Wynken, Blynken and Nod 

Editor: Here we have Scott Gustafson's painting "Wynken, Blynken and Nod". I'm immediately struck by its whimsy; it feels like stepping into a children's book. The colors are vibrant, the imagery fantastical...what is your read of this piece? Curator: It's more than whimsy, wouldn’t you say? There is a longing there for an idealized, perhaps irretrievable, childhood, isn’t there? The dreamy quality is created not only with "screaming colours," but also a masterful control of light, making every element, even the stars and goldfish, luminescent. The children’s longing gaze is subtly haunting; the scene reminds me a lot of my own childhood dreams, what about you? Editor: Definitely! The almost tangible light is captivating. Did this come about with other artistic movements, or do you think Gustafson paved the way for this dreamy, fantasy style? Curator: Paved the way? Perhaps he embellished it. Fantasy illustration obviously owes a debt to Romanticism but also, a darker strain running through German Romanticism in particular: think Caspar David Friedrich or even some of the Pre-Raphaelites with their fairy paintings… it’s like he distilled the sweetness and dread and rendered it in pure fairytale gold. Editor: Fairy tale gold - what a perfect way to describe it! Now that you've explained the influences and that slightly unsettling darkness in the colours, I can totally see it! I came thinking it was just a fun painting, and it is that - and it’s so much more layered, isn’t it? Curator: Isn't that the most exciting thing about art? Always deeper meanings than expected!