So what do I do to get past the first screen in this section?

First of all, wait until a bee flies into the room.

Don't you just hate bees?

Maybe you should find a way to make something to squish it.

Have Magician cast a spell on the feather for a flyswatter.

All you have to do is wait for the bee to sit still and you can hit it.

It will wait for a few seconds at the top of the screen.  Hit it then.

The next trick is to make something useful out of the bee.

Magician can turn it into a dart.

Isn't there someone whom you'd just love to hit with a dart?

Of course there is!  The wizard!

Throw the dart at the portrait and a voodoo doll will appear.  Take it.