Get inspired by DFW animators & artists, creativity-inspiring places, and our top picks of podcasts, books and Disney+ programs
Like the entire team at the AMA, Director of Exhibitions & Registrar Kendall Quirk prepares for an upcoming art exhibition at the Arlington Museum of Art by immersing herself in the world of the art and the artist(s). For Disney Art from Private Collections, she devoured a library of books, podcasts, programs and more, and discovered some magical people and places along the way.
Here are her top picks for you to discover, too!
Local artists
Allison Belliveau-Proulx
Throughout her successful career working as a background artist for Walt Disney Feature Animation and Hanna Barbera in Burbank, California, Allison Belliveau-Proulx had the opportunity to work on a number of feature-length films and animation projects, including Fantasia 2000 (1999), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Pocahontas (1995).
Now, Allison has turned her talent to the canvas full time and currently resides near Dallas, TX. She recently completed her MFA at Texas Woman’s University majoring in painting and minoring in sculpture. For more information, visit Ro2 Art gallery in Dallas, TX, where she is represented.
Brazen Animation
HQ’ed in Richardson, TX, Brazen Animation has seemingly done it all. From Space Jam 2 to Tom & Jerry in La La Land and clients ranging from McDonalds to the Dallas Mavericks, you’ve got to check out their YouTube channel chock full of client projects as well as their own original work.
Christopher Rabb
Earlier this year, the AMA hosted Oblivious Sensation, our first exhibition of works by San Antonio-based artist Christopher Rabb. Like we do, Christopher believes that “painting is like telling a story. Still, instead of using words, I have chosen to use images from movies, books, and comics. In doing so, I have abstracted the original narratives by removing the pictures from their original context.”
We think you’ll clearly see influences of animation in Christopher’s work, like “Smash Original So Fantastic Empire.” Visit his website for more POWerful examples.
José Luis González
José Luis González is an award-winning cartoonist, an accomplished playwright and screenwriter, and (in his words) “a not-too-shabby filmmaker” based out of Austin, TX. According to his website, his current project is his first animated feature The History of Magic.
Here’s a sample of his filmmaking, an animated short which was accepted into both the 2014 Lone Star Film Festival and 2014 Marfa Film Festival:
Benjamin Wagley
So much more to discover
Disney+
- Sketchbook
- Disney’s First Feature: The Making of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Real Fairy Godmother
- Beyond Beauty: The Untold Story Behind the Making of Beauty and the Beast
- Picture Perfect: The Making of Sleeping Beauty
- Pride of the Lion King
- The Story of the Animated Drawing
- Frank and Ollie
Podcasts
- Drawn: The Story of Animation
- Animation Happy Hour
- D23 Inside Disney
- Once Upon A Time
Books
- The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
- Nine Old Men by Andreas Deja
- The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember
- Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation
- Paper Dreams: The Art and Artists of Disney Storyboards
