"We're the Mouseketeers! We Want to Say Hello!"

So cute, it practically squeaks. These are details from a brand new painting by Jody Daily... 

"Hey there, Hi there, Ho there! You're as welcome as can be!"

The Leader of the Club!

It's ROY!

Jody's one-of-a-kind tribute to the 55th anniversary of the Mickey Mouse Club television show can be seen (in its entirety!) at the upcoming D23 "Destination D" Event in Anaheim, September 24-25.  Several of the original Mouseketeers will be there in person (all grown up now, shockingly!)  Jody and I will be there, too, with some new collectibles just perfect for the occasion.  See you there?

Snack Time!

Original illustration by Jody Daily, Acrylic Paint

It's everyone's favorite chip-lovin' cowpoke,  Frito Kid! 

Take The Path That Moonbeams Make...

The city lights below sparkle like fairy dust, and the clock tower, striking the late night hour, reaches up to us through a cloud.  With a woosh, we bank toward the moon and suddenly we are directly over Never Land itself, where all our happy dreams come true. 

"Off To Never Land" Original acrylic painting by Jody Daily

This "wide-screen" illustration of one of Disneyland's most enduring dark rides, is really a study in black light.  Using  just regular acrylic colors, Jody was able to simulate that glowy, other-worldly look of fluorescent paints under UV light.  Pretty convincing!

Sorry, you'll never see this painting in the Disneyland Gallery... Jody made it for a friend!

Liquid Space in Liquitex

"Oh Boy, Live Mermaids!" Original acrylic painting by Jody Daily

A nostalgic take on the classic Submarine Voyage in Tomorrowland, when honest-to-goodness mermaids inhabited the lagoon.  

Jody and I have always thought the sub drivers' legs an interesting part of the experience. And speaking of legs, ducks paddling on the water's surface sometimes provide a unique show for folks peering up from below.

Over the teeth and past the gums...

"Say Ahhhh" Original acrylic painting by Jody Daily

"We enter Storybookland by being swallowed up by Monstro the Whale - the very same whale that swallowed Pinocchio..." The pleasant voice of our pretty hostess doesn't sound at all concerned, as our little canal boat heads straight into the gaping jaws of Monstro. Dad is too busy admiring her to take notice of the coming danger, but our intrepid kid-in-the-striped-shirt is ready for anything.

Jody's third illustration for Disneyland also features the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant and Skull Rock. I think it's strange that Disneyland has not chosen to release matted prints of this image yet. It's one of my absolute favorites.

Painted Desert!

Original acrylic painting by Jody Daily.  Click to make it big!

This panoramic Frontierland scene looks like some fun animated film that I would love to see.  As the little mine train chugs merrily past the teetering rocks of the Living Desert, passengers gawk at the sights all around.  Up ahead a geyser shoots a steamy plume into the sky, as the old Mark Twain huffs by in the background.  Such a lovely, dreamy scene.  Who could blame even the saguaros for wanting to thumb a ride? 

And, say, there's that striped shirt kid again, this time sporting a Donald Duck-billed hat. 

Color and Quirk

Fantasyland "C" Ticket - Original acrylic painting by Jody Daily 

This painting was snatched up by a collector so fast we didn't even have a chance to tell it goodbye. It was the first in a series of Disneyland illustrations featuring Jody's now-famous "kid in a striped shirt."

Considering the trove that surrounds and inspires me every day in our Anaheim studio, I don't blog about Jody's work nearly enough. Failed attempts aside to convince him to start his own blog, there will be more from the colorful and quirky world of Jody Daily coming to this space throughout the week.  Enjoy!