Peter Playing His Pan Flute

Partial/Customized Reproduction
Graphite pencil on paper
Date of Completion: April 30, 2004

I drew this piece when I was 15 years old, working on it over the span of about three weeks, I think. The pose and overall scene, including the tree stump, were based on a painting by Scott Gustafson from a beautiful illustrated edition of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. The details of Peter's costume, however, were of my own design. I wanted his attire to look both more organic and elaborate than in Gustafson's original. I also simplified the scenery around him, leaving out the dancing gnomes and adding his sword on the ground. I see now that the pose came out much more stiff than in the original and the overall impact of the image is far less fanciful than the gorgeous painting that inspired it.