From Milne to Disney Movies: The history and art of Winnie the Pooh

By Leslie Combemale | March 26, 2024

It’s actually officially spring, and so like the bear with very little brain, i was racking mine to think of the best idea for a blog that celebrated a Disney character that exists in a natural world we’d most enjoy in spring, and of COURSE I realized Winnie the Pooh is the perfect subject! Then …

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Spotlight Series: Disney Dogs – PLUTO

By Leslie Combemale | February 9, 2024

As it’s the early part of 2024, and we at ArtInsights are in a new era with our hybrid in-person and online model, I thought it would be a good idea to start a fresh, fun new Spotlight blog series, and since I grew up in a family always surrounded by canine companions, I decided …

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Welcome Home Franklin: Franklin Armstrong blog and gallery exhibit

By Leslie Combemale | February 16, 2024

Those who’ve been reading my blog for a while, or who have collected art through ArtInsights are well aware that Franklin is my favorite HUMAN character…(Snoopy is my favorite creature, although i LOVE Woodstock!) I wrote a blog about Franklin about 3 years ago, which you can read HERE, about a lot of his history. …

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Blog Archive

It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown History and Art

By Leslie Combemale | April 16, 2022

If, like me, you’re a diehard fan of all things Peanuts and Charlie Brown animated specials, you’ve seen the 1974’s Emmy-nominated It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!. When my friends at Bill Melendez Studios found some great art from the special, I thought it might be time to not only feature the art but talk …

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The History and Art of Disney’s Haunted Mansion

By Leslie Combemale | March 17, 2022

I can’t believe after more than 30 years selling Disney art, this is the first time the art Disney’s Haunted Mansion has become available. It inspired me to write about my favorite Disney attraction. In the many times I’ve gone to Disney World and Disneyland for work or for fun, the Haunted Mansion has always …

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How George Sanders Made Me Love Disney & 10 Things You Might Not Know about Disney’s The Jungle Book

By Leslie Combemale | March 4, 2022

The Jungle Book was my gateway drug into the addictive world of Disney feature films. I had always been a movie geek, from the first time I can remember watching a movie. As a Gen X baby, I was generally unsupervised in my viewing, often to my detriment, but I was also a very stubborn …

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Celebrating Stuart Craig and Harry Potter Art:

By Leslie Combemale | January 14, 2022

In the just-released HBO Max releasing Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: A Return to Hogwarts, Harry Potter film franchise production designer Stuart Craig is mentioned and called up fondly by a number of cast members. For good reason! Apart from the cast, Stuart Craig, who worked on the entire series, is one of the players that …

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Introducing The Art of Alan Bodner: Award-Winning Disney, Warner Bros, & DreamWorks Art Director

By Leslie Combemale | December 10, 2021

We’re incredibly excited to announce the art of Alan Bodner, which is inspired by mid-century modern design styles, is now available at ArtInsights. The first release will include limited editions featuring classic tv, great Broadway shows, and your favorite musicians from all genres. As you know, we are committed to highlighting artists that actually work …

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Worldwide Holiday Exclusive Alex Ross Black Panther #1 and Batman #50 Catwoman Art Release!

By Leslie Combemale | November 18, 2021

We’re so excited about our Alex Ross Black Panther and Catwoman art! On November 24th, just in time for the holidays, and perfectly timed for the official release of the new Black Panther #1 created by Oscar winner John Ridley and Juann Cabal, ArtInsights is releasing the gorgeous cover art by Alex Ross as a …

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Mickey and Minnie: Iconic Disney Couple

By Leslie Combemale | November 17, 2021

Ah, Mickey and Minnie, that quintessential Disney couple…with the holidays coming up, families and couples all over the country are planning their holidays alone or with beloved family. It’s about making memories that will last with family and friends that mean the world to you and bring you joy. Since there are lots of interpretive …

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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Peanuts Nostalgia, Art, and the Healing Power of Cartoons

By Leslie Combemale | November 16, 2021

Soon it will be Thanksgiving. Regardless of the complicated origins of the holiday, because of its focus on gathering with friends and family and showing appreciation and love to one another, it has always been and continues to be one of my favorites. In light of the pandemic, this year in particular it will be …

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The Art of Snoopy: Snoopy’s History, Snoopy the Flying Ace, & Snoopy Come Home

By Leslie Combemale | October 27, 2021
The Art of Snoopy: Peanuts cartoons Snoopy Flying Ace and Snoopy Come Home images

With Halloween coming, it’s the perfect time to talk about the Art of Snoopy in general, and Snoopy as the World War 1 Flying Ace specifically, because the Flying Ace made his first animated appearance, in all his heroic glory, in It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown right before Halloween on October 27th, 1966. Of …

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Halloween 2021: Celebrating The Art of Disney Villains

By Leslie Combemale | October 14, 2021

It’s almost time for Halloween, and if your family is anything like mine, it’s at least equal to Christmas in importance and excitement. In our house, we have The 31 Days of Halloween. We watch a horror movie or a movie with a great villain, listen to soundtracks like Psycho, Halloween, and, of course, songs …

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Charles Schulz, Charlie Brown, Chomp, The Kite-Eating Tree, and The Peanuts Lexicon Limited Edition Series

By Leslie Combemale | September 30, 2021

One of the most endearing qualities of Charlie Brown, and why we all relate to him, is that he is an eternal optimist. He doesn’t think much of himself, and some folks can relate to that, too. Creator Charles Schulz made the character, not only in his own image, but in that of the everyman. …

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2021 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in Reston Town Center

By Leslie Combemale | September 9, 2021

This weekend Reston Town Center is hosting the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival from Friday through Sunday, with over 200 artists displaying and selling their original and limited edition art and craftwork. Straying from the usual date in May because of COVID, this weekend promises to be great weather, and since the entire event happens …

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Remembering Ed Asner: Emmy Winning Actor, Voice Artist, & Activist

By Leslie Combemale | September 9, 2021

Ed Asner passed away on August 29th at the age of 91, after living a fascinating life with uncompromising integrity, a tenacious curiosity, and, despite exhibiting a gruff, tough guy exterior, an open heart to both loved ones and strangers. Though beloved by Disney fans for his role in Pixar’s 2009 film UP and appreciated …

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Spotlight on Eric Goldberg: Animation Superstar & Al Hirschfeld Devotee

By Leslie Combemale | August 4, 2021

If you love the Genie from the 1992 animated feature Aladdin, Phil from Hercules, Louis from The Princess and the Frog, or enjoyed 1995’s Pocahontas, you love the work of Disney animator Eric Goldberg. He co-directed Pocahontas and was responsible for some of the best character designs in the New Golden Age of Disney. The …

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PEANUTS PROFILE: The History and Art of Peppermint Patty

By Leslie Combemale | July 8, 2021

Peppermint Patty is not just a quirky kid with, as she herself puts it, ‘hair full of split ends’, she’s an icon, and rightly so. In this Peanuts Profile, we take a look at the art of Patricia Reichardt, or as she’s better known, Peppermint Patty.  Here’s Peppermint Patty, coming in hot from the very …

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PEANUTS PROFILE: The Art of Franklin Appreciation for the iconic Black Peanuts character

By Leslie Combemale | July 7, 2021

Ah, the art of Franklin…When Franklin made his first appearance in a Peanuts comic strip on July 31st, 1968, he did it without any fuss. He showed up at the beach, having found Charlie Brown’s beach ball. “Is this your beach ball?” were his first words. He notices Chuck is attempting to make a sandcastle, …

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