Return of the Conquering Hero
$415.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There’s a gentle, storybook hush to this scene—Alice, small and earnest in her blue dress, leans forward with quiet curiosity toward a plump, bespectacled caterpillar perched on an ornate cushion atop a giant mushroom. Scott Gustafson layers warm, jewel-like color and affectionate detail to make the moment feel both whimsical and intimate: the caterpillar’s embroidered robes, the patterned rug, and the curling wisps of smoke give the encounter a playful, slightly exotic air without stealing the focus from the two figures’ exchange. The surrounding foliage and softly glowing background deepen the sense of a secret garden where scale feels elastic—the mushroom’s generous cap becomes an unexpected stage. This print delights through character and atmosphere; it reads like a paused line from a beloved tale, equal parts wonder and gentle humor, inviting you to linger with the story for a moment longer.
The Artwork
About The Alice In Wonderland Suite Limited Edition Print
Creating a new Alice look was a fun challenge. I was happy to combine the traditional with the new, the scrupulously researched with the fanciful. I needed to forget all my preconceptions and work from the original source materials and my own imagination. For instance, the original book said only that the caterpillar was smoking a hookah. I took it from there, adding all sorts of Middle Eastern touches.
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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