–Tiera Tanner, WDW Radio Team
Happy 2023! Once again, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts kicks off a year full of engaging events at the Walt Disney World Resort. This year’s festival brings new food offerings, musical entertainment, and of course, new artwork inspired by the magical world of Disney.
Oil painter Michael Provenza showcases his creative interpretation of Disney characters and scenery in his second appearance at the Festival of the Arts.
Provenza described his artistic style as “Realistic Surrealism.”
“I developed a distinctive pointillistic style and traditional blending techniques that create a realistic and dimensional quality, yet surreal and magical,” Provenza explained. “Dream-like scenery from my imagination.”
Graveyard Symphony is one of Provenza’s new, “dream-like” paintings debuting at the festival. This 12 inch by 24 inch oil on board artwork features the graveyard ghosts of The Haunted Mansion. A dozen singing haunts span across the dark, monochromatic landscape as ghoulish wisps of music notes float above them. A blue-green glow of the ghosts mirrors the magical musical notes as they travel horizontally across the painting. Striped knolls and barren tree branches frame the work and lead viewers across the composition – elements common in Provenza’s contemporary surrealist works.
“My work captures life’s journey with the use of paths and stripes surrounded by earth’s ethereal beauty and glory,” Provenza said. “My goal is to have a unique and original experience for myself and the viewer.”
Provenza reflected that his paintings are a “labor of love” and he “always strives to make each one better than the last.”
“I believe for any young artists out there, the goal is to be consistent, driven, disciplined, and most importantly, unique and original,” encouraged Provenza.
To meet the artist and experience Graveyard Symphony, among his other works, visit the Promenade Fine Art booth January 13-18 and the Disney Fine Art booth in the Mexico pavilion January 19-25.
Tiera Tanner lives her life spreading pixie dust. Whether creating art in her studio, or raising her two young sons, Tiera is inspired by the magic of Disney, and is always encouraging her husband to plan their next trip to the parks. bio and photo
