Checking it Twice
$375.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
The Artwork
About The Crimson Comet
Storyteller and artist Dean Morrissey brings his boundless imagination to his latest splendidly detailed canvas. He explains of "The Crimson Comet," "It is an adventure story about a five-year-old girl named Nora who has talked to the moon ever since she could remember. Often Nora would drop off to sleep right in the middle of the conversation. But on this night, as she was listing some of the things about being five that she was not particularly happy about, the moon suddenly blinked out like a bulb in a giant nightlight. Afraid of the dark, Nora runs to her eight-year-old big brother Jack, who, secretly, just so happens to be a superhero called "The Crimson Comet." In a panic, Nora explains what has happened and Jack swings into action. Within minutes, the pair is soaring off into the night sky on his magic vehicle in search of the dark moon. The story of this journey is about the power of imagination and how these kids use it to resolve a dreadful situation. Their job is nothing short of returning celestial elements to their natural order in the universe, and, let"s face it, you just can"t do that without a healthy dose of imagination."
Collector Details
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About the Collection
Dean Morrissey (1951–2021) was a celebrated American fantasy artist and children's book illustrator, renowned for his enchanting oil paintings that bring imaginative worlds to life. His notable works include "The Christmas Ship" and "The Great Kettles," which showcase his whimsical storytelling and masterful depiction of Santa Claus and other fantastical subjects. Morrissey's art is characterized by its rich detail and warmth, making his collectible art prints highly sought after by enthusiasts of fantasy and children's literature illustrations.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Dean Morrissey.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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"Dean Morrissey has been drawing and creating characters since his childhood in
Boston. Inspired by Disney matte paintings and comic book heroes early on, he
grew to appreciate the works of the masters, such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Pyle
and N.C. Wyeth.
Morrissey worked a variety of job until deciding to paint full time in the late
1970 s. He worked as a freelance book cover illustrator for over 15 different
publishers in New York and won numerous awards. Morrissey is self taught, and
considers the demands of cover illustration to have been his "art school".
In 1991, Morrissey began to paint some images from a story that he was
creating. His books include Ship of Dreams Harry N Abrams (1994), The Great
Kettles: A Tale of Time Harry N Abrams (1997), The Song of Celestine Little,
Brown and Co. (1998), The Christmas Ship HarperCollins (2000), A Christmas
Carol Greenwich Workshop Press (2000), The Moon Robber HarperCollins (2001),
The Winter King HarperCollins (2002), and The Monster Trap HarperCollins
(2004).
His awards include The Society of Illustrators Gold Medal for The Great
Kettles, The Chesley Award for The Light Ship (2002), and he is a current
nominee for this year s Chesley Award for Anna of the Celts (2003).
Morrissey lives with his wife Shan and his son on the South Shore of
Massachusetts.
"
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