Mary Blair

Mary Blair
Mary Blair by Michael Netzer
Born	Mary Browne Robinson October 21, 1911 McAlester, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	July 26, 1978(1978-07-26) (aged 66) Soquel, California, U.S.
Alma mater	San Jose State University Chouinard Art Institute
Known for	Artist, Animator, Designer
Notable work	Alice in Wonderland Peter Pan Song of the South Cinderella Make Mine Music So Dear to My Heart The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Spouse(s)	Lee Everett Blair (1934-1978)
Awards	Disney Legend Award Winsor McCay Award

Mary Blair (October 21, 1911 – July 26, 1978), born Mary Robinson, was an American artist who was prominent in producing art and animation for The Walt Disney Company, drawing concept art for such films as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Song of the South and Cinderella. Blair also created character designs for enduring attractions such as Disneyland's It's a Small World, the fiesta scene in El Rio del Tiempo in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, and an enormous mosaic inside Disney's Contemporary Resort. Several of her illustrated children's books from the 1950s remain in print, such as I Can Fly by Ruth Krauss. Blair was inducted into the prestigious group of Disney Legends in 1991.

Born on October 21, 1911, in McAlester, Oklahoma, Mary Browne Robinson moved to Texas while still a small child, and later to the city of Morgan Hill, California in the early 20s. After graduating from San Jose State University which she attended from 1929 to 1931, Mary won a scholarship to the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, where artists such as Pruett Carter, Morgan Russell and Lawrence Murphy were among the teachers. She graduated from Chouinard in 1933. In 1934 shortly after college, she married another artist, Lee Everett Blair (October 1, 1911 – April 19, 1993). She was the sister-in-law of animator Preston Blair (1908–95). Along with her husband Lee, she became a member of the California School of Watercolor and quickly became known for being an imaginative colorist and designer.