Disney Duster's (and Marce82's) Art

[Disney Duster]

Hi all!

I have been wanting to do an art thread for a while!

The latest and most important project of mine to date recently wrapped. Since it is my second favorite musical (after Wicked), I wanted to make my dream of what I would love my own production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's 1987 musical Into the Woods, set during a fairy tale 18th century, to look like! It contains some old ideas, since before Disney's 2014 film adaptation ever began, so I may change the designs if I ever did a second, ultimate dream production where I have each fairy tale come from different eras, but until then, this is my first big art dream come true! My second art dream is my own version of Cinderella, as a comic. You may get previews of that here some day in the future.

So, for this "Into the Woods" project, I designed costumes, sets, and other visuals, and Marce82 drew the final, more professional-looking art, including drawing the faces and bodies based on celebrities I chose. I got inspiration from many things, and there are some homages to my own high school senior year's production (that I played Rapunzel's Prince in!), as well as Disney's 2014 version.

I plan to drop one art piece for this "Into the Woods" project a day. So check back each day if you are curious!

People from this forum also helped me pick the celebrities, found here.

First piece up, the poster design, featuring the Prince Charmings' castle:

"Once upon a time..."

[UmbrellaFish]

Very cool! What a cool project for both of you to have worked on, I’m sure it was a labor of love. Looking forward to the drops!

Is the castle on the cover inspired by Neuschwanstein? The pinks and blues remind me of the Disney parks castles, too. Very pretty!

[Disney Duster]

Thank you, Brelly for your kind words and being the first commentor in here! And...you got it! For this castle I was heavily inspired by both Neuschwanstein and one Disney Parks castle in particular...Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant in Disneyland Paris! I also borrowed the clock idea from Cinderella (1950), since midnight is so important in this musical! And yes, this really was a labor of love for me!

Second piece to drop: the Narrator. He is based on a senior-ish Dick Van Dyke!:

"...in a far-off kingdom..."

[blackcauldron85]

I LOVE IT! I'm so excited. I love that you're opening it with a book. The Narrator is amazing - I adore his outfit!

[UmbrellaFish]

I love the pj’s!! And I immediately recognized that era of Dick van Dyke!!

[Disney Duster]

Thank you for the very kind words, Amy and Brelly! You know, anyone can say positive or negative words about my art. I accept, and like, all criticism! So if you don't like something, go ahead and say! But I am glad you guys like what I have done so far. Yeah, for some reason I saw the Narrator in a smoking jacket and pj's reading the story at home!

Next drop: Cinderella in rags. She is based on Scarlett Johansson! She is wearing 18th century stays, and floating next to her is her jacket to go "into the woods". The jacket is based heavily on the one from the Disney film!

"...lived a fair maiden..."

[UmbrellaFish]

Oh how pretty! Are the colors of her dress and apron inspired by Disney’s animated Cinderella? I like the pop of pink in her bodice and shoes, too. Is that a reference to Cinderella’s pink dress or was it chosen for another reason?

[blackcauldron85]

I love her hair color and I also love the pop of pink. Super pretty. It's neat seeing your version of your favorite!

[Disney Duster]

Thank you so much for saying it is pretty and other comments, you two! I forgot to thank you Amy, for joining! I love your enthusiasm toward something I made! You guys really make me happy. Brelly, thank you for asking such incisive questions! The pink pops were the doing of Marcelo. Here you will get a peek into my creative process. The initial sketch is on the left, and a painting I referenced the stays from is on the right:


As you can see, I made, in my sketch, a brown bodice (stays) and shoes. Marcelo either accidentally thought they were pink, or decided to make them pink. Whatever he did led to brilliance. Pink and purple are the colors I chose to keep the Cinderella fairy tale section in this production in (based on the stepsisters saying, "Never wear mauve at a ball. Or pink!"), so the pink fit that, it was original and creative (I never saw that on a Cinderella before), and it was so pretty! So I kept it because I thought Cinderella would still try to wear some stuff she likes, especially shoes! The skirt colors are sort of like the Disney 1950 film work clothes, but also because many, many Cinderella work clothes are those colors, and I just thought rags should be those colors, since that is the lowly, poor, servant aspect to her. The colors are also woodsy, and the different, jagged pieces look like leaves to me, which you will see connect to her ballgown when that drops. As for the painting, stays were usually underwear, but that does not appear to be the case in the painting. I don't know if they are decorative, outerwear stays or not. Also, I think you may recognize it, I based the hair a lot on servant Cinderella's hair in The Slipper and the Rose.

Haha, Amy, I very much liked your last comment! But truth be told, my ultimate version of my favorite, French Charles Perrault Cinderella (not this Into the Woods Grimm's version, which is more like my second favorite of her story's iterations), would be seen in the comic I am making. But that may not come out for another two years, we shall see!

It is time to drop another piece! It is Jack, Poor. He is based on a teenage Ed Sheeran! His costume is based a lot on the original Broadway cast costume, with the threads for his sleeves an homage to the Disney 2014 film. The orange embroidery represents beanstalk leaves, daggers, and hearts.

"...a sad young lad..."

[Disney Duster]

Next drop is the Baker! He is based on Freddie Prinz Jr.! I wanted Hispanic representation. He is more good-looking than maybe the Baker is "supposed to be", but he's so damn cute I don't care! The wheat on his apron represents the personality and situation of his character.

"...and a childless baker..."

[blackcauldron85]

I was not expecting a hot baker ! (Even though I used to have a crush on James Corden before I learned he's a jerk.). I looooved seeing the initial idea sketches for Cinderella - super neat. Jack Sheeran I'll call him is adorable. I love the differing greens and how they go with his red hair. This is super fun and actually something I'm really looking forward to when I log on!!

(And something to look forward to with your comic!)

[Disney Duster]

Amy, thank you so much, your comments have made me so happy, I can't even say how much. Especially how you remarked on the colors going together, liking the peek into my initial sketches, and looking forward to my art!

Unfortunately, the Into the Woods drops have to take a temporary hiatus. Nothing bad has happened, I just need to clear something up with my artistic partner. I will return with news and probably more art, just perhaps modified, as soon as possible! Hang tight, and once again, thanks guys!

[Vlad]

Wow, these are so beautiful. Well done, Duster and Marce!

[Disney Duster]

Thank you, Vlad, for the very nice comment!

Good news! The artistic issue has been dealt with! So, I can continue posting the Into the Woods project here!

Next piece I am dropping: The Baker's Wife, Act I look.

The Baker's Wife is based on Isla Fisher. It is great I am starting back up with her, as she is the one I consider the main character of the show, or who the play is about. I messed up and had to make her wear her caraco jacket for the woods all through the first act, but, maybe if I actually worked on the costume in real life I would figure out a better costume for what she would wear underneath the jacket! i came up with the initial design for the symbolic flames and smoke on her apron, but Marcelo also helped come up with the final design.

"...with his wife."

[UmbrellaFish]

Welcome back!

I like the Baker’s Wife’s costume! It’s very classic fairytale, and I like the choice of hat (I don’t know what it’s called?). It gives her a kind of puck-ish quality, I think, which is suitable for the character. I notice on her apron, are the red designs flames of fire and the blue designs gusts of wind? Or maybe water? Can you explain that choice? I ask because when I was a theatre major, I love asking my costume designer questions about my costumes because I always thought it was a way to know my character better.

Second question, what brought you to settle on Isla Fisher for this role? She has always reminded me so much of Amy Adams, and of course Amy Adams did a production for Shakespeare in the Park maybe 10 years ago, now?

Keep up the great work, guys! And thank you for sharing with us!!

[Disney Duster]

Thank you so much for the welcome! And, of course I love being asked questions about my costumes! It shows you care and know about costume design, or at least, that you are exactly the kind of people I want to show these costumes to!

I am glad you like this costume! I have no idea what to call the Baker's Wife's head covering either! I have just seen it used in enough 18th century fashion/costumes before! I wanted her to have something on her head since the Broadway version had something. I do like the idea of her being puckish, good call! I didn't know you were a theater major! So was I! My depression saw the end to my acting though, ha. Maybe I should go back to college for costume design? Problem is, I have autism so I only really care about fairy tale, fantasy, or Shakespearean costumes, haha. Anyway, the red images are indeed flames and the blue swirls smoke. It is to cover three things: She bakes with fire, she has a fiery personality, and she has flames of passion in that...area where the apron covers, lol!

I admit I chose Isla Fisher, and many of these actors, almost purely based on looks. I think Isla's red hair is perfect for the character, but I was also charmed by her and found her funny in Confessions of a Shopaholic, so at least her cuteness and comedic chops I think would work well if she played the Baker's Wife! And the Amy Adams in Into the Woods connection is great, I forgot that!

Next drop: Cinderella's house exterior.

I think I was veeeeery inspired by the Disney animated Cinderella chateau, right down to a tower Cinderella sleeps in, haha. But it's very 18th century.

"I wish to go to the festival!"

[Disney Duster]

Ok, the next drop is: Cinderella's house interior.

I wonder if I like the color combination so much because I'm a '90s kid, lol. But no, not every '90s kid loves these colors. Let me know if you guys notice what's going on in the painting!

"And the ball!"

[blackcauldron85]

Cinderella is peeking up at the bottom, like "I'm in the family, too, guys!". I like the colors very much, and the baker's wife's dress is so nice!

[Disney Duster]

Haha, you got the painting joke, Amy! And thank you for the comments!

I forgot to post a piece yesterday! I may forget, or be unable, to post a piece some days, so please forgive me, guys!

I don't know if anyone noticed yet, but I am dropping these designs in the order they appear in the original Broadway video recording.

I do not have the skills to design a Milky White, haha, so today's drop is Jack's house exterior.

I found inspiration for this from the barn in the mosaics at Walt Disney World's Cinderella Castle:


Here's the finished piece. I incorporated trees from the "woods" and a poor, farm-y thatched roof. Perhaps now some of the pieces are more medieval than 18th century haha.

"I wish our cow would give us some milk."

[UmbrellaFish]

I should have realized the swirls were smoke! I love the explanation behind those designs on her apron— it is very appropriate and definitely captures that character.

I love that girly, 90s pink and purple color combo for Cinderella’s hearth. It reminds me of toys from that time. I love that the bellows (had to google what is was called!) has a little heart design on it. It actually looks like a very cozy place for Cinderella to sleep.

I adore those WDW Cinderella mosaics, I think it’s very cool that you used them as inspiration in the designs.