Welcome to their ‘World of Fantasy’

Think of Forest Lawn, and “museum” is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But to illustration artist William Stout, it makes perfect sense as “another example of Los Angeles’ idiosyncratic character.” So it’s little wonder that Stout’s works are being featured at the 56-year-old Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale as part of the exhibition “Visions: The World of Fantasy Art.”

With its sweeping hilltop vista, the museum seems an entirely appropriate venue for the 100-piece show focusing on fantasy artists. In addition to Stout’s pieces, the show includes the works of artists Mark Goerner, Chris Hopkins, Dennis Lewis, David Willardson and Syd Mead as well as a selection from the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Animation Research Library.

“Most people who see a film or a book never think about where this stuff comes from or who actually did the artwork,” says Alison Bruesehoff, the museum’s executive director. “They aren’t just these commercial people who whip this stuff out – they’re artists, and there’s a whole passion behind what they do.”

Though many of the featured artists are relatively unknown, almost everyone is familiar with classic Disney films such as “Peter Pan,” “Cinderella,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Even then, however, show-goers may have a difficult time recognizing some of their favorite characters among the more than 40 conceptual drawings and paintings.

David Hall’s version of Tinker Bell, for example, is decidedly more edgy than Glen Keane’s film version, and a watercolor by Peter S. Hall shows the Beast’s origin as a mandrill-like creature. “While these pieces were all done for films, they’re all beautiful pieces in their own right,” Bruesehoff says.

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“Visions: The World of Fantasy Art,” Forest Lawn Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; ends Jan. 6. Free. (800) 204-3131, www.forestlawn.com