The Princess and the Frog

My newest Disney image tells the story of The Princess and the Frog in what I call a “narrative panorama”. Every Disney painting I’ve done strives to convey the complete film’s story line in one glimpse. The viewer’s eyes can look at the image and visualize the plot, the characters and the overall feeling communicated within the animated feature.

In The Princess and the Frog, my first painting for a Disney new release, the characters of the movie swirl about the composition, inviting us to ponder the part each plays in the story. We see the large mansion of Big Daddy, resplendent with an evening's party on the bayou. The old riverboat churns its way into the bay as a flight of fireflies flickers overhead, and Ray, the senior statesman of the fireflies, ponders the vista. In an example of the blended time frame for which my Disney paintings are known, we see Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen being observed by the frogs who are Tiana and Naveen in a different form. In the billowing smoke of the riverboat we see a hint of Facilier, the evil voodoo master, while below Mama Odie stands guard in her swampy home. Lewis, the trumpet playing alligator, reminds us that New Orleans is at heart a musical city, and the riverboat guests behind him wave greeting to one and all. If you look carefully, you can spot other characters from the movie hidden around the composition, as well as a few unexpected "Disney visitors" from earlier classics.

As the first piece in the series, The Princess and the Frog will no doubt experience an enthusiastic welcome by Disney and Kinkade fans worldwide. At its core, The Princess and the Frog painting, like the movie itself, portrays a romantic love story. And who can resist a love story?