Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Here's a book that in no way disappoints. If you like Disney art--and who doesn't?--this book is full of it. But more than that, it's the story of a master artist, who not only traveled the world, recording what he saw in words, drawings and paintings, but also worked with Walt Disney and his team of core artists during key formative periods of the development of animated features, Disneyland, Epcot and the other theme parks. It is apparent that Herbert Ryman played a significant role in the success of several Disney enterprises. But perhaps more importantly, he dedicated his life to art, and the results are easy to see in his works. And, for those of us involved in making art, the icing on the cake is the wisdom he offers from his lifetime of diligent work and study. It's a compelling story presented in a beautifully prouced book.

As a general book about the person Herb Ryman, it is very pretty and well made, and deserves 5 stars.
But as a source of info for the Disney historian, all I can say is: get the public library near you to buy a copy.
Personally, I feel I should have waited to buy it until I had the chance to have a look at the contents... [added later:] I would have bought it, anyway.

This is an amazing and difficult book to review; not for any reason you would expect. The text is compelling and you learn about the man and the artist. The reproductions of Ryman's art are outstanding. You understand the gift the man possessed. What makes the book so difficult to review is also what makes it so amazing--there is no eloquent way for me to describe the artwork found in this book. You have to see it to enjoy the amazing pieces of art.

The book was put together by Bruce Gordon, David Mumford and the Ryman-Carroll Foundation. Bruce and David also did The Nickel Tour and Walt's Time. Bruce co-edited The Art of Disneyland and Disneyland: Now, Then and Forever. This work is a love letter from Mr. Ryman's closest friends, co-workers and family to the legendary artist.

There are four major sections of the book: Odysseys (journeys he took throughout his life), Hollywood (working for major studios), Fantasy Lands & Disney Worlds (Disneyland through Disneyland Paris) and Legacy (The Ryman Foundation). Most Disney enthusiasts will undoubtedly focus on the concept artwork for the theme parks. It is very impressive to see the artwork in one place and realize how much Mr. Ryman was responsible for developing the overall feel for the lands and attractions.

Each land in Disneyland is covered (except Mickey's Toontown) and we see the progressions that Mr. Ryman makes in his own artwork for the company. The early work for Disneyland is a little more focused on specific areas whereas the latter works seem to be more sweeping and carry more emotional weight.

The other section of the book refer to Mr. Ryman's non-Disney career. He spent a few years travelling Europe and Asia before doing studio work and he even spent a few years painting portraits of the performers and clowns for the Ringling Brother's Circus. After his Disneyland and early Magic Kingdom work, he travelled through Europe and Asia again. He never really left Disney; they called him back to work on concepts for Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland (The Indiana Jones Adventure).

There is so much more fantastic art throughout the whole book. The few pieces I have shared are just a few of the Disney-related works. So much of his life's work is more about emotions and feelings than realistic portrayal. In the book, his most powerful statements are from the time he spent painting the Pacific Coast near his home. He effectively captured the mood and feel of the rocky shores. I have read a few criticisms about the book--namely that there is too much sub par art and not enough Disney-focused art. Personally, I was fascinated with all of Mr. Ryman's art. Not only did it tell of his life, but it shed some light on the influences that were present in his work. Whether it was mood, shadows or vistas; you could immediately sense that you were viewing an artist that was meant to do his work.

Bottom Line: I thoroughly enjoyed this dedication to Herb Ryman. This book isn't for every Disney Geek, but those enthusiasts with an interest in concept art and a look at the development of a Disney artist will treasure it. The artwork is astounding and there were some surprises within the pages. As is, the book is out of print and you should expect to pay street prices well above the release price. Although it isn't as spectacular as The Nickel Tour or as comprehensive as The Art of Disneyland, you do see where Mr. Ryman excelled and where his influence was most prominent. If you can snag a copy of it, you will not be disappointed.

Originally posted at [...] Brush with Disney : An Artist's Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman

And that is what this book really is. It's cover, depicting the famous Disney castle sketch had promised a wallow in Herb's creations for his boss, Walt Disney. It actually turns out to be a walk through Herb's life of sketching and interesting though this is, there is one meagre chapter devoted to his concepts for the Disney parks. I would have liked more. The other sections are more sketchy illustrations and whilst it shows how Herb's talents developed I would have liked more devoted to the House of Mouse.I've given it 4 out 5 because of my admiration for the artist rather than the content I was expecting. The title is exactly what it says: A BRUSH with Disney. Shame it wasn't the whole artist's palette.

I will admit that it was strange at first reading this in the first person (I was under the impression that Mr. Ryman had passed away some time ago....If I'm mistaken...Sorry!). Other than that, the book was great.

I think the general public doesn't give a thought to the fact that Imagineers are highly trained/skilled artists. This book really demonstrates this nicely. Who better than Herb Ryman as an example of the fine artistry Disney has cultivated over the years.

Don't expect to see lots of pictures of Mickey and Disney stuff. Sure, it's there, but the book focusses on Ryman, as it should. We can see why Herb was great at his job with Disney because of the wealth of life experiences he had and therefore painted.

Good stuff. Great book!

It is a great book when you want to learn about collors and style in Disney park design, but not much on the period of Dumbo animation and other early disney design and concept art for animation in the golden period of disney animation. Still great paintings and Aquarels (study the techniques) from traveling and the design paintings, for the disney world themeparks. It gave me the Idear of buying a sketchbook for my world traveling.
Jan Reijmerink Drontywood ART

I found A Brush With Disney to be an overall good book. It looks great on the coffee table and shelf, has a beautiful cover, and clear, quality illustrations. That being said, if you think this is a book full of Disney concept art (as I did) you'll be disappointed. The book is not about Disney, but about the artist and his life and work. His work at Disney takes up only about a fourth of the book. I also thought it would feature concept work for different rides, parks, etc. In actuality it only had concept work for the parks and a few of the "lands" in Disneyland (Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, etc.) I felt a bit cheated after paying $65 because it's as if the artist is selling himself under the Disney name for publicity and name recognition. Anyone heard of Herbert Dickens Ryman before? I sure haven't. I didn't give it a one star rating simply because the content is good, it's just not about what is advertised and promoted on cover.