Disney's Cinderella

Like many little girls throughout the ages I dreamt of growing up to become a princess.  (Nowadays I aspire instead to a quiet life with a veggie patch, a rose garden and maybe a bee hive).

Perhaps the most accessible princesses during my childhood were the Disney versions.  I loved all the classics of the time, but Cinderella possibly had a slight edge when it came to my affection.

I think the appeal of Cinderella is the 'against all odds' aspect of the story.  She endures great personal tragedy, reduced circumstances and overt cruelty - and then just when life seems at its bleakest - fate (and a fairy godmother) step in and whisk her away to a new life of happiness and promise.

When we went to Disneyland (Paris) I chose a small figurine of Cinderella as my memento of our holiday.  

 I can't seem to photograph her successfully but she stands on my dressing table with all my other little treasures.....

.... . And then last Christmas I bought a 'vintage'ornament for the tree.  It was a bit of an impulse buy but I couldn't resist it and she looked really pretty amongst the other decorations.. 

The most bizarre thing has just happened.  I was busy adding these pictures to my blog when I saw a Google notification. It told me 'an awesome photo has been added' and someone else has included this effect of the tree sparkling - how strange is that! 

My Mom owned these two identical little books of Cinderella and she loved them.  The books are really small - like the little pocket dictionaries I used before we were able to look things up online.  As a child I could never really see their appeal.  They were not big or colourful enough for me, but I treasure them today because they meant so much to her.

Something that has always intrigued me is that Disney brought out two versions of Cinderella.  I've always found both quite magical.  Does anyone know if the alternate version was ever made into a movie?  If it was I've never come across it.

There is a well known paper doll book based on these illustrations - I've never owned a copy but have seen it advertised for sale and have often been tempted.  

When I was eight years old (don't laugh I know I was that age exactly!) one of the big South African supermarket chains gave out a page of card when you shopped there (it must have been some sort of promotional offer) that had a game on it - I think it was a bit like snakes and ladders.  It was similar to the sort of thing that appeared on the back of cereal boxes.  The illustrations all centred around Cinderella wearing the ball gown from this version of the story.  I would love to be able to see this game again but doubt any are still in existence.  I do own a book with the full story and all the illustrations - I've scanned my favourites from it and have included them here:

I've always thought this paper doll book a particularly lovely one.  It first appeared 4 or 5 years ago and looks like it is from somewhere like Russia.   The dolls and dresses are gorgeous.  I'm not going to repeat them all here but will instead give two blog links where you can see the complete set (including other Disney princesses as well)

One can be found here at Paper Doll Collections and I also spotted them on the blog belonging to Miss Missy  (a fellow OPDAG member).

Of all the blog posts I've ever done the one that still continues to be visited the most (at least 50 times every day) is my compilation of Disney love songs.  I shouldn't be encouraging more traffic to it but the link to that post can be found here.  I wanted to put the same version of the song at the end of this post to finish but can't get it to list in the YouTube search so have included another one instead.  

   

                                    

                                          

Ron Embleton and Disney

Ron Embleton and Disney probably seem a strange combination but they represent the two greatest artistic influences of my childhood

Ron Embleton

When as an adult I re-visited the artwork that had the ability to transport me to other worlds as a child, I was startled to realise that many of my favourites were produced by a single person.  Ron Embleton was a British artist who created an incredible body of work (not just as a childrens' illustrator) before his untimely death at the age of 58.

The power of the Internet has made examples of his art instantly accessible and the most definitive collection is probably to be found at the Look and Learn website.
(they hold the copyright to much of his art.)

As my intention in this blog is to try to include images not readily found anywhere else I am including five illustrations that can be counted amongst my favourites but which I have not yet come across online.

Ron Embleton - Golden Goose

I've always loved the play of light and shade in this painting from the Golden Goose although the comic characters in the foreground are slightly jarring.  The grandeur of the buildings, the sunlight literally gilding everything it touches makes this a fairytale illustration that is not easily forgotten.

Ron Embleton - Aladdin

Ron Embleton - Aladdin

These two illustrations from Aladdin contain a wonderful theatrical atmosphere.  It is amazing to think that paint alone can produce such a combination of light and magic.

Ron Embleton - Goldilocks

 

An illustration of Goldilocks arriving at the house of the Three Bears.  As a teenager studying art as one of my major subjects in high school, I spent many hours drawing and painting trees and landscapes.  My technique was unashamedly influenced by the style Embleton produced here.

Ron Embleton - Goose Girl

This painting from the story of The Goose Girl encapsulates everything that constitutes a fairy tale.  It has an epic quality, reminiscent of a body of literature that stretches from Beowulf to the Lord of the Rings.     

Illustrations from 'Fairy Tales Around the World, retold by Edward Holmes, illustrated by Ronald Embleton 

For more Ron Embleton art click on the links for  More Ron Embleton Magic , Handsome Heroes , Perfect Princesses , Wonderful Weddings , Homage to Embleton and Here be Dragons 

  

Disney  

There can't be many children in the western world whose lives have not been shaped to some extent by Disney.  I was certainly no exception.  When deciding what images to include here I could have opted for many from the years of my childhood.  I finally chose to post these from Cinderella.  The quirky eccentricity of this interpretation has always appealed to me, combined with the fact that this version never came from an actual movie (at least not that I am aware of).  Although the story is traditionally supposed to be set in France, something about the characters and architecture comes across as being curiously American and this strange unreality is part of its appeal,

The final painting is marvellous, not the least because of the characterisation of the prince.  He looks as though he has wandered off the set of the Thunderbirds, more Nutcracker than Prince Charming.

Illustrations taken from 'Fantasyland' part of a collection of books called 'The Wonderful Worlds of Walt Disney', illustrated by The Walt Disney Studio

Photos from Home

Despite the fact that it is such a well trodden part of the tourist trail, if there is anywhere in Ireland that gives the impression fairies are hiding at the bottom of the garden it has to be the grounds of Blarney Castle (County Cork.)  Linger a while and you can swear you hear their tinkling laughter: