Monday, September 19, 2011

Ghoulish Delight

Jody and I will be traveling to Walt Disney World for the resort's 40th anniversary on October 1, and Disney asked if we might create something special for a Haunted Mansion themed auction that takes place the night before, on September 30th. We decided on a unique interpretation of the Hatbox Ghost - a one-of-a-kind maquette based on artist Collin Campbell's original painting for the famous 1969 Disneyland Record, "The Story and Song from The Haunted Mansion."

For decades, old Hattie's legend was kept alive for thousands of kids lucky enough to own a copy of this LP, with its "magnificent full-color illustrated book." There was (and still is) something deliciously disturbing and exciting about Collin Campbell's illustrations, and the very best page was the the one that showed "a cloaked man whose head disappears from his body and glows hideously from within a hat box."

As far as we know, we've never seen a three-dimensional figure based on Campbell's Haunted Mansion illustrations, so this may very well be the first. Our 8-1/4" tall ghost was cast from my sculpture and then hand-painted by Jody in Campbell's illustrative style, with "hair" fibers added on as a final touch. The maquette is displayed on a wooden base made of antique weathered barn wood, under a glass bell jar. When viewed through the wavy glass, the figure takes on a mildly distorted appearance that makes him even more ghostly.

Hope to meet some of you in Florida.

Here is where we'll be...

Friday, September 30, 2011 -- WDW's Contemporary Resort
Signing at the Contemporary Resort gift shop from 10am-12pm

Saturday, October 1, 2011 -- WDW's actual 40th Anniversary
Diamond Horseshoe in the Magic Kingdom from 1pm-3pm


25 comments:

Chris Merritt said...

Nicely done! Now I wanna see you interpret all the Marc Davis ghosts that never made it in...

Disney Showcase Key said...

So cool the Hatbox Ghost !
But you have already made one before, don't you ?
It was a life-size replica.

This maquette is very nice, but one of a kind, saddly ...

Donnie said...

Incredible!

Blonde Girl said...

Hope to see you there Kevin :) Frank is gonna want this beauty...But only 1 :(

Hikari-emiru said...

Great, just great!
its very unique and looks great behind glass.

The Hatbox Ghost said...

You are a gentleman and a scholar!

Jeff Heimbuch said...

This is amazing...great work!

Health Info. said...

what a art,, some people born with such great gift of god,,



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hank said...

My surname is Kidney too! Hello from the Irish Dublin Kidney clan! (rarely come across same named individuals)... sinc. eoghan kdiney

Laura m said...

Absolutely love it,I sooo want it, wish I was at WDW on those dates, but unfortunately won't be there until 2nd October as will be on the Disney Dream at that time.

ste3ve said...

Wow, that's beautiful. An amazing likeness.

Jeff Kurtti said...

This piece so perfectly encapsulates the combination of fun and fright that is The Haunted mansion. I remember staring at the Campbell art and being alternatly terrified and delighted...and delightfully terrified.

The Hatbox Ghost said...

Naturally, I want to see more pictures. Or, perhaps I should say supernaturally?

Dustysage said...

I love it. Great that you did something a little different and based it off of the concept art!

Unknown said...

Man I just love your work!!!!

HBG2 said...

Mighty nice, guys.

Carrie Vines said...

oh.my....love!!!

Sam Towler said...

Holy Crap that is awesome! I'm working on something based off that same Campbell artwork too! Very Nice!

Eric Scales said...

Awesome Kevin and Jody! Love the paint job with the "implied" lighting.

Richard said...

Inspired by Campbell's art from the Songs and Story of the Haunted Mansion? LOVE IT GUYS!

Mr. Chicken said...

Beautiful sculpt and paint. I recognized it instantly.

Katella Gate said...

It's nice when the things you love are loved by others.

Christopher said...

Ahhh.me want!

myrtle said...

OH my! that was really great.. wanna have that one.
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Dennis Cornetta said...

SO MUCH WANT!!!