"Art of the Disney Princess" - Book Review

[SoraPandora]

Hi everybody!

Aside from collecting pins, I am a mad collector of books... especially pretty books like collections of art and graphic novels.

A few months ago, I stumbled across this beauty at Disneyland.

It is called "Art of the Disney Princess," collected and introduced by Glen Keane.

I rediscovered it on my bookshelf last night and fell in love all over again.

This book was actually released way back in 2009, so I'm sure most of you die-hard Disney fans already either own it yourselves, or know all about it... but I thought I'd share a quick review for those princess lovers who don't know it exists yet.

This is a really big book, kind of square in size (about 10x10 inches), chock full of artwork inspired by our favorite Disney princesses. (That's right, I said Disney inspired - This book consists mostly of fan art, so don't expect any screen shots or official concept sketches.) The artwork ranges from old-school oil paintings to newfangled digital media (hello Photoshop), with some really cool photography, collages, and schoolgirl doodles thrown in for good measure.


Just for fun, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pieces with you - one for each of the main princesses represented in the book:

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Ariel - artwork by Jenny Chung

Aurora - artwork by Eric Tan

Belle - artwork by Dorota Kotarba-Mendez

Cinderella - artwork by Vince Musacchia

Jasmine - artwork by Enrique Pita & Ed Irizzary

Mulan - artwork by Ron Valesco

Snow White - artwork by Jenny Chung

Tiana - artwork by Dorota Kotarba-Mendez
​

There were also a couple Pocahontas-inspired artworks, but none I personally liked enough to include a picture of. (Poor Poca!)

Interestingly enough, the book also included a small representation of two oft-forgotten Disney heroines - Atlantis' Kida and Peter Pan's Tiger Lily. But sadly, nothing for fans of Princess Eilonwy (The Black Cauldron) or Maid Marian (Robin Hood).

Note that this book came out shortly before the release of Tangled, and long before Brave, so the darling Rapunzel and daring Merida are also nowhere to be found within its pages.

We can only hope for a sequel! ​

 

[SoraPandora]

Oh, I forgot to mention that this book is currently available here on Amazon for $26.40, a great price drop from its list price of $40.

This would make a great holiday gift for the princess lover on your list!

Even if the artwork is sometimes hit and miss, the book truly has something for everyone.

 

[disneycrazee]

I absolutely love this book. I pre-ordered it back in 2009 (gosh, has it been that long already?? Lol) and find it very inspiring!

 

[Belle]

Really nice artwork, I've seen a few of these images on tumblr.

I would consider buying this book myself

 

[YoSoyAhPuch]

My girlfriend, a friend of ours and I stood inside of that store in DTD (can't remember the name of it right now. Huh!) for a good 15 mins. as we flipped through the book. There is some really great stuff in there!

 

[Romancing_Train]

I love this book too! And I just wanted to add they made this book right before Princess and the Frog released, and it's a huge collection that was made from a gallery showing and many of the pieces were taken from that. So there if I'm not mistaken is only one or two pictures of Tiana in the book <3


We should do more book reviews! I love this idea.

 

[Vixy]

I came across this book a year ago in one of the stores at WDW, but didn't have the spare money or room in my luggage, so put it on my Amazon wish list instead.

This Christmas, my mother-in-law bought it for me!

I love it SO MUCH!