Monstrous!

A concept illustration by Jody for the updated Pixar Play Parade at Disney California Adventure Park.  Look for the "Monsters University"gang to join the parade in late May.

(from the Disney Parks blog)

New Tiki Room Collectibles Coming to Disneyland This Summer (Part 1)

Tangaroa-Ru, the East Wind

Debuting June 28th and 29th at Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room 50th Anniversary Merchandise Event.

Pele, Godess of Fire and Volcanoes

Both lidded mugs are 10.5 inches tall, made of cast stoneware, and are open editions (!).  We have four more items being released at the event, as well, so stay tuned.

Note: If you can't make it to the event, Disney recommends contacting Disneyland Merchandise Guest Services at 877-560-6477 the Monday following the event (July 1, 2013) to inquire about remaining merchandise items. Also, in the days and weeks after the event, remaining product will be distributed to locations throughout the Resort, but most likely art and collectible specific locations.

Summer's coming...

Just announced...Disney will release our ceramic Polynesian Resort Luau Bowl on June 28th.

Fill it up with macadamia nuts, Dole Whip, Mai Tais, or whatever you like. Dimensions: 5.4 inches x 12 inches. It's an open edition and priced at $34.95.

I'll share more info when Disney's merchandise events team fills us in on their plans.

Modern Transportation

"Goodyear '67" by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily
 Mixed media  18" x 8"

 If you're headed to Palm Springs for Modernism Week 2013, swing into M Modern Gallery.  Jody and I are in a "Retro-A-Rama" show with some friends.  Opening reception is tonight (Feb 15) at 8 pm.

"Alweg '59" by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily
 Mixed media  18" x 8"

"Retro-A-Rama" Group Art Exhibition at M Modern Gallery in Palm Springs, February 15 thru March 3, 2013.

Artists Include: SHAG (aka Josh Agle), Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, Tim Biskup, Glenn Barr, Chris Reccardi, Lynne Naylor, Aaron Marshall, Bosko, RAD, Becca & Phil Lumbang and Stone.

Opening Reception, Friday February 15, 2013. 8PM to 11PM. Live Music provided by The Martini Kings and this Event is FREE & OPEN to the Public with Complimentary Cocktails being served.

M Modern Gallery
2500 N Palm Canyon Drive
(at Racquet Club & Hwy 111)
Palm Springs, CA

The Disneyland Line

I don't know about you, but I'm kinda glad 2012 is over.  Crazy year.  Thankfully, it ended with some interesting small-scale projects, including making this cover image for the Disneyland Line, a magazine for Disney Cast Members.

Forest of No Return

Those who stumble in,

Those who fumble in,

Never can get out...

This is one of my favorite images ever.  It's by the insanely talented illustrator, Lowell Hess, for the 1961 Big Golden Book adaptation of Walt Disney's Babes In Toyland.  The pictures in the book are all very good, but this one is a real standout.  The nearly-black trees with their dark, glaring eyes and the upward view against the stark blue background is wonderfully spooky. Everything is skillfully rendered, and almost three-dimensional.  These guys would be super fun to sculpt.

The actual Babes in Toyland movie is, regrettably, not a favorite of mine, but luckily it has great art direction, with colorful storybook set pieces and some really fun costumes. But it's Hess's inky interpretations that excite me the most. 

 Every Christmas, time permitting,  Jody and I enjoy making one-of-a-kind toys and ornaments for our friends, and Jody made these stylized wooden ornaments of the grumpy Toyland trees.  Each is a few inches tall, handpainted, with miniature blown-glass decorations from Germany.  Terrific, huh?

This year, the one with the bird's nest on his head became part of a Christmas Card featured on Disney's "23 Days of Christmas" advent calendar.

Speaking of calendars, I'm really looking forward to the coming year. Hope 2013 will be good to you too!

December Duck

Happy December, everybody.  

Here's another one of Jody's tiny acrylic paintings, and it's one of my favorites.  So cute!

The Canary Yellow Gypsy Cart

As veteran Disney merchandise designers, one of the things Jody and I enjoy doing each year is making one-of-a-kind toys for our friends. Often these feature favorite characters that rarely (if ever) appear on regular merchandise. And, naturally, that's part of the fun!

When Disney's D23 invited us to submit artwork for a special "23 Days of Disney Christmas"  advent calendar, we decided on creating "antique" holiday cards featuring wooden toys that we made from scratch.

My card shows a stylized, toy version of the Mr. Toad's "canary yellow gypsy cart" from the animated film "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad"(1949). When the cart rolls across a flat surface, Toad's horse Cyril pivots back and forth as if he were galloping through the English countryside. It's like one of those classic Fisher-Price pull toys. I made both the cart and horse out of wood and painted everything by hand.

Jody's "toy card" will be revealed on December 15.