The End Of An Era...

A message from Enesco:

Words escape me right now, except just to say that I am very proud to have been a part of the WDCC for these past 20 years and grateful for all the friends I have made at Disney and Enesco.  There aren't many jobs out there that are as fun, as creative and as inspiring as working with all the great people at Disney/Enesco has been.  I've been a pretty lucky fella.

Peace.

Happy Birthday to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Original Grand Jester Concept Art

You've seen the latest Grand Jester sculptures, now let me share with you the Original Concept Art I created for Enesco.

Concept art for the Grand Jester Evil Queen bust.

Sculpture by Jacqueline Perrault Gonzales.

Concept art for the Grand Jester Donald Duck bust.

Sculpture by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.

Concept art for the Grand Jester Two Gun Mickey bust.

Sculpture by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.

Concept art for the Grand Jester Ariel bust.

Sculpture by Jacqueline Perrault Gonzales.

Concept art for the Grand Jester Jiminy Cricket bust.

Sculpture by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.

Concept art for the Grand Jester Cheshire Cat bust.

Sculpture by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.

Images ©Disney ©Enesco

Please ask permission before using any of the images on this page.

NEW Grand Jester Pieces!

I've had to keep quiet on this since November, but today I am proud to announce the arrival of Enesco's NEW Grand Jester pieces designed by yours truly!  The six new pieces feature a rope slingin' "Two Gun Mickey", "Donald Duck" in all his temperamental malevolence, Snow White's fiercely villainous "Evil Queen", everyone's favorite OFFICIAL conscience "Jiminy Cricket", an underwater beauty "Ariel", and a beheaded "Cheshire Cat"!


What makes these six new pieces so special for me is the fact that not only did I get to sculpt four of the busts, but I was given the opportunity to design all six of them as well.  This is my first time designing for Enesco and the Grand Jester pieces and I was thoroughly enthusiastic to step up to the task.  I hope Disney fans will be as excited with these six new Grand Jester collectibles as we were creating them.

 Yippi-ki-yay, buckaroos!  That rootin’-tootin’ star of the silver screen, Two-Gun Mickey, is hot on the trail of Peg-Leg Pete and his outlaw gang of ornery owlhoots.  Not only have those no-good varmints robbed the bank, but they’ve kidnapped sweet Minnie, as well.  So now it’s up to Two-Gun Mickey to save the day!  With trusty lariat in hand, the courageous, little cowboy is ready to lasso up some big laughs as he delivers his own brand of western justice in this character-authentic, polystone mini-bust designed and sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.  Standing 6 ¼” tall, Two-Gun Mickey comes painted and ready to display.

Cartoon:  Walt Disney’s Two-Gun Mickey (1934)

Numbered Limited Edition:  3,000

SRP:  $65

Release:  September 2012
© Disney

Call the bomb squad!  Donald Duck’s explosive personality and incendiary temper make for one highly volatile mix.  Add a dash of frustration and a pinch of provocation, and look out – the fireworks are gonna fly!   Erupting with hyper-kinetic histrionics, Donald’s incomprehensible outbursts and comical combativeness are truly a sight to behold.  And now the fiery fowl’s tempestuous temperament is on full display in this dynamite polystone mini-bust designed and sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.  Standing 7 ½” tall, Donald Duck comes painted and ready to display.

Numbered Limited Edition:  3,000

SRP:  $65

Release:  September 2012       

© Disney

Darkly elegant in her flaring robes and billowing cape, the glamorous but oh-so-deadly Queen commands absolute adoration from all who gaze upon her.  But when her step-daughter, the sweet and innocent Snow White, is proclaimed by the Magic Mirror to be “the fairest one of all,” the jealous Queen’s cold fury bears bitter fruit, indeed.  With scepter raised high above her crowned head, the Queen unleashes the blackest of magic to exact her revenge upon the hapless princess in this character-authentic, polystone mini-bust designed by Patrick Romandy-Simmons and sculpted by Jacqueline Perrault Gonzales.   Standing 8” tall, the Queen comes painted and ready to display.

Film:  Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Numbered Limited Edition:  3,000

SRP:  $85

Release:  September 2012       

© Disney

Tiny in stature but huge of heart, Jiminy Cricket’s wits and resourcefulness are put to the test as he accompanies the naïve and trouble-prone Pinocchio on his quest to become a real boy.  At the outset of their perilous journey, the Blue Fairy magically transforms the tiny tramp’s threadbare wardrobe into a dapper ensemble more fitting his new role as mentor and guide.  Proudly displaying the “Official Conscience” badge upon his lapel, Jiminy’s can-do optimism and cheerful demeanor radiate from this character-authentic, polystone mini-bust designed and sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.  Standing 6 ½” tall, Jiminy Cricket comes painted and ready to display.

Film: Disney's Pinocchio (1940)

Numbered Limited Edition:  3,000

SRP:  $65

Release:  September 2012       

© Disney

Buoyed by dreams of surface-world romance, Ariel the mermaid dares the wrath of her father, King Triton, to rescue a drowning Prince Eric from certain death.  This simple but heroic act sets in motion a chain of events which will see Ariel’s wistful fantasy transformed into perilous reality and leave her fabled home of Atlantis at the multi-tentacled mercy of Ursula the Sea Witch.  But even as storm clouds gather above, life under the sea remains an oasis of tranquility and song in this character-authentic, polystone mini-bust designed by Patrick Romandy-Simmons and sculpted by Jacqueline Perrault Gonzales.  Standing 7 ¾” tall, Ariel comes painted and ready to display.

Film: Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989)

Numbered Limited Edition:  3,000

SRP:  $75

Release:  September 2012

© Disney

Of all the delightfully deranged denizens of Wonderland, none are so sly or surreal as the elusively ephemeral Cheshire Cat.  Playfully paradoxical and unequivocally quizzical, this phantasmagorical feline delights in defying logic and the laws of physics with his detachable head and discorporeal smile.  Standing 7 ½” tall, the Cheshire Cat bust is designed and sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons and comes painted and ready to display.  Grab ahold of this character-authentic, polystone mini-bust before it vanishes completely!

Film: Walt Disney's Alice In Wonderland (1951) 

Numbered Limited Edition:  3,000

SRP:  $65

Release:  September 2012

© Disney

R.I.P. Robert Sherman

Robert B. Sherman (1925 - 2012)

Yesterday we lost a true Disney icon and an amazing talent, Robert B. Sherman.  Robert was one half of the award-winning songwriting team, the Sherman Brothers, and he leaves us with an abundance of some of the most indelible harmonious moments in Disney (and cinema) history.

Here are a few selections of Robert Sherman's outstanding portfolio of work:

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

"It's a Small World"

"Portobello Road"

"Chim Chim Cher-ee"

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Theme Song"

"Feed The Birds"

Goodbye Mr. Sherman and thank you for making our "small, small world" a little more "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

And The Winner Is...

I am thrilled to announce that the WDCC 20th Anniversary Sculpture, "It All Started With A Field Mouse" has won the Duckman's online poll for

"FAVORITE OF THE 2012 RELEASES".

Thanks to everyone who voted and

check out Duckman's Blog to see all the results.

EXCLUSIVE: Original Clay WDCC 20th Anniversary Mickey Pictures.

Here are some turn around pictures of the WDCC 20th Anniversary sculpture, "It All Started With A Field Mouse", in it's original clay form.  The pictures were taken prior to cleaning up the sculpture so you'll notice some tooling marks.  The "Field Mouse" was a combination of polymer clay and an oil based/wax clay called "Monster Clay"...YES, it's called MONSTER CLAY!  LOL.  Once the piece was approved by WDCC Art Director, Dave Pacheco, I then finished the sculpture by cleaning it up and baking it in my kitchen oven.  After the piece is baked I hand it over to our very talented mold maker, Doug Hild, and my part in the production of the figurine is done.

Final production piece of the WDCC 20th Anniversary sculpture,
"It All Started With A Field Mouse".  ©DISNEY 

All images ©DISNEY & ©Patrick Simmons

Presenting The "Silver-Tongued Scoundrel" Captain Hook.

Take one evil pirate, combine with a conniving personality, throw in one hook, mix well and you get...

"Silver-Tongued Scoundrel" now available at a Walt Disney Classics Collection dealer near you.

Presenting The WDCC 20th Anniversary Sculpture, "It All Started With A Field Mouse".

I was & am so excited and honored to have been selected to sculpt this Mickey & Field Mouse piece in celebration of the Walt Disney Classics Collection's 20th Anniversary.

The original WDCC Field Mouse sculpture
entitled, "Little April Showers" from
1992.  ©DISNEY

The sculpture portrays that infamous mouse lovingly admiring a miniature replica of the very first figurine produced for the the WDCC, the much sought after "Little April Showers" Field Mouse sculpture. 
When I first saw the concept, I knew the loyal WDCC collectors were going to be absolutely thrilled. Each WDCC sculpture is a team effort with many people involved in the creative process, and I couldn't be prouder of the special piece we've all created. Peace.

"It All Started With A Field Mouse" 20th Anniversary Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture.  Available Spring 2012.