This year Mickey Mouse turns 90, and it's hard to believe there was a time when he wasn’t around.
For almost a century Mickey has influenced artists to create fabulous pieces of work. He is the perfect example of an artist’s determination to create by his own rules, that's why his conceptual history resonates with so many artists and he's been such a big part of the art world; artists want to create art on their own terms.
Below are just some of the great pieces we have at Magical Memories that have been influenced by Mickey Mouse.
“Mickey’s Creative Journey” By Tim Rogerson | Shop: https://bit.ly/2QRYa3i
Walt Disney famously said that Disney started with a mouse, but you could say it also started with a Rabbit, too. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was invented when Disney and his brother Roy, along with cartoonist Ub Iwerks, began Disney Brother Studios. Oswald was an instant hit with audiences, but after the initial run of his cartoon shorts, Disney lost rights to the rabbit.
Artist Tim Rogerson’s “Two Lucky Feet,” features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s first successful animated character.
“Two Lucky Feet” By Tim Rogerson | Shop: https://bit.ly/2RYir7K
After later losing rights to Oswald, the three men ventured out and created a new character in hopes of striking it big. To create the look, they took the body of Oswald, shortened his ears, made him a bit rounder in the middle, extended his nose and turned a rabbit into a mouse named Mortimer.
Yeah, you read that right, Mickey could have been Mortimer Mouse! However, thanks to a suggestion from Walt’s wife, he changed the name to Mickey and an icon was created.
“Steamboat” By Tim Rogerson | Shop: https://bit.ly/2RYH4Bh
On November 18th, 1928, Steamboat Willie premiered. The first ever animation to feature synchronized music and sound effects. In Tim Rogerson’s “Steamboat,” Mickey is shown as the iconic Steamboat Willie, the cartoon that started it all!
In 1935 Mickey got his biggest makeover from animator Fred Moore. Mickey was given a pear shape body, pupils, a shorter nose, as well as those iconic white gloves. This version of Mickey is shown perfectly in “Drawing the Mouse."
“Drawing The Mouse” By Tim Rogerson | Shop: https://bit.ly/2OMA7Bh
During the same year, Mickey got the Technicolor treatment in “The Band Concert," which inspired Jim Salvati’s piece “Music is in the Air."
“Music is in The Air” By Jim Salvati | Shop: https://bit.ly/2QMHs5I
In 1940 Mickey became a full-fledged movie star thanks to Fantasia, one of the most important, and visually stunning animated films in cinematic history.
In Michelle St. Laurent’s “Magical March,” Mickey is shown in one of his most iconic looks. He is a wizard from the segment “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” who brings life to cleaning supplies in order to help him with daily chores.
“Magical March” By Michelle St. Laurent | Shop: https://bit.ly/2TgwCGM
One of the things that makes Mickey so iconic and influential is how he relates to us, and how artists have been influenced by this.
An example of this is Jim Warren’s “What Does Mickey Dream.” In this piece, Mickey dreams about past memorable times and his gal, Minnie Mouse.
“What Does Mickey Dream” By Jim Warren | Shop:https://bit.ly/2B8rQUs
Speaking of Minnie and Mickey, they are the epitome of relationship goals. Whether they are just enjoying each other's company like in James Coleman’s “Our Sunset” or sharing a tasty treat like in Manuel Hernandez’s “Sundae For Two,” their love story is one for the ages!
“Our Sunset” By James Coleman | Shop:https://bit.ly/2RQqun0
“Sundae For Two” By Manuel Hernandez | Shop: https://bit.ly/2DFS17z
Mickey has also influenced modern art! In Tennessee Loveless’ work “Cet N’est Pas Un Chapeau,” Mickey’s iconic face is painted as an homage to Belgian surrealist, Rene Magritte and his work with clouds.
“Cet N’est Pas Un Chapeau” by Tennessee Loveless | Shop: https://bit.ly/2Tat8pb
He’s even been reimagined as a Picasso cubist painting in Tim Rogerson’s “Micasso” and a Jackson Pollock splatter painting in David Willardson’s “Lovely.” These works show the imagination influence Mickey has on artists and how he transcends all kinds of movements and mediums in art.
It's going to be exciting to see what future works are going to be created with his influence.
“Micasso” by Tim Rogerson | Shop:https://bit.ly/2B84EG2
“Lovely” by David Willardson | Shop: https://bit.ly/2QJXGfH
As long as there is a mouse, there will be great pieces of work celebrating his life and accomplishments to grace our walls. All of these works are available to purchase at www.disneyfineartgalleries.com.
Happy Birthday, Mickey! Here's to another 90 years of inspiring artists!