Mary Blair Gallery

MARY ROBINSON BLAIR

1911  – 1978

Watercolors

Mary Blair began her lifelong multifaceted art career in the 1930’s as a member of the prestigious California Watercolor Society. Examples below are from the eary 1930’s:

South American

By 1940, Mary was working for Walt Disney and in 1941 her passionate “explosion of color” style began to emerge during the Disney Studios “South American Goodwill Tour”:

Disney

Mary continued to make extensive contributions to the “world” of Walt Disney off and on for a period of over 30 years. Below are some of the films she influenced:

Johnny Appleseed, 1948

Cinderella, 1950

Alice in Wonderland, 1951

Susie the Little Blue Coupe, 1952

Little House, 1952

Peter Pan, 1953

Personal

Mary’s passion for painting children began at home, with her own two sons – Donovan, born in 1947 and Kevin, born three years later in 1950:

Commercial

During the late 1950’s and early 60’s, working on multiple commercial art projects in her home studio in Great Neck New York, allowed Mary to spend time with her two small sons. Some of her assignments included Meadow Gold (Beatrice Foods), Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods, Pall Mall, Dutch Boy Paints, Hanes underwear and Blue Bell Clothing:

Bakers Instant Chocolate

Blue Bell Clothing

Dutch Boy Paints

Hanes Underwear

Meadow Gold

Pall Mall

Teem Lemon Lime Drink

Gifts for Family & Friends

Mary's gifts for family and friends during the late 50's and 60's were often painted on tiles, plates or cups:

New Expression

The 1970’s were to be Mary’s last years of life. During these years her love of texture, color and collage art combined in a surprising and exciting “new” expression of Mary --- the Mary Blair “nude”! --- jaunty, teasing, sometimes absurd but always “innocent” and undeniably… Mary Blair.