‘Almost There’ – The Wizard of Oz 

Scott Gustafson painted ‘Almost There’ – The Wizard of Oz, using traditional oil paint on canvas. The smooth surface and vibrant color are characteristic of this time-honored medium, capable of capturing a high degree of detail, as we can see in the many figures populating the painting. The artist uses a glazing technique, building up layers of translucent paint to create depth and luminosity. Notice how this approach makes the Emerald City seem to glow ethereally in the distance. Gustafson is clearly skilled in illusionistic representation, which has been at the core of painting practice for centuries. Yet the painting's subject is rooted in modern, mass culture. ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ both the book and the movie, became so popular through industrial means of print and film production. Gustafson has taken these sources, normally considered 'low' culture, and elevated them through the medium of painting, traditionally regarded as 'high' art. Through his skill and artistry, Gustafson blurs the lines between cultural categories.