Let's Spend A Day At Epcot's Festival of the Arts 2020

My favorite Epcot festival is ending this weekend, so c'mon, let me take you on a virtual visit with all my pictures from this year!

 

John and I were lucky enough to see the art fest twice this year, so if you couldn't make it out in time, don't worry: I've got you covered. ::winkwink:: ::finger guns::

Our friend Scott brought us in for our first visit, when it rained most of the day:

 

So you'll know which day was which by all the water on the ground in my pics, ha.

 

LOOK I'MMA POET

 Here's one from our dryer, sunnier visit a few weeks later:

 

 You wouldn't recognize the front of the park anymore; so much construction! There's a new giant walkway to the right of where Innoventions used to be that brings you all the way around to the Living Seas. I'm pretty sure it cuts through some backstage areas, though you can't see anything beyond the walls.

Over by The Land there's a gorgeous butterfly wing wall, perfect for photos:

 

 (My Figment shirt is by On A Roll Designs.)

 

At the entry to the World Showcase is this beautiful rainbow stage:

It's for... art presentations? I think? Anyway, at night it's all lit up with the same bright colors, and looks like a sparkly rainbow from across the lake.

FINALLY, the good stuff.

I tried to tag every artist I know in my photos. Sorry my watermark is covering that one up there - that's by Jeff Granito - who also made the AMAZEBALLS articulated Tiki Bird pin John wore at Christmas:

When you pull the toucan's tail, his drink empties and his eyes close. So cool.

 Also by Jeff:

That retro Micky & Figment! MY HEART.

 @MontyGog = Dave Perillo. 

 

Quick break from art to show off some fun Figment Disneybounds:

I spotted this lovely lady just as we came into the park.

And this is our friend (and FOE) Tracy!

There was a local meetup that morning for 'bounders, and their theme was Dreamfinder & Figment.

You know, in case you needed any MORE reasons to move to Orlando. ;) 

 The main walkway to the Showcase always has fun new sidewalk art on either side for the festival - but of course for our first visit, all the art was flooded:

So sad! Although most of them were holding together surprisingly well. I guess that fixative spray stuff really works.

Also "Leigh" does all my favorite chalk drawings - and I'm pretty sure this is her:

We stopped to chat and watch her work for a few minutes, while marveling that she could still move after drawing on the ground for hours on end. How. HOW?

Trevor Carlton's work!

One of the best things about Festival of the Arts is that you get to meet SO MANY fantastic Disney artists. I've been following a bunch of them online for years and years - many from before they even started painting for Disney - so I routinely go full fangirl. I've met Miss Mindy, Jerrod Maruyama, Ashley Taylor, and on and on. (I just missed Kristen Tercek, sob. I've been following Cuddly Rigor Mortis for, gosh, maybe 15 years?)

This last trip John and I ran into Tim Rogerson again, who's been one of my faves for at least a decade. To me these artists are rock stars, but every time we see him Tim is just as excited to show us whatever he's working on and chat for a bit - super approachable and easy to talk to.

Here's some of Tim's work:

 

 See why I like it?

Tim was midway through painting this Stitch:

Jasmine Becket-Griffith has a big section in the WonderGround tent:

 

I've been following Jasmine for nearly two decades. I literally found her by searching "fairy art" on Ebay, because this was before Etsy existed, ha.

Wow I'm old.

By the way, since I'm sure some will ask: You can only buy this art at the Festival during the Festival, but afterward some pieces MAY be available at WonderGround Gallery. Even better, you can buy things from WonderGround over the phone, and they'll ship it to you. So if you're desperate to buy something I've posted here, wait another week and then call WonderGround to ask. (I did this a few years ago to buy a print from WonderGround in CA, before we had our own store in Florida.)

This Merlin by Jared Franco stopped me in my tracks:

 I think I could stare at this all day - the way the sketch is coming to life? AMAZING. (And Archimedes on his head! Ha!)

 This is layered paper art by Karin Arruda. Pictures don't do it justice!

 If you haven't see all of the Realistic Disney Princesses by Heather Theurer, click here for a treat.

(Merida is my favorite - but honestly I think I love her steampunk Mr. Toad the best.)

 

Then there was the time I tried to show off my makeup with a Disney bathroom selfie and got upstaged by my phone case:

(I did go back to Dollar Tree and buy ONE more. This thing is magic under multiple light sources!)

 And while we're off track... FOOD RECOMMENDATION TIME:

Helpful people have informed me this is called taiyaki, and I'm a BIG FAN. It was a little soggier the second time I had it, but still delish when dipped in whipped cream. I forgot to ask them to leave off the matcha chocolate sticks, though, so I had to spend a few seconds gagging for dramatic effect. Bleh.

Oh hey, let me introduce you to our friends:

That's Christie, Tracy, me, John, Karen, Scott, Anna, and another John. My John and I rarely hang out in big groups, so this was a wonderful day. I love all these people.

That was our sunny day visit. For the rainy day it was just me, John, and Scott:

So of course I made them pose in the Mermaid Lagoon photo opp. :D

 This is fun: the festival is selling blank Mickey plushes for autographs:

The sign suggests you have all the artists sign him. Pretty cool souvenir idea!

And here's a phone case that gave me heart eyes:

Awww. I guess Bruni is worth melting for?

 No reason for this - I just love this building. (It's that glorious door trim, right?)

And finally, I don't know if these were installed just for the festival or not, but I started noticing some fantastic hidden characters around the World Showcase:

 They look like they're painted directly on the walls, but if you look closely you can see they're actually thin vinyl decals.

 Pascal was high up on a corner in Germany:

Probably the hardest to spot, this Amos from the short "Ben and Me" is above the second story window on the side of the America pavilion:

Talk about an obscure character; Eric in the comments had to remind who this was!

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you can see Peter Pan's shadow from a long ways off entering the UK:

 

 And if you explore the streets there, you'll find these three from Robin Hood:

 I really hope these "hidden" characters stick around, since I'm sure I missed a bunch!

 Speaking of hidden characters, look who else I spotted in the UK:

 Baby Yoda! This lady said she'd 3D printed him, which blows my mind. He was so perfect, even had little fuzzy hairs on his head!

 K, a last few beauty shots from around the Showcase:

This one makes a fun wallpaper for your phone, if you want to grab it.

 See how much more open France looks? They took out a bunch of light posts and opened up the paths. Scott had to point that out to me; I couldn't figure out what had changed. (Also, BRAG TIME: Scott is helping design the new Epcot, so he knows everything. You better believe I take full advantage by asking a million questions every time I see him.)

Well, Dizgeeks, thanks for going around the world and back again with me. I hope you had fun!

*****

P.S. I'm not generally a fan of patterned leggings, but sweet Spaceship Earth, LOOKIE:

Epcot Patterned Leggings

They're that annoying "one size fits most" business, but the review photos have some curvy girls in them, which is encouraging. They also look a lot more vibrant in the review photos. For $13, I'm thinking of getting a pair to wear with my metallic silver skirt & holograhic Epcot tee. :D