Return of the Conquering Hero
$415.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There’s a pleasure in the way these three little pigs have been made alive—not as textbook characters but as playful, busy neighbors gathered by the hearth. Gustafson’s scene feels warm and lived-in: the amber glow of the fire, the soft textures of braided rug and brick, and the small domestic details (a clock, framed silhouettes, a basket of apples) that make their cottage feel comforting and familiar. Each pig has a distinct gesture and expression—one tapping a spoon like a drum, another strumming, a third mid-step with a pan—that gives the group a cheerful, musical energy rather than a static tableau. The rich, painterly color and careful modeling make the scene feel both nostalgic and immediate; you can almost hear the clatter and laughter. As an illustrated page and companion collector’s volume, it invites quiet sharing—reading aloud, pointing out favorite details, or simply enjoying the gentle humor and craftsmanship of an old tale reimagined with tenderness and wit.
The Artwork
About Classic Fairy Tales W/three Little Pigs Coll. Book And Print
CLASSIC FAIRY TALES W/THREE LITTLE PIGS, COLL. BOOK & PRINT
This stunning Collector’s Edition celebrates the detailed brilliance of Scott Gustafson’s art and his love of our favorite childhood tales. This exquisitely illustrated volume features ten of the most enduring fairy tales of all time. The stories, chosen and edited by the artist, include bothprincess classics and frolicking adventures. Artist Scott Gustafson spent more than four years creating the seventy-five rich oil paintings to illustrate his favorite stories.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
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About the Collection
Blending storybook fantasy art with classic fairy tale illustration, these whimsical and richly detailed paintings bring beloved characters and mythological scenes to life with vibrant colors and masterful brushwork. Featuring enchanting storytelling and traditional realism, each piece captures the timeless magic of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and folklore through meticulously crafted compositions. With a focus on luminous, painterly techniques and expressive character details, these works create a sense of wonder and nostalgia, perfect for collectors of imaginative and romanticized fantasy art. Whether depicting storybook adventures or elegant mythological figures, these paintings transport viewers into a world of charm, magic, and timeless artistic craftsmanship.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Scott Gustafson.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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Limited-edition artwork includes a Certificate of Authenticity when one is issued by the artist, publisher, studio, or authorized source. Open-edition pieces may not include a certificate; this does not affect their authenticity. The Collection Shop sources artwork through artists, publishers, authorized distributors, galleries, and other approved channels. Any additional documentation included with this specific piece will be noted above.
"Storytelling through pictures has always held a certain fascination for Scott
Gustafson; be they the moving images in animated cartoons, or the epic
illustrations of N. C. Wyeth. Upon entering the Chicago Academy of Fine Art,
Scott was 99% sure that he wanted to become an animator, but it was that 1%
that ultimately drew him more and more into the world of stretched canvas and
oil paint. ""As an animator, ""Gustafson says, ""your contribution to a given
film is, by necessity, limited to whatever character you've been assigned. But
as an illustrator, you're responsible for locations, sets, costumes, props,
lighting and character designs, not to mention the overall mood and emotion of
a given painting. It's about the best job there is.""
Over the nearly twenty-five years that span his career, he has had the
opportunity to fulfill commissions for a number of varied clients and
publishers such as Celestial Seasonings, Playboy magazine, Saturday Evening
Post, The Bradford Exchange, DreamWorks and The Greenwich Workshop. His
illustrated books include The Night Before Christmas, Peter Pan, Nutcracker,
as well as two original titles, Animal Orchestra and Alphabet Soup. His newest
release, Classic Fairy Tales, was recently awarded a Chesley award for best
interior book illustrations from the Association of Science Fiction and
Fantasy Artists and is currently in its third printing.
"
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