(Scott and Patty Gustafson, photo credit Tara Larsen Chang)

Prior to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 4 I didn’t know much about Scott Gustafson, other than the obvious–he is one incredible painter. His annual presence in volumes of Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art meant that I was very familiar with his work, particularly since his pieces are so often filled with detail that rewards multiple viewings, and are often such joy-filled works that you cannot help but be arrested by them.

I started to learn a little more about the man behind the magic when Scott Gustafson was announced as one of the Special Guests at our show, particularly in preparation for moderating the Special Guest panel that would happen that Saturday morning. I, and all the SFAL4 attendees who took the time to stop by Scott’s booth, got more than we bargained for as we also had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with his wife Patty. Scott and Patty Gustafson were two of the sweetest, most genuine people I met that weekend and the pleasure of those brief moments with them remains a treasured memory.

(Photo credit, Tara Larsen Chang)

The whimsical, colorful paintings that spring from Scott Gustafson’s imagination draw inspiration from those classic illustrators that caught his attention as a young man: N.C. Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell. Like the later, he seems to have the ability to capture his subjects going about the course of their lives. Each piece is like a snapshot of the action that doesn’t so much capture movement as it conveys a sense of movement, of energy. It is not hard to believe in fairy tale creatures when faced with one of Scott Gustafson’s paintings.

In addition to paintings and copies of his books, Scott and Patty brought along three books filled with his pencil studies, done in preparation for the larger paintings. Each of these were fun, and frankly gorgeous, pieces that also happened to be affordable originals for fans to cherish. It was not hard to decide that I wanted to bring a Scott Gustafson original home…the difficulty was in deciding which one. I must have looked through those books a dozen times that weekend.

In the end, being a dog lover, it had to be this piece. It was one of three studies for Old Mother Hubbard’s dog, in three stages of his development. I loved this one and it followed me home.

(Photo credit, Spectrum Fantastic Art Live)

It was an immense pleasure to moderate the Saturday morning panel featuring SFAL 4‘s Special Guests: Scott Gustafson, Julie Dillon, Karla Ortiz, Tim Kirk and Donato Giancola. I had only previously talked with Donato Giancola, so getting to know him better and getting to learn about the other four artists was an honor. I had so much fun with them.

A further honor was attending the Spectrum 22 Awards Gala that Saturday night, in which we witnessed Scott Gustafson receive the Grand Master Award. It could not have been given to a more worthy candidate, and being there to see it happen, and being able to stop by the booth the next day to congratulate him, was one of the many outstanding memories of the show.

(Photo credit, Jeff Smith)

Scott’s wife Patty pointed out to my friend and fellow Spectrum Fantastic Art Live committee member Jeff Smith, the additional creatures that were on the base of the Grand Master Award statue. Thankfully she did so as I’m not certain I would have taken the time to look at them up close, and that would have been a shame.

This year the Gold, Silver and Grand Master awards were redesigned by artists Colin and Kristine Poole. You can read all about the inspiration and see pictures and video about that award, and the new Rising Star Award, in this post by John Fleskes.

I am grateful to Cathy and Arnie Fenner for choosing Scott Gustafson as a Special Guest and to the Spectrum 22 judges who no doubt had a hand in the decision as well. Meeting Scott and Patty Gustafson was a highlight of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 4. If you ever get a chance to attend a show where they are present, be sure to talk to them both. You won’t forget the experience.