A Brush with Disney : An Artist's Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman [Hardcover]

David Mumford (Author), Bruce Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Ryman Program for Young Artists, The Ryman-Carroll Foundation is proud to present a book of extraordinary insight into the magical worlds of Disney and its quintessential artist Herbert Dickens Ryman.

A Brush with Disney is the story in 252 pages of color illustrations of artist Herbert Ryman's personal journeys around the world and through the "world of Walt".

Told through the marvelous illustrations of the artist and his own personal notes and thoughts on a 50-year journey, this rare compilation (many never-before-seen works) is edited by Bruce Gordon and David Mumford, with research by Irene Naoum.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Herb - he was simply THE MASTER." -- Martin A. Sklar, President, Ryman Carroll Foundation; Vice Chairman and Principal Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering

"He was also truly a craftsman, in all the best sense of that word..." -- Roy E. Disney, Vice Chairman, The Walt Disney Company

About the Author

The author is Herbert Dickens Ryman, as the book is told entirely in his words gathered from journals, letters and notes.

Bruce Gordon and David Mumford edited Ryman's words.

Bruce Gordon joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980, and has contributed to a wide variety of projects at Epcot, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, cyberspace and beyond. He is the co-author of "Disneyland, The Nickle Tour" and "Walt's Time"

David Mumford joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1979, and has contributed to a wide variety of projects at Epcot, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Tokyo DisneySea. He is the co-author of "Disneyland, The Nickle Tour" and "Walt's Time"

Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: Camphor Tree Pub; 1 edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964605961
• ISBN-13: 978-0964605961
• Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 10.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #465,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough Disney, December 2, 2001

By 

Greg Maletic (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Brush with Disney : An Artist's Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman (Hardcover)

I hate to sound like an ingrate writing this review: Herb Ryman has done some great illustrations. Unfortunately, this book spends too much time showcasing Herb Ryman's non-Disney art--which is pretty mediocre--and not enough space showcasing his Disney work. The highlight of the book--Ryman's first illustration of the soon-to-be-built Disneyland--is spread across two pages, but the page break makes it nearly impossible to decipher what's in the middle of the drawing. (It should have perhaps been on a fold-out, or at least on a single, uninterrupted page.) Other great illustrations, especially early renderings of Tomorrowland, are printed in extremely small 3" images, making them very hard to read. All in all, I'd say don't bother with this book. Ryman's best drawings are already showcased in many other books.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have Book!!!, February 16, 2001

By 

Donald W. Ballard "Magicalhotel" (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Brush with Disney : An Artist's Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman (Hardcover)

No artist captures the magic of Disneyland like Herb Ryman! A must have book. Takes you away to fantasyland, adventureland and tomorrowland. Back to happy, care-free times. What memories these drawings, paintings and sketches evoke. This is a book you will look at over and over again and never get tired of. Well worth every penny it cost. What a genius Herb Ryman was.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Herb Ryman - Breathing Life into Disney Imagery, February 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Brush with Disney : An Artist's Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman (Hardcover)

Artmaking is by its very nature an individualized process. The sterotype of the isolated genius - never understood by the public at large - is still often true. Few visual artists get the opportunity to actually merge their talents with another person to truely collabortate as equals but with distict voices. Herb Ryman and Walt Disney formed such a union. This book is a voyeuristic experience into the life of a brillant artist who was at the right place at the right time.

Herb Ryman had the requisite gifts and temperment to partner with Walt Disney, and was therefore able to share his art with the millions of visitors who have passed through the gates of Disney theme parks worldwide. He visually translated the mind and eye of Walt Disney into the reality we now know as Disneyland. What an inside peak into the creative process! The drawings and paintings Herb created are filled with skill and beauty and he traveled the world with his sketchbook in hand. This is a great leason in proper training coupled with a desire to make art and a restless curiosity about life. Young artists should find inspiration in this man who saw the value in collaborating with others to share and shape a larger image than he might have created on his own.