2024: The Art of Disney – Rob Kaz – Lion King Painting
One of the first magical stops we made on our Disney Springs morning was The Art of Disney store—a gallery that always feels a bit like Rafiki’s tree, full of wisdom, wonder, and breathtaking beauty. I’ve wandered through it many times before, admiring the artwork like Simba gazing at the stars, dreaming of someday bringing a piece home. But this time was different.
As fate would have it, Disney artist Rob Kaz was there in person, painting and signing his work. One piece instantly caught my eye—a stunning portrayal of Mufasa and young Simba looking up at the starlit sky. Titled “Father and Son,” the artwork captured the quiet strength and love between them, and standing beside my own son in that moment, it resonated deeply. It felt like more than a painting—it felt like a memory in motion. With the artist double-signing it right in front of me, I knew it was time to finally take home a piece of Disney magic. (Thankfully, there’s a UPS store nearby to handle the royal shipping logistics!)
For this scrapbook spread, I leaned into The Lion King‘s African savanna vibe, choosing safari-inspired background paper to echo the film’s vibrant setting. The left-hand page is designed at a diagonal to roughly resemble a lion’s head in its framing—a nod to the regal figures in the artwork. It features three photos: one outside The Art of Disney store, one with the treasured piece inside, and a final shot of me and Rob Kaz with the painting freshly signed.
On the right-hand page, I created a cut-through design using an Etsy-purchased image that I imported into Cricut Design Space and cut using my Cricut Maker. When layered, the background paper peeks through the silhouette, giving the spread a “pride rock” kind of dimension that’s hard to capture in pictures—but trust me, it roars in person.
As a finishing touch, I added two peek-a-boo SVG cuts of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who look like they’re peeking over the photos, just like Zazu keeping an eye on the savanna. It’s playful, personal, and perfectly Disney.
If you’d like to see how this Father and Son tribute came together, watch the video below:
MASCrapping 