/2"W x 15-13/16"H]  Acquired 2000.  SeqID-0713

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Pegasus Family Cel

More "Fantasia" items in the Cowan Collection

I've always thought that this was a great set-up...  Great feeling for the characters and a nice pose for all. The reds are still vivid in this piece (it seems the reds tend to lose brilliance over time).

Pegasus Home (click to enlarge)

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From “Fantasia” (1940), the Pastoral Symphony sequence.  From “Fantasia” (1940), the Pastoral Symphony sequence. The gouache on celluloid depicts the mother Pegasus in her nest with three of her babies from The Pastoral Symphony sequence, applied to a Courvoisier airbrushed background, with the Courvoisier Galleries ® label on the reverse, matted and framed.  [Image: 9-3/8"W x 8"H; Frame: 16-5/8"W x 15-1/4"H]  SeqID-0719  7/16/2005

Computer Is Back !!!

Finally!  After "losing" my computer somewhere in the repair facility, my laptop finally found its way home...

More posts as soon as I check out the computer....

Bob  ;D

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Pencil Concept of Pegasus

More postings from the Cowan Collection's "Fantasia" holdings...

I've always thought this was a great concept for one of the younger Pegasus characters.  Good character development.  And a somewhat unexpected movement -- although I've seen horses scratch behind their ears in exactly the same way.  Nice inclusion of the stream and willows...


My notes indicated that he was called "Peter," but I wasn't sure.  I did a quick search and found this interesting link:

Peter was retroactively named after his popularity grew from the release of "Fantasia." As such, several Peter Pegasus shorts were planned and went into pre-production in the early 1940s, including one titled "Peter Pegasus" as a segment to "Invitation to Dance" which would have also brought back the dancing mushrooms from the "Nutcracker" segment of "Fantasia." The basic plot involved a series of misadventures after sneaking out of his nest, including following a family of ducks a la "The Ugly Duckling," and accidentally disturbing an angry bee. It never progressed beyond the storyboard. As they say, "If wishes were horses..." (sigh). Recently, another "Baby Pegasus" was introduced in the film "Hercules" (June 27, 1997) as the Hero's childhood playmate who grows up to become his faithful companion. This one was formed from the clouds by Zeus, and is not known for his intelligence, but loyalty certainly counts. The only occasions I can think of where Disney used a winged horse was in "Donald Duck" #27 (Jan. 1953) in a tale called "The Flying Horse," where Donald, $crooge and the Nephews encounter a mechanical one. An inventor trades Donald the metal horse for Uncle $crooge's helicopter and later reneges. Another time was in the time travel tale in "Uncle Scrooge" #75 (June 1968), where Gyro, Uncle $crooge, and Huey, Dewey & Louie tavel to ancient Greece during "The Battle of Marathon" (hence the title of the story) and an ancient inventor has likewise created a mechanical winged horse which carries them all from the battlefied to safety, before they return to the present. And finally the "real" Pegasus appeared in "Super Goof #34 (June 1975) in "The Golden Apple-Picker" when the evil Emil Eagle tests his Fantasy-Fact Fixer gizmo which transports him, Clarabelle, Super Goof and Pegasus (who had followed him from a previous attempt), through a portal to the Garden of Hesperides of ancient Greek myth.

Pencil Concept (click to enlarge)

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Graphite concept sketch of Peter Pegasus during the Pastoral Symphony sequence from “Fantasia” (1940).  [12Wx9.5H]

New Business Blog

For those of you interested in business development or starting a new business, you might want to check out the new blog  "Rich Niche Group" started by Ken Balog.

When Ken started to work for my company, I was impressed with his creativity and knowledge of the "consultative sale" process.  While Ken and I have not worked together for over 10 years, I was honored that he would kick off his new blog by interviewing me.

"Good luck, Ken"....!