Once upon a time … artist Scott Gustafson turned his paintbrush to
this delightful Aesop’s fable on “to each his own.” The city mouse
visits the country mouse and finds his raw nuts and feed corn coarse
and unappetizing. The country mouse visits the city mouse where the
repast is refined and wildly diverse, but eating it is nearly
impossible with the all the roaming cats and human activity.
Gustafson’s usual good cheer imagines the two happily toasting, vive le difference!
In folkloric circles,
the story of "Beauty and the Beast" belongs to a story motif called
a Beast Marriage. This happens to be a very common motif and appears
in many tales and ballads throughout the world, one of the most
famous variations being Grimm's fairytale, "The Frog Prince."
"Since, from the very
beginning I knew there was going to be a tapestry in the background
of this piece, the only question was what would be the subject
matter," said the artist. "Ultimately, it seemed only fitting that
the Beast might have chosen for his wall décor an image depicting
characters from a story so similar to his own, and from which he
surely would have derived much inspiration."
Artist Scott Gustafson
is fascinated by the English words used to describe groups of
particular animals, such as, a pride of lions or a pod of whales.
But there is also a wisp of snipes, a clutter of spiders and two of
his favorites, a skulk of foxes and a parliament of owls.
In that vein,” said the artist, “I wondered what a gathering of
dragons might be called. Finding no name already given it seemed
that a linguistic gauntlet had been thrown my way. Rifling both mind
and dictionary I happened to stumble upon a wonderful word;
confabulate, whose Webster definition is 1) ‘To talk informally; to
chat. 2) To replace fact with fantasy in memory.’ As Thoreau once
said, ‘Therewas pasture enough for my imagination’ and A
Confabulation of Dragons was born.”
Artist Scott Gustafson
has of late been inspired by aphorisms and the turn of a phrase
including most recently the Fine Art Limited Editions Hear No Evil,
See No Evil, Speak No Evil and Birds of a Feather Flock Together.
Birds have the type of unique collective nouns that send Gustafson
into inspired flights of fancy. A peep of chickens, a band of jays,
a conspiracy of ravens, a murder of crows and yes, a parliament of
owls! This Great Horned orator speaks with commanding authority and
while the front row struggles to stay awake, most of the others are
rapt listeners
From nonsense to lessons
learned, these forty five rhymes include the very well known (Itsy
Bitsy Spider) and the somewhat familiar, (Hickety, Pickety, my black
hen). The truly fantastic pictures speak more than one thousands
words in details as artist Scott Gustafson riffs in paint on themes
present and imagined in each verse.
Nursery rhymes are classic and so are some of artist’s
interpretations but other paintings are surprises, like an
anthropomorphic baking bear, a pelican sea captain and Peter Piper
as a pug on two legs. Welcome to a world where “There Was a Crooked
Man” is not about a hunched-back elder but rather a madcap,
double-jointed dandy who might be “crooked” in more ways than one.
Jack (Be Nimble) is a leaping cricket and Yankee Doodle a fun-loving
chipmunk on a full-sized horse.
Scott Gustafson’s unique style, influenced by legendary book
illustrators Arthur Rackham and N.C. Wyeth, makes this a volume to
be treasured by children and illustrated book lovers of all ages.
Hardcover Book
trade edition
collected and illustrated by Scott Gustafson
Image Size:
10 1/2” x 12" 100 pages
over 50 full color paintings
Over the centuries, contrary meanings have been
bestowed upon the unicorn—virtue, sin, chastity, wildness, death and rebirth
among them. One aspect of the legend, however, has never been disputed: only
a maiden can tame the proud beast. Scott Gustafson explores these myths
while offering lively new interpretations in The Maiden and the Unicorn,
which has been created in the same wondrously detailed tradition as the
extremely popular, sold out print Merlin and Arthur. This enchanted glen is
full of symbols explained by Gustafson in a fascinating essay that
accompanies each print.
Artist Scott
Gustafson's exquisite and detailed paintings speak to the childhood dreams
and passions in each of us, unlocking a world of wonder and "once
upon-a-times" … In Merlin and Arthur, Gustafson brings to life the stuff of
which legends are made. Authors and artists have fallen under the spell of
possibilities that abound within the framework of the Arthurian Legend.
Merlin, the world's foremost wizard, alchemist, prophet and sage would have
made a dazzling tutor for Arthur, the young boy who was destined to become
Britain's "once and ever king." Gustafson sets his scene in Merlin's room,
chock full of exotic and marvelous portents, omens, objects and animals. In
fact, 21 symbols and references associated with the legend of Merlin can be
found through out the painting.
The story of Daniel
is about a man who is punished for his beliefs by a king who was swayed by
vanity and bad advice. But Daniel is also the story of true faith in the
face of death and of a man who had the strength of his convictions. I chose
to depict Daniel standing in a pool of mysterious light. Behind and around
him, lions lurk in the shadows—nearly brushing his robes as they pace to and
fro. Yet, these ravenous beasts dare not lay a single paw on the seemingly
vulnerable figure who stands in their midst. In these turbulent times, the
story of Daniel seems very appropriate. For although his faith is the reason
he was thrown to the lions, it was also Daniel’s faith that ultimately saved
him.”
Pegasus and the
Muses is an enchanting interpretation of a Greek legend. Athena, the Godess
of Wisdom, was the first to discover the winged stallion Pegasus, who was
the son of Medusa and Poseidon. Athena tamed the horse, and gave him to the
Muses of Mt. Helicon as a gift.
"When I reread the original fairy tale, it was
like meeting old friends," Gustafson says. "I felt a temptation to put the
dwarves in elaborate, individual costumes, but I resisted it, because in the
story they don't have distinguishing names and characteristics. Since their
daily work was mining, their house has elements of metal including the heavy
plates and utensils - plus, the alchemic symbols for copper and tin worked
across the upper beam in the background. You can practically hear the
delightful sounds of music and nature as Snow White and the seven dwarves
celebrate the simple pleasures of preparing supper together."
“Of all mythical
creatures, mermaids are perhaps the most alluring and mysterious,” Scott
says. This painting is a glimpse into the lives of a couple poised between
two worlds, something we less mythological beings are familiar with, too.”
This is just one of
50 visual references to the life and legends of jolly ole’ Saint Nick that
Gustafson has magically designed into his meticulously researched
painting. It took him 12 weeks to paint this magical work of art that
follows
St. Nick’s birth in
Turkey around
280 A.D. to the present day.
Alice in Wonderland
may have been intended for children," Scott says, "but it's adults who get
the most out of it. Only seasoned minds can truly appreciate the witty word
play and leaps of logic."
Beneath the great
Celestial Clock, babies headed for earth are assigned to their trusty
guides. An old angel double checks all the coordinates—the position of the
planets, relationship of the sun, moon and stars—scheduling the delivery
with little regard for the readiness or unreadiness of the parents-to-be.
Finally, blessed by a spark from the flame of hope, the babies are off,
destined to forever alter time and the universe for their earthly
recipients."
