Portfolio Acquisition: "The Toymaker’s Apprentice" Unpublished 1980s Dark Fantasy Manuscript & 19 Canvas Paintings - 21 Pieces

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Corbett, Suzanne (Author and Illustrator). The Toymaker’s Apprentice 'Mockup'.

Features: 19 original acrylic/oil paintings in a dark fantasy style [Storyboard … Read more Corbett, Suzanne (Author and Illustrator). The Toymaker’s Apprentice 'Mockup'.

Features: 19 original acrylic/oil paintings in a dark fantasy style [Storyboard (SB)], mockup of an illustrated children's story manuscript, unpublished.

n.p: n.p. (circa 1983-1986). (2) Pressboard report covers (PBC), 11.5 x 10 inches with (15) Oxford Esselte Copy-Safe sheet protectors holding (30) multipurpose sheets, 8.5 x 11 inches. Xerox photocopies with typescript featuring hand-drawn charcoal and graphite pencil scenes; (10) ½ page, (10) ¾ page, (7) full page. PBC bindings: Light blue Smead no. BE129 (B) and light green Accopress 25172 (G), each bound with two-piece front fasteners. B; hand-inked “The - Toymaker’s – Apprentice – by – Suzanne Corbett” on front cover, verso ownership inscribed “Suzanne Corbett – contact information”, (5) color photographs on Kodak paper with trimmed borders tipped in recto. G; unmarked. G and B leaves are identical with exception to title page, G signed “by Suzanne Corbett", B signed “Written and Illustrated by Suzanne Corbett.” Leaves light age-toned, covers with extremity handling wear. SBs (19): (16) 14 x 18 inches, (2) 12 x 16 inches**, (1) 9 x 12 inches**. SB: (5) Original and **(14) deleted scenes, (2) artist signed/dated, remainder unsigned. Loose original hand-painted scenes on canvas panels, vivid color, use of intense glowing primary colors contrasted against deep shadows, dark hues and muted tones. Sporadic abrasion of a few panels, minor extremity wear.
Very good + – Near fine.

Bio: Suzanne (Sue) Corbett (1948–2011) of El Cerrito, California, was a white witch whose positive energy and magic shone through her life as a dedicated writer, artist, woodcarver, equestrian, and animal rescuer. Over a 60-year career, she became most sought after for her rare trade skills as a master carousel sculptor. For Sue, art was a vessel for sharing her inner magic. She found a second home within the California Renaissance Faire circuits, where her booth stood as a gallery of myth and woodcraft—showcasing signature carousel horses, dragon bellows, medieval boxes, and fantasy paintings. Deeply rooted in Contra Costa County, she left a dual legacy as both a visual artist and a regional storyteller, capturing community life and childhood memories for local publications like the West County Times. Her creative peak culminated in The Toymaker’s Apprentice, a private, unfinished manuscript rooted in imaginative realism that blended a lifetime of experience into fantastic worlds rendered with convincing texture and light.

“And as the fame of the Toymaker and his clever apprentice spread throughout the land, everyone agreed that their toys were made with cunning and skill and love. And it is said now and then, by those who should know, that some of their toys the very special ones, have just a tiny bit of magic as well.”

About: The survival of storyboards and deleted scenes provides a rich look into Corbett’s creative process, highlighting the contrast between raw in-text drawings and vivid color illustrations. Marked by its era’s mechanical typewriter and Xerox textures, the final text is an immersive experience where the artwork transforms the prose into an unforgettable journey.

Intellectual Property (IP) Rights: Selling only the physical items as a collectible artifact.

Note: Last image for illustration purposes only. Paintings are not framed. See less