Walt Disney said it all began with a mouse, and in the newest Disney movie classic you might say it all begins with a frog. The Princess and the Frog has been brought to life with hand-drawn animation techniques, making it the first Disney traditional animation classic in years as well as the first ever to be set in the enchanted city of New Orleans.

In my painting I wanted to suggest the look of traditional animation yet maintain the sense of painterly mood that my work is known for. I lavished detail into the bayou flowers glowing with hidden fireflies, as well as the curving live oak draped with lacey Spanish moss. The characters of the movie swirl about the composition, inviting us to ponder the part each plays in the story.

As the first piece in my Disney Discoveries Collection , The Princess and the Frog will no doubt experience an enthusiastic welcome by Disney and Kinkade fans worldwide. At its core, The Princess and the Frog painting, like the movie itself, portrays a romantic love story. And who can resist a love story?