Louisiana artist creates mural for entrance to 'Tiana's Bayou Adventure'

A Louisiana artist's latest work is now going to be seeing by people from all around the world at Disney World. WGNO's Kenny Lopez is at Disney World, and he met the artist who painted the entrance to the new, New Orleans-themed ride, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure."

GEISMAR, La. (WGNO) — A Louisiana artist's latest work is now going to be seeing by people from all around the world at Disney World. WGNO's Kenny Lopez is at Disney World, and he met the artist who painted the entrance to the new, New Orleans-themed ride, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure."

With every stroke of her paintbrush, Malaika Favorite is creating an artistic arpeggio. Just like Princess Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog" uses a spoon to make gumbo.

Her studio is in Geismar, which is an hour west of New Orleans, and her paintings are striking a chord.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think her journey would lead to Disney World, where she painted eight different panels for the entrance to the new ride, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure."

"This is an introduction to Tiana's world with the garden, the flowers, the music. There's a path of music moving through each painting," Favorite said.

She calls herself a semi-abstract artist, so even though she's painting for Disney, she didn't want her art to look cartoonish.

"I just went with my own style. I wanted happy and bright colors because Disney movies are always bright," she said.

While music is its theme, you'll notice vegetables hanging from the music notes, an ode to Tiana who grows her own produce to make that gumbo.

"I incorporated scenes of peppers growing and different foods," Favorite said.

She wants to help others who are hungry to pick up a paintbrush. Making riveting murals with the power of her paintbrush is what she loves to do. Her work is a feast for eyes, which is just as good as Tiana's gumbo.

"Tiana's Bayou Adventure" officially opens on June 28. WGNO's Kenny Lopez and photographer Justin Abshire will be at Disney World bringing us reports on-air and online for a special preview of the ride.

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