The 100 Greatest WDI Artists of All Time

[Eddie Sotto]

Glad people have been enjoying this Compendium. Now we're at the half-way point, some thoughts on what I've discovered, missing artists and ranking them:

-Availability of Art: This whole exercise is at the mercy of what illustrations have been made visible to the public, typically through books & internet, also tv specials and art exhibitions. Disney, thankfully, has been pretty good about showing off their artists' work, even though what's been seen is only the tip of the iceberg of their 150,000+ piece vault... which is both very frustrating and tantalizing. Universal, on the other hand, has never published a book on their creative works (why the heck not?) and is pretty stingy with what they release. Sadly, ~5-10 years ago a number of Gen II or Gen III designers & artists had their own websites showing off their work, and many of those sites are now gone. I wish I had saved or labeled more of that work when I had the chance.

-WDI-Specific: Since the thread title says WDI- and this is a Disney site, I've tried to make this about artists that have done at least something for WDI. This means there are artists, working for Universal or other endeavors, who would make this list had they been connected to Disney in their careers.

-Celebrity Guest Stars: Often, some of the very best pieces of key art are done by artists who are top talents in Movies, and come in to do a single job for WDI. Examples would be Peter Ellenshaw, Drew Struzan, Dylan Cole, Craig Mullins (clockwise below). The great Lucasfilm/ILM artists (Doug Chiang, Eric Tiemens, Khang Le, etc.) who worked on Galaxy's Edge fall into this category. If they work more in theme parks, they'd be around the top of the list. But I've left them off. If a top-talent movie artist participates in multiple-themed projects (like a Bob Scifo or Stephan Martiniere), I try to include.
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-Grew Out of It: Conversely to the original imagineers, who were movie artists brought in to design theme parks, there a number of Gen II or III artists who started young at WDI as concept artists or storyboarders and then moved on to become top tier movie art directors or commercial artists (e.g., Dean Tschetter or Guy Vasilovich). I rank them on their early work at WDI versus their career work outside theme parks.

-Young Whippersnappers: There are a number of newer (late Gen III or Gen IV) artists whose style and output I prefer over some of the venerable legends. But in a list entitled "Greatest of All Time" it feels weird placing someone who has been doing this for five years over someone who worked for decades and helped shape the parks to begin with. So there is a little age bias favoring the earlier generations.

Now on with the rankings...

One of the pieces in my montage was done by Jim Michaelson, the clock tower.

 

[Spaceship Ears]

#61 John DeCuir Sr.: Gen I. A legendary film Art Director who dabbled in Disneyland, MK & EPCOT Center.
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@RandySavage oh my goodness, this thread was a treat to see. I am John DeCuir Sr.'s grandson, and I had to create an account here to thank you for this marvelous thread. I appreciate the love and care you show for Disney history here and the artistic genius of so many people that brought it to life. I am lucky to have both my grandfather and father's talent reflected in Disney heritage, and appreciate you shining a light on them and so many others. Happy to chat more with you or anyone else interested in this area - drop me a line here or on instagram (same username).

Cheers, John

 

[valleydave]

#56 Ron(ald) Bowman: Gen II. Hand-drawing WDI architect who deserves credit for why the assembled buildings of World Showcase pavilions and Anaheim & Paris Fantasylands harmonize so well.
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#57 Erik Van Der Palen: Gen III. Skilled artist who can sketch and paint with great finesse. Disney projects included Hunny Hunt, unrealized Dinosaurland and Tokyo Tomorrowland.
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#58 Anastasia Pavlova: Gen III-IV. Newcomer. Mostly published as a colorist, which she is second-to-none. If other artistic skills (linework, idea origination) match color-work (and there are indications they do), she could be a future Dan Goozee.
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#59 Suzanne Rattigan: Gen II. Widely diverse rendering skills. DLP and DisneySea among very long list of design credits.
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#60 Lay: Gen II. Who is the enigma known only as "Lay"? Anyone? Some very nice IoA key art shown here. Also Disney-MGM Studios.
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my guess would be Tom Lay - a great gouache painter mainly in movies (ALOT of concepts for movies 'Hook' etc...) but commercials too... including 'on-air' art - painted BG's in 'Jolly Green Giant' spots.

 

[valleydave]

#56 Ron(ald) Bowman: Gen II. Hand-drawing WDI architect who deserves credit for why the assembled buildings of World Showcase pavilions and Anaheim & Paris Fantasylands harmonize so well.
View attachment 465027

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#57 Erik Van Der Palen: Gen III. Skilled artist who can sketch and paint with great finesse. Disney projects included Hunny Hunt, unrealized Dinosaurland and Tokyo Tomorrowland.
View attachment 465028

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#58 Anastasia Pavlova: Gen III-IV. Newcomer. Mostly published as a colorist, which she is second-to-none. If other artistic skills (linework, idea origination) match color-work (and there are indications they do), she could be a future Dan Goozee.
View attachment 465029

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#59 Suzanne Rattigan: Gen II. Widely diverse rendering skills. DLP and DisneySea among very long list of design credits.
View attachment 465030

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#60 Lay: Gen II. Who is the enigma known only as "Lay"? Anyone? Some very nice IoA key art shown here. Also Disney-MGM Studios.
View attachment 465031

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#56 Ron(ald) Bowman: Gen II. Hand-drawing WDI architect who deserves credit for why the assembled buildings of World Showcase pavilions and Anaheim & Paris Fantasylands harmonize so well.
View attachment 465027

***

#57 Erik Van Der Palen: Gen III. Skilled artist who can sketch and paint with great finesse. Disney projects included Hunny Hunt, unrealized Dinosaurland and Tokyo Tomorrowland.
View attachment 465028

***

#58 Anastasia Pavlova: Gen III-IV. Newcomer. Mostly published as a colorist, which she is second-to-none. If other artistic skills (linework, idea origination) match color-work (and there are indications they do), she could be a future Dan Goozee.
View attachment 465029

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#59 Suzanne Rattigan: Gen II. Widely diverse rendering skills. DLP and DisneySea among very long list of design credits.
View attachment 465030

***

#60 Lay: Gen II. Who is the enigma known only as "Lay"? Anyone? Some very nice IoA key art shown here. Also Disney-MGM Studios.
View attachment 465031

***

my guess would be Tom Lay - a great gouache painter mainly in movies (ALOT of concepts for movies 'Hook' etc...) but commercials too... including 'on-air' art - painted BG's in 'Jolly Green Giant' spots.