A Long-Winded Thank You...

Is my artwork something to rival a Disney Animator or the great Picasso?  


That's an easy "no".


Will my artwork ever grace the walls of a famous gallery in New York or Paris?  


Probably not.


Could a kid just out of College with a degree in Digital Arts do what I do in less than half the time and better?  


More than likely.


Will I ever make thousands of dollars off of my work? 


"This bottle cap not a winner, please play again."


The fact of the matter is that I don't care as much about those things as I do the fact that I enjoy creating the art I create...and that I enjoy the fact that someone out there enjoys what they see every once and a while.  I do this because it brings me joy.  I do this because I still find it amazing that someone who taught themselves only the basics of using Photoshop can take a blank screen and turn it into a two dimensional fantasy that can make someone smile.  I do this because taking a subject and creating a piece of artwork based on it helps me to be "closer" to that subject...on an almost intimate level and lets me connect with my favorite places, things, and time periods.


I do this because I become a better individual with every piece of art.  I do this because my journey to learn more techniques is ongoing.  I do this because I am still searching for "my style".  But more importantly, I do this because I love doing it.


I hope you like what you see when it comes out...and I hope you will continue to share your comments and criticsms when it does.  Your feedback helps me to become a better artist...and you've all been an integral part of my artistic journey.  I am very lucky to have friends who are so supportive and who are not afraid to give me a "pinch" to bring me back to reality when I need it.


To all of you, thank you.  

Disney Fantasy Wallpaper on the Disney Parks Blog!

Aloha from the sun-drenched heart of Central Florida!


My second piece of artwork for the official Disney Parks Blog has gone live!  In this piece, we see the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Fantasy, sailing into the sunset after a day of rest and relaxation at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.


This piece of artwork was inspired by my own personal experiences aboard the Disney Wonder and the Disney Dream.  Laying on the beach, the scent of vanilla and hibiscus in the air, warm breezes gliding across my face, the taste of a  nicely chilled tropical beverage...These were all memories which helped to mold the overall look and color scheme of the wallpaper.  


While I worked diligently on this project at my office in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, my friends Sarah, Mayra, and Dean were all sailing aboard the Disney Dream!  Occasionally, I would glance at the clock on my computer and think about where they were right then and what they were doing.  Sitting at my desk, I repeatedly listened to a recording of the original Adventureland Steel Drum Band (does anyone remember them?) while sipping a fruit punch (non-alcoholic since I was at the office) out of my Castaway Club bottle (hooray for returning cruise guest perks!).  I can honestly say that I was living vicariously through their cruise...and it definitely set the mood for me.

Artwork by Jason "Tiki" Tackett.  Artwork ©2012 Disney  

Special thanks for this piece go out to my friends James and Jonny Nelson.  This past November, I had the honor of attending their wedding aboard the Disney Dream.  As a special gift, I created a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork celebrating their magical moment.  The artwork included an Art Deco representation of the Disney Dream...a representation which I used as the basis for the ship featured in this piece with their blessing.


The style of this wallpaper is extremely similar to the style of the Aulani piece I did a few months ago.  The trees and hibiscus I used in this piece came directly from the Aulani piece.  The way I utilized gradients in this artwork is also very similar in both works.  Going forward, I think I will use "Disney Destination Classic Travel Postcard Style" to describe anything I do in this aesthetic.  What do you think?


Sail on over to the official Disney Parks Blog to download the wallpaper by clicking here!  Be sure to leave a comment on their Blog if you like the art.  I just ask that you  leave any compliments or criticisms directed at me personally here.

Inspirations: Music

There's something about a great piece of music that inspires me to create.


More specifically, there's something about the music written for or about the subject of the art piece I am working on that can transport me into a realm where specific styles, details, and elements become remarkably clear.


For example, The Aulani piece I created for the Disney Parks Blog was created while only listening to traditional Hawaiian, Fijian, and Samoan music.  I drew my inspiration for the traditional aspects (the hibiscus, the carvings, and the relationship between the man-made building's structure and the natural elements around it) from the completely authentic music I set up as a playlist for this project.  


Music has a way of transporting a person to the location it was created for or to put them in the mood of the time it was written.  Think about it for a second.  When you've just come home from your vacation, you watch home videos to relive those magical moments, right?  For those with overactive imaginations, the same thing can be achieved with specific music.  You just put on the music, close your eyes, and envision that place and time.


What I also find to be interesting is that I could be listening to an instrumental piece by Buddy Baker while working on artwork that is supposed to reflect the style of the late 60's and early 70's...and though I wasn't there for it, I can almost "channel" a style through the use of that music.  The colors I choose, the way I draw the lines, and the blocking of the various elements in the art all come from the feeling I get when I listen to that music.


So...What inspires you with your hobbies or projects?

A "Sneaky Tiki Peek" At My Next Work Of Art!

I'm deep into my next project for the official Disney Parks Blog, and it's definitely going to make some of you smile!  By far, this will be the most diverse piece of artwork I have created in a very long time...and it has its roots in a classic piece of Disneyana!


Here's a teeny tiny portion of the incomplete artwork...

What might this be from?

Check back here for more hints over the next couple weeks!


UPDATE:  This piece of artwork is still in the works, but there are a couple projects that will make their debut before this one comes out.  I'll post another sneak peek soon!

Aulani Desktop Wallpaper on the Disney Parks Blog!

Aloha from sunny Florida!  Last month, I've  made my debut on the Official Disney Parks Blog with a desktop wallpaper depicting Disney Vacation Club's newest location...Disney's Aulani at Ko Olina, Hawai'i!

As you've seen in my other art, I tend to favor two-dimensional "head-on" scenes versus angled, perspective scenes...so creating this desktop wallpaper presented a little bit of a challenge for me.  Originally, I wanted to go with a "vintage travel poster" kind of look...using very simple shapes, loads of gradients, and almost zero realism.  I did, however, take a stab at a dimensional image by using a recent photo of the lobby building as my template.

My original concept for the Aulani Desktop Wallpaper

After some feedback from Disney Vacation Club and the Aulani Cultural Committee, more detail and color was added to produce the piece you see on the Disney Parks Blog today.  Head on over to the official Disney Parks Blog today to download it for free here!

Artwork by Jason "Tiki" Tackett.  Artwork ©2012 Disney

As always, thank you to all my friends for their continued support with these projects...and to you for sharing your feedback!  Stay tuned for sneak peeks of projects I am working on...and for information on projects I have recently finished!

Vintage Florida Sunshine at D23...

Guests attending Disney D23's event at the Walt Disney World Resort this month will be able to purchase merchandise featuring artwork by Kevin Kidney, Jody Daily, and...yep...me!  

A desktop wallpaper featuring my Orange Bird is downloadable
for free from the D23 website.

The Orange Bird artwork I created for the desktop wallpaper above has been turned into a special, limited edition collectible event pin.  Be sure to get yours before they sell out!

Event merchandise featuring my Orange Bird artwork.

Though "the name on the door at the end of the day is Disney" where I work, i'm proud of this little guy and am super-excited to see that the team at D23 has given me name credit on the official event page for my contribution to their celebration of 40 years of Disney magic at the Walt Disney World Resort!