Book excerpt: Vibrant, splendidly hued, and charming beyond compare, the work of Disney designer and illustrator Mary Blair is more than just acclaimed—it is adored. She has charmed generations with her whimsical creations, from stunning art direction for Cinderella and Peter Pan to the wowing and wonderful “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland. Magic Color Flair celebrates this Disney icon, tracing the evolution of her mesmerizing style and showcasing her work in gorgeous, full-color imagery. Curated by award winning animation director and designer, John Canemaker, the Magic Color Flair is an authoritative celebration of Blair’s life work. From her precocious paintings she made while studying at the renowned Chouinard Art Institute, to her concept drawings for Disney films, to her treasured Golden Books, delightful advertisements and large-scale installations. With annotations about her artistic process, Magic Color Flair gives readers an inside look to her bold and lively artistic process that yielded such loveable, and memorable work. While at art school, Blair developed a dynamic style that emphasized drama and emotion. Her gift for visual storytelling caught the eye of Walt Disney himself, who loved her bold graphics, sophisticated whimsicality, and eye-catching use of color and who became a lifelong friend and champion of her work. This book accompanies the Walt Disney Family Museum’s 2014 Mary Blair exhibit of the same title.