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Episode 55: Jason Folkerts - PART 2
66 Plays1 year ago
On this week's episode we continue our conversation with award-winning artist and Disney fan Jason Folkerts. If you missed part 1 be sure to go back and check that out as well!
Check out some of Jason's work on his FB page HERE
Check out more of Jason's work, including works for sale HERE
DISCLAIMER: We are not an affiliate of the Walt Disney Company nor do we speak for the brand or the company. Any and all Disney-owned audio, characters, and likenesses are their property and theirs alone.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Sharing the Magic'
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to Sharing the Magic, the podcast that takes you on a journey through the enchanting worlds of Disney.
Special Guests and Insights
00:00:10
Speaker
Each week, we're joined by a special guest, whether they're a magician creating moments of astonishment or a Disney expert sharing the secrets behind the magic of the happiest place on Earth.
Stories Behind Disney's Worlds
00:00:23
Speaker
Together we'll uncover the stories, inspirations, and behind the scenes tales that bring these worlds to life. So, get ready to be spellbound and transported to a place where dreams come true.
Conversation with Jason Fulkers Continues
00:00:54
Speaker
Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week's episode of the Sharing the Magic podcast. Last week, we shared part one of our conversation with artist and Disney fan Jason Fulkers. Today, we're pleased to bring you part two of that conversation.
Mural Ideas at Disney Parks
00:01:09
Speaker
So sit back and enjoy and let's dive back in. Yeah. i got to I got to ask you something real quick because my wife loves taking pictures around the parks at the walls, right? There's the bubble gum wall and the purple wall and like all these things. It's just like a big colorful wall, right? And I'm like, okay, we'll go take your picture at the wall or whatever.
00:01:31
Speaker
And you kind of teased this earlier with you have done some of these larger mural type paintings. And I'm a teacher and I remember walking around schools and instead of these big just bubble gum wall, it was a mural. There was a picture there. If you had the opportunity to create a mural for Disney and any of the parks and any of the takeover, one of these walls, what what do you what would you like to see there other than the bubble gum wall? Because I'm getting tired of taking a picture with a pink background.
Fulkers' Creative Process
00:01:58
Speaker
Oh man, and you're getting me going. You know what would be fun? I did a series of drawings and I just want to encourage people, I guess I could just go to my Facebook page as these years passed, but got a lot of love on. I kind of called it when when rides smash into each other or they, ah what's the word I'm looking for? um What is the word? Smash up. Yeah, smash up.
00:02:21
Speaker
I was thinking, well, anyway, amalgamate, that's the word I was looking for. and That's a lot more intellectual than academic word. So for example, I don't know if I can find it and I don't want to, but I did a series like this. So if I could do a mural, I did something like this years ago. You probably can't see it, but it's a, it's a smash up a bit and that I took goofy and I threw the Matterhorn, did it go like that, right? Well, I'm very cool. Other ones like that. where I kind of take rides and I throw them together and create kind of a, if the rides kind of tilted and smashed into one another, I would love to do that with some of the, uh, walls. mactuation That is so cool. i I would so much rather take a picture in front of that. that the like you go i
00:03:07
Speaker
trying to think like, okay, here's an example. I did one. and but I did one that got a lot of love. um And I usually did it because the rides were next to each other, right? And it's almost as if they broke through a ride and went into a different ride. So I had one where um Mr. Told's wild ride on his car went off the tracks and went into the Matterhorn. And I had a picture of the abominable snowman. that what than he It's over Mr. Toad's car and he's going wild legs kicking. Oh, man. And then you have him in the in the tunnel, in the mountain, whatever. And they have the huge abominable like hovering over in the Yeti or the bomb and also ready to grab him. And I'm thinking that'd be fun to mix like things up like that and just goofy, goofy makes sense because he's a yodeler. You know, like, you know, like, oh,
00:03:54
Speaker
I found it. Here it is. This is it. I love it. That is wonderful. Can you get it up closer? I want it. Oh, there he is. I don't know if you can see it. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I love that. Yeah. And Mr. Toads, that's awesome.
Encouraging Creativity in Youth
00:04:08
Speaker
That is cool. And in your mind, you all Disney fans, if you think about the park, what rides are next to each other just in your brain where you could have like a wall there or something where they smash into one another and they're overlapping each other. You know what I mean? That would be a really cool thing to do for sure. That would be really cool. Like I know that there was talk they had, you know, when they were building ah Indiana Jones, they were wondering if there was a way they could take the Jungle Cruise, for example, and they kind of do this a little bit. And I don't know if you've heard this before, but they were thinking when they did it
Challenges in Art Education
00:04:36
Speaker
at Disneyland, the design concept, ah that they were thinking about weaving, ah extending the the track over and how the boat actually go into the temple itself and kind of smash the worlds together. But then they felt like,
00:04:49
Speaker
the disbelief kind of of those two different entities coming together might be hard, but that kind of disappointed me. And that's, I think, what was the genesis for my idea. So I'm always looking for different ideas. I thought, oh, well, there's a lot of things that I forgot about Splash Mountain and the Haunted Mansion were next to each other. So what if there's a way to smash those two together, you know, things like that. So. That'd be fun. Cool. science's really cool you know You obviously have great creativity and great passion for what you're doing. and And, you know, you are thinking yourself all these great ideas that you could throw together. Do you find yourself enjoying commission based work where someone gives you an idea or something they would like where you then have, you know, kind of carte blanche with
00:05:34
Speaker
creativity from someone else's idea? Or do you prefer doing your own creative idea? Because I've spoken with artists before that I've always been surprised that some actually prefer commission work and and you know, like they enjoy it more because it's more outside their norm, outside their, you know, their comfort zone sometimes. How do you find yourself in that position? Do you prefer the commission work or the originals? Well, that's a that is a great question. I don't know if I've ever heard that pose. Thank you for asking. I think that is a very good perspective from an art perspective. I think that is the world I kind of grew up out of the the commercial art side. And that is a truth. You know, I got to be honest, I would
Impact of AI on Art and Creativity
00:06:17
Speaker
probably lean.
00:06:18
Speaker
at least my livelihood has been more on the, I like the original side. But where I say that is it's interesting. People say, well, you're not selling any of this Disney work. Why? i Because a lot of the things that I draw have already been created. It's on the back of other folks who've done great work. And for example, Goofy was created, right? And so I love drawing. Goofy is fun to draw, but I didn't create that character or Snoopy or others. But what it's provided for me is it's opened up the door to get a lot of commission work, to do other creative things that I get to then design. And so I've had a lot of work come my way by doing that. And I really embrace that creative side. I tell you, one of the areas that I've enjoyed, um and I didn't think I would, is illustrating children's stories. I've done seven children's books.
00:07:03
Speaker
It was the first time I did it, it was more of, well, it's a paycheck and I'll do it. I'm not really into children's book. ah and But the more I've done it, the more I appreciate the opportunity I have down on paper to a certain degree, creating an original idea or at least visualizing a creative story by somebody, an original story. um And I find a lot of satisfaction in that ah because it's kind of yours. It's kind of And I always say we stand on the back of giants. Really, ah what is it? I think Da Vinci said, there's no such thing as an original idea, or at least everything is theft, right? Everybody takes from other people, which is somewhat true. But i where I disagree on that is we all have different, and as an artist, you're borrowing styles and flavors of art from other people, but
00:07:47
Speaker
there still is so much more room to create and create about thoughts. And so I got to go original on that. I've enjoyed that ah more, ah the commissions type of it, where I get to create my own ideas
Disney's Continuous Innovation
00:07:58
Speaker
from some people. But I've been, and I've been the benefactor of both. Let's just put it that way. You know, so I'm not gonna ah san The best of both worlds doesn't sound like a bad answer to me, so I think you're right. That's a great question. I think if you ask that of most artists, I think it'd be that's a great question to ask. i um You know, I wonder if if you said earlier about Imagineers and the ah earlier question came up about
00:08:21
Speaker
you know, um Joe Rode coming back and teaching and doing things of that nature. and When I look at him and the work that he's done, when I walk around Pandora or the animal kingdom and in general, ah yeah certainly this is a singular mind with a very, very, very high degree of creativity, right? ah But, you know, you look at him and he's coming back. I don't think there's anything wrong with individuals borrowing on the back of his genius to also do extra creative things the born out of his ideas and and in going that direction too. I think they both have a unique place, you know. but will say the Joe Rody's are a unique ah individual. there There aren't a lot of those out there, you know, they're they're they're special. And I think that's the beauty of it in in the sense of Disney being able to bring him back opens the minds of the next generations of Imagineers because I think as you so you pointed out earlier that
00:09:18
Speaker
There tends to be more of a format in place now to the way people are taught, the way the creative mind is managed. There's more of an expectation. You know, Joe Rody was a pioneer with an open. There was nothing that stayed inside the box when it came to Joe Rody. And I think great artists, great imagineers. consistently step outside the box to look at things from a new perspective. And, you know, that was kind of my question to you on how you do that with youth or people that you inspire now.
Art in Education and Creative Thinking
00:09:54
Speaker
You know, how do you encourage those you talk to to think outside that box?
00:10:00
Speaker
Well, thank you for asking that. I think as I've gotten older and I kind of fell into it in a unique way, I was, I owned a mural company for 10 years. I did, I've done 168 murals, mostly in schools. So yeah, I'm the guy who drew those big animals that break through walls. If you need a guy who can show you how to, if you need a guy who can show you how to, or can paint a brick wall and a wall breaking through, I'm your guy. Cause I've done every mascot breaking through a brick wall in a gym you can imagine. But I'll never forget even the Kool-Aid guy, even the cool. i i hope yes I was hoping you would say that. OK, that's it. But I have I have mastered the the the the art of bricks breaking through a wall on a wall on a brick wall. But what I want to say really quickly about that is I was at a school year many, many years ago and I was doing a mural and I do them oftentimes the weekends. But I would happen to be doing it during a night ah or during the school day. The gym was open. And one of the teachers came up to me and said,
00:10:52
Speaker
Say, could you take a minute and just talk to our like third grade class about art and what you do? And I said, well, that'd be fine. I said, but you know is it OK with the art teacher and everything? And they said, oh, we don't have an art teacher. And I said, what do you mean when I'm an art teacher? And they said, well, you know, I had an art teacher as a big impact in my life when I was younger in schools, grade school and middle school. And they said, oh, well, it's a smaller town. Our funding got cut. And so they cut the art programs. And it's still the problem today is that most states where they do budget cuts on education, art, music, theater, they're sometimes the first to go. And it just stunned me. And then I started going to schools and asking where I was going.
00:11:26
Speaker
do you have an art teacher? And I was stunned at the number of schools that did not have art education. And so I just began on my own. I would do murals and take an extra day in my own time and hang out. And just if you want me to stay an extra day, I'd be glad to be a teach cartooning to your kids. And through that, teach the basics of art through cartooning, because all kids love to cartoon. I find out when you're, when I was in kindergarten class, how many like to draw cartoons? Every hand goes up. Changes by the time they get to high school, because I think they take away the idea that all people are artists. And by the way, they all are. I can prove that to you, but that's another podcast. But anyway, whatever the said, I've had a real passion for this. I am deeply, I'm gonna say this, I am deeply, and maybe as I get older here, unapologetically vocal about this, I am deeply concerned about what we are we are losing in our educational system when it comes to the arts.
00:12:11
Speaker
And yet, when you go to Fortune 500 companies, some of the main ones, Disney included, and he h asked the HR people, what are they looking for when they're hiring people today? They want people with strong visual acumen who can understand the power of imagery. Because if you go to the internet, like we are today, 90% of it or more is a visual medium. And so people know how to work in that world and communicate with that language is incredibly vital.
Fulkers' Personal Projects
00:12:33
Speaker
And art will help that in fine arts. And yet what do we do? We're cutting budgets. We're cutting budgets and we're losing this. And it's a tragedy, and yet yeah we are. And so I guess one of my passions is we, I just want, and I think one of the greatest things we can do is as artists is we've got to train up the next generation to be curious, innovative, um and express their creativity in all the forms that it comes becomes comes out of that. Yes.
00:12:58
Speaker
Well, I mean, look, you're also you're doing a podcast like there are hundreds by now thousands of podcasts about Disney, but it all started because they were not afraid to innovate and be creative and design a world which just spurred on so much other things. And oh, by the way, economically as well. Right. Yeah. What do we do? We cut the art programs. And i know and yeah it's a stunning
Disney Stories and Community Connections
00:13:19
Speaker
dichotomy. It's a. stuning Here's a question I have, okay? Because art, I feel as if art is taking a, I'm a voice actor. So um I step into this Wild Wild West Mad Max. I don't know if it's Mad Max or Wild West or maybe it's ah something beautiful and I have no idea but
00:13:42
Speaker
in the world of AI you know but with voices you know I'm a voice actor so voices or if someone could just you know I could you could just with AI with art okay here's my question with art um You have a positivity to where you think the future is going. I love that. I sort of think that, too. I always think there's going to be a shadow side of it. And I'm learning A.I. so well where I'm going to be A.I. You know, that's my that's my thing, because I'm like borscht. Well, well, I got to beat the A.I. thing because, you know, who for beats me, you know, and but i I think there is a
00:14:31
Speaker
I think in the future, I'm hopeful, so I am hopeful, and I think you are too. Well, I am, and I'm not against technology, and I think it's really been a blessing. So where do you think AIs go in, and how's that going to influence your teaching you know as ah as ah as a and an artist? and Yeah, you look at like Roger Rabbit when that technology came out, and Disney was in the forefront of that. A lot of people, they thought their jobs were done, but it just blossomed other opportunities, and of course, Pixar. and all the things they did with the technology. And again, all it's a doom and gloom of art, but it just opened more doors of opportunity. and there you go oh AI is a little different in some ways because some people say it's no longer the manipulation of a tool to to grab within us the creativity that then flows out of us, whatever medium that is, is a tool where AI becomes self-sufficient. Is that eliminating the person who acts as as as if the magical pencil does its own work, right? But I would say this,
00:15:24
Speaker
When I travel, I have taught literally now over the years thousands of young students are in cartooning and I love to go and do that. I just did it in Minneapolis not too long ago at a school downtown um and it was a title one school. And i was i when I walk away from there, I have great optimism and positivity for the future because I'm with these students all day and I'm ah doing cartooning and we're learning art and we're learning creativity and expressing ourselves. And I am so encouraged, you guys. I can tell you, I think the best days are ahead of us. And I think that like anything, we kind of, you know.
00:15:58
Speaker
we We have to be careful if we don't throw the baby out of the bathwater or whatever statement you want. But I am just encouraged at the level still of high passion people have to be creative and expressing themselves into thinking new ways. You'll see what all shakes down. But yeah, and even like your show here, I've listened to it, of course, and I love that you talked to so many creative people in so many different mediums and so many different ways. And I think that the the beauty of where we're at today is that a young person can go on and listen to your podcast or many others or other things or watching things. And just think of the amazing education that they're getting. That they that never was available to me in South Dakota. was their age I was very limited in artists because I couldn't expand my thinking because there was limitations. Now, if you do it the right way, the ability for us to be challenged is
00:16:45
Speaker
our mind can be expanded and and and I think what Walt Disney always dreamed of. That's right. We know that is that as the event was not, metaphor but this is a place that will never stop growing and changing because innovation and the mind needs to push itself to the next level in curiosity. And that's what he was. And he full what he knew what, people have asked me, do you think Walt would be disappointed in the parks today? For example, I'll give an example and you guys have probably talked about it. You know, this whole Splash Mountain shift over, oh, I can't tell you, I've drawn Splash Mountain many times.
Exchange of Artistic Ideas
00:17:12
Speaker
The amount of people who are mourning this, right, I get it. And they're like, I can't believe it. And then this next thing comes along and I say, and I think I think Walt would be on the sidelines cheering it on, saying, look, you know, we need to we need to move forward whatever that is to the next generation to think outside the box to communicate. They're not going to. I agree with you. I really do. And that's ah that's an interesting that is we don't get that perspective a lot on this here podcast. We don't. But I think you're completely right.
00:17:41
Speaker
they innator yeah The innovation and the creativity within within people needs to express itself. you know there's i but I did some on Facebook and I got a lot
Art Enhancing Disney Park Experience
00:17:50
Speaker
of response to it, but within everybody's mind is this passion, and this world to get expressed in some way. And Disneyland is that expression that never changes. It's a canvas that's always being repainted. And and that's important because it's ah it's a philosophy. it's a thank and connecting it back to you, your work, your amazing work with kids and and bringing up the next feature, I think. And in i'm I'm inspired by how you talk about AI. There are people. Well, well here's why. I don't use it when I do Goofies for worse. Like I could sit there and train it and no, no, no, no, no. I like this. This is me. You know, like I want to keep there certain things with an AI that I want to keep very natural because i I earn it. But then there are other things like, you know, I need a sound clip. I need ah a a bang or a boop or a bonk.
00:18:46
Speaker
for something I'm doing and well, do I hire? Like I don't have money, I'm broke. So in that world of creativity, there's a lot that's coming out now that allows like people to to put forth art that I think is of quality and and stuff and they can showcase and highlight their own strengths.
Technology Spreading Art and Ideas
00:19:12
Speaker
and i love it i love i love a lot of what's coming out whether it's art whether it's there's there's ai art that's coming out i'm like i've never would have thought of it that way that's so interesting well i think this i think people have a tendency to think of it as their competition and to a certain degree i guess you could say it is that
00:19:30
Speaker
On the other hand, you know, I was a director of an art museum for many years, and I got a little bit of heat for this, but I said it often, is that I wanted all the all the art galleries and all the art museums, even in our competition, to do extremely well, because I know that all, right, that all of it, when the tide rises, all boats rise with it. yeah And I think it's a perspective, half empty, half full, how you look at the world, the glass, everything, I choose to say, look, It's not going to be we can't put the genie back in the bottle. You can't. And so we all need to understand. And by the way, we can't go back and I'm not against it. I love it. But I do get we can't go back to Disneyland 1985 or 1995 or 2003 when I was standing by the Jeep as much as I'd like to that world is now past.
00:20:14
Speaker
and the innovation the next level, it's good to remember, but remember that right the competition sometimes, and it breeds more innovation and creativity. And so I look at it kind of like, yeah, it's not my competitor, but what it does is allows me to, to in reality, to be more innovative in my style if I allow that to grow with me. Now, there's other concerns I have, but right Jason, so I essentially gives you a door to the future and it helps us provide that door to the future. And speaking of the future, what do you have? Don't you have some projects you are currently working on? Can you tell us a little bit about what you're doing and and where we can get more information on you and follow up on you and everything else?
00:21:00
Speaker
Yeah, you know, like I said, one of the things I'm going to be working on, I think, and I am continue to do it is I have a real passion again, this area of art education, but doing in such a way that creativity and innovation are not lost within our schools. um I just think that there's so much potential there. So that's something that's always happening. And as I get older, I find that I just love to give back more and more and more. to that enterprise because there are so many amazing young people out there have so many good ideas that we need to nurture water, you know, planted, nurture seed and then see it blossom and it explode. Let me tell you something, there are thousands of young ah young boys and girls who are the next Disney's and all the others, Amelia Earle, everything else in the world are ready to change it. So we have to nurture that.
00:21:41
Speaker
So I spent a lot of time on that. um The other
Future Art Projects and Community Stories
00:21:44
Speaker
thing that I'm working on right now is, and this is my own project in the art, I have fallen in love with drawing iconic, and this is where I get to say it, but iconic memory places within cities. So right now, for example, I'm working on a series of drawings of my hometown in Minneapolis. What I found interesting is that I went back, this is where technology helps me, and I asked the town. What are the top restaurants, bars, clubs, amusement places, sports? What are the things that make Minneapolis, Minneapolis? What makes us unique? What makes us who we are? And um it's amazing the feedback I got. And now I'm on a journey. And I think when I'm all said and done, I was joking, but I probably have about 100 or plus drawings of local iconic cartoon-like drawings of the Twin Cities that people can purchase, but also remember. And but here's what makes it great about it. I'm glad you asked this question.
00:22:32
Speaker
It's not always about the drawing, but then online, people are having these amazing stories, like ah like Frosty Treat. I know it's a silly thing of but but an ice cream place. My grandpa took me there and all these stories online and people are connecting with each other going, I worked there in 1978 or you know, all these things. I love doing that because it's creating this incredible community of of her memories and dialogue and friendships. Those are two big things. And if people want to find out more about me, go to my Facebook page, Jason Folker, just type me in, the artist, you can see it. If I'm at Facebook, fantasy of all projects. I also have a ah ah website with my daughter who's an artist
00:23:11
Speaker
um that we're expanding more. And that's www.poca.studio dot.biz. Okay. And that's hers. But anyway. Jason, you're getting me excited. And I got to tell you, but I just, I just love doing things like that because I love people talking, to building relationships around it. So we'll definitely have to put your info. We're going to put those sites in even a link to your Facebook page in the show notes. So that way everybody can, can see that well because I definitely want to see a lot more of what you're doing. and i would say this to a like in the town thing what i find fascinating is that i would love to go to other towns not even big towns town of like say 10 000 and just say what are 10 15 things in this town's history you want drawn connect it and then the key of that is tell stories with each other about how these places shaped who we are as a community uh we need that more than ever today we need community and then we're getting a great book yeah
00:24:00
Speaker
that make a great
Interactive Art for Disney Fans
00:24:01
Speaker
book. You need to get that book written. I do. Well, you can write it. No, it is. We have all this all the time. It's like, and I guess we're going to have to get a couple of petitions going for Disney to do this 24 hour thing and yes and redo murals of the bubble gum wall. Let's get rid of that and put some cool stuff up there. Well, you know, whatever it is, but I think the key to anything you do, make it innovative and make it a little touch of curiosity. Cause that's the beauty of everything you do, right? A little touch of curiosity. So there you go. Do you ever drawn any food items? So what I've noticed in my vast many years of going to Disney, both land and world, haven't been to Europe yet or Shanghai and Hong Kong, I'm getting there though. But I've noticed that the food has just taken off, not even just mentioning about the Epcot food and wine and the different festivals, but I mean the iconic, you know, Mickey pretzel and ice cream and churros and things like
Disney Art and Memorable Experiences
00:24:54
Speaker
that. So have you ever done any type?
00:24:57
Speaker
and the dole whip, of course. We yeah all know about the merch, right, with all of it. Have you ever done any artwork with those featured? Okay, I've only done one thing connected to food, and I did it for my wife year many years ago. You know what she liked? She got such a kit. She likes popcorn. And we go to Disneyland all the time. Disneyland had the popcorn machines, right? And they had the little grinders, do remember that? And they were all these little iconic puppets like the popcorn machine by the Matterhorn was the abominable snowman. And, and the, uh, uh, what other ones and so in tomorrow land, they had the rocketeer. I think it was, I mean, these little grinders doing these funny, the one to go and so I drew one of those. And I can't remember which one I did. And I thought that would be cool because people like those things, but it was, it was kind of connected to popcorn. So that's my only one, but I should, That's a great idea who have on your whole 24 hours. You should. I mean everyone loves all the food stuff, right? And it brings that warm, fuzzy feeling. It's not architecture and it's not a ride, but it is something that brings people together. Everyone wants to go and get that churro or like each one of my family members likes a certain thing, so it's just iconic to what they like when they go. Like my 18 year old has a churro. My older son has to have the turkey leg. You know these right? Yeah, it's just so funny.
00:26:17
Speaker
Um, I like the doll whip, but yeah, you too that's daddy's thing. So that would be a fun thing to kind of animate, I think. There is so much potential and that's, uh, you know, that's the thing about art. I love it. Cause I get my best thing now too. Yes. So what's my projects I like working on as I've gotten older in life. I love getting ideas from people. And as long as I, what's the old saying, someone once told me the first time you use it, you stole it. The second time you use it, you borrowed it. And the third third time I own it. So that's a preaching thing. You know, it is i know so other preach thing thing I'll do the same thing. i hear the Yeah.
00:26:53
Speaker
I do it with food. I'll steal your idea. All right. Well, you're not stealing it because I can't draw, but I'm looking forward to seeing it and I'd love to buy something. So. Well, I will tell you, I know I gotta go. We gotta go. But my closing is I also draw a lot of things for friends. I had a friend getting married recently and i he wanted me to draw. the food at their reception, which is really creative, and some other things. So I drew this, and get this, they wanted people to remember the wedding, and they thought food would be the way they remember it. So they had me draw up their like all their food and menu kind of thing, and then they made stickers out of it. And then they made stickers, and they gave this like image of these cartonoles of food to everybody at the wedding saying, you probably forget a lot of things, but not the food, so here's stickers, and this way you'll remember the wedding day. It was pretty good.
00:27:36
Speaker
so and you remember what I'm telling you things the food will bring you back to places,
Merging Disney Rides in Art
00:27:41
Speaker
right? We all are stomach is our second brain. Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you. That's a good idea. i'll steal like I ask something. I got a pregnant question. I'm just like asked us. I have to I can ask about the Honda mansion a few more minutes. Okay, you go first. And then I'll go second. The Honda mansion is my favorite ride. I actually prefer the one at Disneyland, but I'm a Disney World girl. But um in all fairness, I just love the design and the story behind it. um What, if any, art have you done with the Haunted Mansion is your favorite? And what do you be doing in the future?
00:28:18
Speaker
Well, when Barry had talked to me, he said, grab some more, we're talking and I happen to have, ill let me show you, you want to see one? um too and So again, another thing that I noticed was, I'll find it here. When I was drawing, and da da okay. So here's like an example of some. This one was one of the first ones I ever did. It was kind of a matchup. I don't know if you can see it or not. but I love it. That's amazing. Yeah, that's cool. and it's ah back ah of And that's the one at Disney land. I did this many, many years ago of Disney parks. And I did a conference series. I basically did my favorite rides and then I took characters and put it into it.
Art Techniques and Mediums
00:28:57
Speaker
But the one that's been it was described that we got to describe that if we put it in what's happening. Well, like and then I did stuff like this, I would I draw a little step. I did a lot of these requests. So like this one was done live. And I went on. And this is the statue that looks at you when you're walking into the haunted mansion. and i I know the guy. Is that with Penn or is that with pencil? That's just the color pencil. And these are all live. So and I think some of you in my Facebook see this. I often do live drawings. So I'll just. take, you know, whatever I do a live drawing and throw it up there. And then they sometimes I speed it up, but it's just a live drawing. I get it from requests. And then this is both like when you paint it when you're drawing is it with a charcoal or an actual use I use multiple things.
00:29:42
Speaker
um Oftentimes I found lately I like using colored pencils because it's looser. It's a little let looser lead, I guess. And then i'll sometimes I do live drawings. If you go on my Facebook page, you can page the last couple of years, you'll see it. I'll do a colored pencil and then ah as would just sketch it in quickly. And then I'll tighten it up with ah with a brush pen. okay a single there you go and this is what i did that i did this is a copy of it but i did ah can you see it yeah yeah okay votingding so this one was more than the the
00:30:18
Speaker
this is the disney world yeah and and has the a no Yeah. And that's kind of that's kind of thing. And then like, this isn't it, but this is what I found it. This is the one that blew up. And that was at Disneyland to go away away. I got to see it closer. but Oh, I love it. That's so cute. The vines come in. That's cool. Freaking cool. And that was a match. My kids said, dad, what's behind that door? Because I would say it's a special door. And I say, I don't know. It's what it's what it's whatever when you don't do your homework. So I did this and then like, ah you know, and I do a lot of these. This is the latest one of the latest one that someone commissioned piece, but oh, that's cool. Oh, that's beautiful. Yeah. That's really cool. I take a character, drop it into a park design. You've done some goofy stuff too. And I have, uh, Oh, you like group. Oh, I do. Oh, maybe.
00:31:07
Speaker
but well you i i Well, I think I, I think I like you a little bit. I actually got, I told a goofy one that I did and I'll tell you what I'll do it. Give me your address and I'll send you a signed copy of it. No, dude. Yeah. It's free. though can't charge you and How's this? You want that one? You'd be my best. Okay.
Potential for Live Art Shows
00:31:29
Speaker
This one I did live too, this one I did live, and on this one I think I did live, I did it in a loose, ah just a colored pencil, oh and I did that, and then when I got done I inked it, I colored it on my own time. Oh, he's the best. Is he wearing cleats? That would, I would take that, when I die, if if I got, I would die, and I would just be like, put it in my casket. And then I do that.
00:31:53
Speaker
And then I do live artwork, like if I do it, if I would go and like, this is a copy of a picture, but I did this for a Star Wars premiere, but I also, this is large. I did like a four foot by six foot. This is a, I do this, like one of those live paintings I would do. Oh, that's Darth Vader, right? Yeah. right That is so cool. That is amazing. Nice. It's nice that Disney bought Star Wars. It's all their canon now. no I saw a photo I think you did with, I don't know the name because I'm not a huge Star Wars, but the walking, the big walking dogs. Did you do one like that with the... Maybe. I hate to say this, but I've probably drawn thousands. I forget. Let me show you. I know you got to go, but I'll show you. No, we don't. We don't. But this was the one I was telling you about. So I did a lot of these. I don't know. Can you see that? It's a like a bedroom. you
00:32:40
Speaker
at Peter Pan. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. The rocking horse in the boat. Yeah, that's great. I'm going to ask my question. And then this is one where I'll show you that I said we got a lot of love. This one is in the Paris, the castle. This one I did. And this one blew up, too. People wanted me to sell this. But I, you know, I do care about copyright as an artist. So yeah I did. I can give away for free. But um that's the case in Paris, which I love doing. So there's a copy of that. But we're just. they so Beautiful. and that's the a But by the way, whoever asked it, this is that weird angle that I got, that this is not an angle. And I actually, I did a little research. This is actually where the cast members can go. I don't think you can walk here. And they did a photo a cast member took walking in one of the side doors, because I looked and looked and looked. I was like, okay, no one has drawn that angle. So I'm taking that one and drawing a photograph. Beautiful.
00:33:32
Speaker
But if its we have to see if we could get Barry to convince Jason to come back. Yes. And do a live show, you know, a live show because you're doing live. And I know you like to teach people how to. I think it would be so much fun because we have a decent number of co-hosts. Yeah. If Jason, if you could attempt to teach us because many of us are not it' not talented.
Artistic Legacy and Inspiration
00:33:55
Speaker
It's a character to draw the character a lot and we could show everybody what we did. Yeah, I jumped on to um the solo show on weight.
00:34:05
Speaker
I've been on the Star Wars with Stan Solo. Yeah. And I've gone on there. You can watch. And I taught him how to draw. I think Goofy. I drew one. Oh, I mean, I've been like we should do deep dive because I'm like, I have to see 100 percent. I'm mad here. You just nailed that. Like, you're not doing that. All right. They're cutting me off. This is actually the carousel horse. and his horse. I forget the horse's name. What's the horse's name? I should know it too. This was the one when he'd bring his daughters and he would put his daughters on the horse that's behind it, but this was his horse. That's gorgeous. And one more you said I drew the Tower of Terror. This one actually did live too, but then I tighten it up later and that's just the Disney world.
Art's Impact on Growth and Community
00:34:51
Speaker
the uh you know if you see that but that's the time that is gosh that is the art i'm into big time right now okay let's go it was jingles by the way was the name of the there you go yeah yeah and jingles i i get this i think and just you know a little side note it's in the outtakes i think when they made the um finding um uh the movie about mary poppins and making it yeah the dedication a it was dedicated Julie Andrews actually had that horse dedicated to her on the carousel and that happened and she confirmed the horse or something that that horse well told her that horse and I think he even shared
00:35:35
Speaker
It's the lead horse on the King Arthur carousel at Disneyland. And he said the carousel, this horse was a copy of the carousel that he saw when he took his daughters and it was the inspiration to build Disneyland. Yep. And the horse is like his most favorite spot in the entire park. Yep. And the horse's name was comes from the decorative jingle bells on its breast collar, quarter sheet and the cantal. And yet I've never ever seen again, i not not knock in Disney or any of me, I love them. But I've never seen a drawing, a painting or anything of that horse. Yeah. And yet Walt himself said this carousel and this horse was the genesis of my idea sitting there with my girls. And when I would ride this idea of why we have to build this park.
00:36:21
Speaker
That was at Griffith Park at the Carousel. Right. Yeah, I know i took my kids and we went and rode that. And I cried and they couldn't understand why because I'm the nerdy Disney lady. But I just think that that's. six dollars I think a lot of people think Medicaid Mouse was a genesis of Disneyland, but actually it was a carousel that got him to go, OK, I'm going to build it. I'm going to build another park and this park's going to be amazing. You should do a drawing of the Griffith Park Carousel. Yeah, and I should. And I honestly, I have to admit even my girls were little. I remember taking them on that. And even at that time, I kind of knew the specialness of that ride. And it was kind of a weird feeling on it going, this is the one that Walt stood on with his girls. And he had girls like my girls. And I was like, it's just magical. um um Yeah, it's nostalgic.
00:37:10
Speaker
When you do your book after we do our live show and we're all trained artists to help you, will we we'll take each city that the co-hosts are from and we'll come up with one one thing with that momentous occasion or history that everyone can talk about. But when you do Los Angeles, you can do the Griffith Park Carousel. but Actually, you know what? That is a great idea. I thought about this. I could draw something, but i I have thought the same thing. I have had that thought too. I think a book, and I haven't seen it yet, you're right, that would pick out things like that.
00:37:48
Speaker
And I think the Disney fans would love it. But pick a couple of things from each park that have a deeper meaning, not just it's cool, but there is a meaning behind it. There's a reason why this value of this thing carried over to other things. And every park has it. Like splash button? Yeah, like right. OK. All right. I got to get this out. I'm getting it out. OK, I'm so. All right. Before you. This is your second book. and we taught But here's here's what's been burning on my heart. so it's ah it this oh It seems as if what you do is you are helping people now. You're doing art programs.
00:38:36
Speaker
This is a different world as far as art programs go. And you're having to tackle and hustle with AI and all this new stuff coming up. And when I was a kid, you were enslaved to syndications. I always wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist. That's all I ever wanted to be in, you know, as ah as a little kid. Red Calvin and Hobbes, if Barry was here, I brought him. This is gonna be, I was gonna be like, Barry, he, you know, that was early in the podcast for our audio listeners. I'm holding up a, my mom made this for me, it's Hobbes. It is a Hobbes doll. So my background, whether it was comedy, whether it was voice acting is a different thing.
00:39:22
Speaker
um But art, it was always, I have four panels, tell a good story, do the best art you can. ah That was my world. You live in a completely different environment in a world and you are teaching art to kids in a in a in a world that is so different. And i I agree, we talked about this earlier, I just agree with you. I think it is, I think in some ways it is, very frustra is frustrating, but I think in a lot of ways it's hopeful. You can't, if your product, if your art is good, if your message is good, if you're you're funny, if you you can go tell it, tell your story and you have a platform nowadays, plenty of platforms to just put your message, your art, everything forward. And how cool is that just ah to be like, hey kids,
00:40:22
Speaker
draw a picture and you can send it to the internet. right And if people like it, they like it. It it could be really good. how ah How cool is that? And it's the same thing I think with voice acting nowadays. It's like, you know, if I'm really serious about, gosh, we've interviewed so many amazing people on this podcast. If we were in the same little box we were 10, 20 years ago, this would have never have happened. But how many awesome people have we met? Oh my goodness. You know, like this person is on my Zoom and it's like, this is a Disney legend or this is a Disney so-and-so. And it's like the creator of this
00:41:04
Speaker
grandchil How amazing, how cool. I think that's inspiring. I think that's wonderful. What do you think? That's my question. It's a small world after all. I know, that but that's my, that's been burning on my big heart all night. Okay. Well, I think that the era of gatekeeping or gatekeepers is become much more minimized ah because of the advent of a new, and we always use the word social media. yeah But I would just say, and I think you brought it up, and it's a good point, the levels in which one can now communicate their creativity and innovation is almost boundless.
00:41:44
Speaker
And, you know, for an example, all of us grew up at a time when and at least I did, you know, you had three channels on TV and then he had PBS, which as kids, this was Sesame Street. We weren't really watching it and Mr. Rogers. But, you know, those things were the things that we were kept we were captivated by what was available. But the bandwidth was very small. What's interesting though, the gatekeepers, so a guy like, again, here's the advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of well Walt Disney was that he was able to cut a deal with ABC television to put his product, which was Disney, ah the Wonderful World of Disney and Disneyland eventually, which marketed that through a channel bit that most of the country was able to see because
00:42:24
Speaker
there was a narrow band to it. On the other hand, which I think is interesting, people always say, I talked to a lot of artists and stuff, and I think they get depressed saying, well, what it's been diluted so much, the audience ratio, the amount of people you can impact, blah, blah, blah, so minimized. And I just have the opposite view. I think the dam has kind of broke open. And like you said, ah so the ability to make music, to do podcasting, wait what the four or five of you are doing every week, um And being able to do this on a regular basis is absolutely amazing. And the level in which you can then carry a new message and be innovative is just, it's so wonderful. Now, are you going to get a million people? No, probably not. But you are creating a niche in an audience. And I always come back to it. I think a lot of that was basis of money. But if your motivation is not to make money, but it's more about having an influence or a shaping culture, or um for me, and what I get care about is,
00:43:16
Speaker
um like I said about art education or inspiring people to be creative and innovative and take a bit of a risk and to do these things, I just love where it's all going because I have a much broader palette to carry my message to people than I ever had before. And um you know now thousands of people can see a drawing that I did that maybe only a dozen saw before. um And if my motivation, sure, from a money standpoint, there's a more of a difficult time to make maybe a living at it. But on the other hand, I have found my income, like people say, how do you make money as an artist? I rarely make money i make money off of connectivity. In other words, if I do something on your show or if I draw Disney and I do that just for me, I will guarantee you I always get four or five or six
00:44:01
Speaker
other new contacts that come to me who say, hey, I got a children's book I've been wanting to write. Great. Send me the script. Let's read it. Maybe we can do it. I just did it with a woman not too long ago who had a great script or, um, I get stuff from like a sport team. Hey man, can you create us a new mascot, you know, at ah at a college or something? And then how'd you find out about me? Oh, a friend told me about you on social media. I saw something on Instagram. I blah, blah, blah. And then I get a phone call. So isn't that incredible? I mean, it's just the magnitude in which you can be self-marketing and yet cash in about what you do is incredible. Incredible. It's
Favorite Disney Rides and Personal Impact
00:44:31
Speaker
really incredible. Yeah, you stand out above the crowd. This is my world. We're all living in a sixth degree of Kevin Bacon, except now we're all doing it. I think it's the sixth degree of Walt Disney. That's what I'm going to say. Right. Well, you yes. Yeah. Okay. Can I ask all you a question? Sure. You all know each other really well before this podcast, or did you know each other? Nope.
00:44:52
Speaker
See now, and again, 20 years ago, you never would have met. And I think yeah it's being just by this podcast, and I've listened to a number of these, you have different folks come on and and things like that. um The level of networking and opportunity you have to develop a friendship circle is unbelievable. I have a number of friends I've met on Facebook connected, a couple of you in Imagineers. ah I'm Trent Raymond Kinnaman, who is the sculptor who did a lot of other signs at Disney. We've met each other through Facebook and developed the relationship somewhat. I mean, we we don't know each other really well, but online. yeah and and How would I have ever made that connection with anybody like that? You know, or anyone had not been for this new media and that just opens more doors, right? does but yeah my point I'm all for it. awesome
00:45:31
Speaker
same the same because i think it's just it's it's so i i get starstruck all the time you know just well i mean i could go scroll through your art i'm like oh that is so stinking good wow what a talented person i get to meet you know and we it's like week after week that's just how this show goes so when i think it just it really opens up you a different way to learn and what I love about what's happening and we could talk forever about I think all you like these next time we will we will but I will tell you that I think the level of a brand new I call it and I have a ministry background so this is where I i lean into it pretty heavily
00:46:11
Speaker
the level that if you want to be apprenticed or have apprentices or mentors in your life, I always tell my kids, we're now young adults, you know, they're always one conversation or one connection, a way of changing their life. um And it really is not hard today. You can meet certain people. And if you ask them, could you give me some advice? Could you teach me what you're doing? Could you share with me how you got to do what you ended up doing? nine out of ten people are more than willing to sit down and have a cup of coffee with you and share their journey and then i also tell my kids make sure you ask them what are two or three things that you did that i should do in my life that you found um have really changed your life for principles or whatever they are and i think if you do that.
00:46:55
Speaker
That's really good. A lot, a lot of doors open. Dang it. Now I feel so bad because I met Bill Farmer a couple of times and I'm like, I should have asked him those questions. Well, then I just did a goofy voice or a bill. It's not like I learned that principle from the ah the first church. I worked at a pastor that I mentored me and I didn't even know he's doing it, but he taught me a lot of these things because he was a very wise man, older man. And he just really challenged me to think that way. And I bless him for that because it changed my life. And he was right. He just said, you know, you got to be innovative, but you also have to get to know people in that work and ask good questions. And I was like, Oh, okay. Yes. I'm going back to church. yeah kidding I got to go back to work. instead but like anyway It's all good.
Conclusion and Social Media Encouragement
00:47:41
Speaker
What's your favorite ride at Disney world well at Disney world or Disneyland world? Oh boy.
00:47:47
Speaker
It's probably if I it depends on which part which of the parks I would go to. I'm with you. I'm a big fan of the haunted mansion both parks. And I would say, I love the queue I mean i so I love, I would have to say in the park probably yeah probably the haunted mansion. And then right behind that would be. um not pirates. Pirates is probably, I would say pirates is probably my favorite ride at Disney land. Okay. The world for obvious reasons. People talk about all the time, but yeah, that's it. But I really love the tower of terror too. Um, that's probably draw it all the time. And I don't, I, yeah, I don't take the chicken line. I just, you know, I just, I love the queue and I go with my family and friends, but I'm like, I'll meet you at the end. And I always get, I hope this is all being edited by the way, but I always get the Mocha, I wait at the gift shop and then I wait, and there's always somebody inevitably waiting and they're waiting for the picture and I sit there and I wait for the picture of the family and friends to come down and I get the cold Mocha thing, the coffee drink that's on ice, right? Exactly.
00:48:50
Speaker
from the gift shop. So they always know, and I'm always like, who wants, I'll take orders. I'll be there with all the drinks, but I'm not writing that. It's horrifying to me. I don't remember when it first came out, but I was also a test track fan at Epcot. When it first came out, I thought that was the coolest ride. It's kind of old school, that you know, now it's like, oh that's the original one was awesome. Right. And it was just, you know, I don't know why I liked it. It was just one of those fun rides, you know. and I would just say one other thing that I think for me, and i if any of you have kids, this is why you, but I think my favorite rides are more based upon when my children went on the first time and watching their faces. So I think the first time I took them on Tower of Terror, where they were old enough and they passed that point of they could get, you know, past the height line and we got ritual going on it. And then the whole time I'm looking at their face while we're on the ride to watch them lose their cookies, you know.
00:49:42
Speaker
Um, you know, how can you not love that? I think that's the joy of it, right? You're just like, I wouldn't it with each of my kids, but I won't write it again now. I'm like, I don't like it. So it's one of those things where your mom's like, you have to eat the liver and they're like, try it. You don't know if you like it until you try it. Well, I tried the tower of terror and I don't like it. I'm going to say it. And I just, I wish I did because I love the queue. Well, listen, I mean, I even if I say this and I go to Disneyland at California Adventure, one of my favorite rides to go on was when they had Bugs Life was there and they had the little the Caterpillar, the Munchy Caterpillar ride. You just drive with it. It's the boringest ride in the world. It's just a little car that It's worse than a tram ride. I mean, you just go, all right. But here's why I went. My daughter, my youngest daughter, would just almost cry. She loved this ride so much. You know, she just was in love with the movie and loved, you know, loved everything that is all real to her. So I remember seeing her face and just her eyes. And, you know, she's just, this is, I've shrunk down and I'm a bug, you know. And to this day I missed, she was like, oh, I want to go back to my little, now she's graduated from college and a young adult, but now I'm gonna go back. You know, I want to do this. I love that. What do you think of Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind? I haven't been on it yet. I haven't had a chance to go there yet. I'm going to plan. Everybody here has written that, right? Is that a good one? I'm sure it's great. My daughter, the youngest one I just told you about, just went and she said it's great. She says. Amazing. And the other one I haven't been on, I gotta go, it's Tron. I gotta go on Tron. Yep.
00:51:08
Speaker
Well, when you get here, when you get here, Jason, i'll I'll send you a message on Facebook and you can catch up with me and we'll we'll hit the park. I live about 45 minutes away. We go ah all the time. So I would love that. I would love it. And I really have grown to love Disney World. I really was kind of a Disneyland guy. And I was kind of a stalwart at first, kind like, why is the park that won't build? And you know, I got to tell you, going down to Disney World, especially the last number of years, my kids got a little older in high school, that was the better part because it just so much more to do. I mean, it's just it's my love I love both. And we definitely have to have you back on the show at some point. I think doing the live show would be great. and And this was awesome, Jason. Thank you very much. Yeah. Thanks, guys. It was a great pleasure being with you. I appreciate you. Keep up good work.
00:51:56
Speaker
Well folks, that's it for this week's episode of Sharing the Magic. We want to once again thank our guest Jason Folkerts for joining us and sharing his amazing story. Be sure to hit that follow button to stay up to date with our episodes as they come out for even more amazing Disney conversations. We also would love to have you follow us over on our social media pages. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok by searching Sharing the Magic Pod. Thanks for tuning in and until next time, keep sharing the magic.
00:52:32
Speaker
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