(Walt Disney Studios, 1940) Gorgeous original concept drawing of several Autumn Fairies from Fantasia, showing a group of fluttering milkweed pixies during the musical segment, 'Waltz of the Flowers,' the final sequence from the film's gorgeous Nutcracker Suite. Accomplished in paint, pastel, and colored pencil on beige 15.5 x 12 artist's paper. In fine condition.
Walt Disney was so impressed by the look and mood of the story sketches for The Nutcracker Suite that he asked his staff to avoid hard ink outlines as a way to more closely mimic the pastel and painterly look of the inspirational artwork. The windblown seeds in the milkweed ballet in 'Waltz of the Flowers' required delicate inking, drybrush work, and airbrushing, which required creating a mask for every individual cel to keep certain areas free of paint.