The Art of
the Fairy Tale
Celebrating the imagination of childhood
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
— attributed to Albert Einstein
One plate at a time, Little Snow White is issued over the course of twelve months as a collected folio of signed and numbered fine art prints. Each plate is reproduced from an original watercolor painting and arrives with a vellum caption overlay, together forming a complete telling of the tale.
The collection begins June 1, 2026.
First shipments begin mid-June.
Why Snow White?
I was drawn to the earlier versions of Snow White, shaped by folklore before the tale became more familiar and increasingly sanitized in later retellings.
Yet what has always moved me is the unspoken mercy within the story. Snow White passes through a frightening forest with thorny undergrowth, yet escapes real danger; even the wild creatures let her pass unharmed. Kindness appears in unexpected places, and through each stage of the tale she moves forward despite repeated attempts on her life, and ultimately triumphs.
In this telling, the story is not a summary, but a sequence of events: jealousy, exile in the forest, refuge with the dwarves, and three attempts on her life by the disguised queen, before it reaches its dark and unexpected ending.
For those curious to read an older version of the tale, “Little Snow White” may be read here.
The Collector Folio
Over the course of twelve months, Little Snow White is issued one plate at a time as a collected folio of signed and numbered fine art prints. Reproduced from original watercolor paintings, the plates are accompanied by vellum caption overlays with a short caption inspired by the illustration.
Together, the collection forms a complete telling of the tale. Illustrations are issued in a numbered edition of 100.
Each monthly folio is offered at $75 per release.
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The title comes from older English translations of the Brothers Grimm tale Schneewittchen, where Snow White is often called Little Snow White.
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Little Snow White unfolds over twelve months, with each folio revealing a new scene from the original Brothers Grimm tale.
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The collection opens June 1, 2026. First shipments begin mid-June.
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Each illustration begins as an original hand-painted watercolor painting before being reproduced as an archival pigment print, in close consultation with the artist.
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Each illustration is reproduced at the original watercolor size of 4 × 6 inches on 5 × 7 inch archival paper.
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No. Each illustration is reproduced at the original watercolor size of 4 × 6 inches on 5 × 7 inch archival paper, preserving the scale of the original artwork.
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Each monthly release includes an archival pigment print reproduced from an original hand-painted watercolor and a vellum overlay with a short caption inspired by the illustration. Signed and numbered by hand, it is presented in a folio enclosure with archival backing, sealed with wax, and carefully wrapped for protection.
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Yes. Little Snow White is issued in a numbered edition of one hundred.
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New collectors begin with the first folio. Earlier releases are reserved so the story may still be collected from the beginning.
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Occasional individual illustrations may become available in limited quantities.
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If your folio arrives damaged, please write to Johanna at info@johannawesterman.com. Every folio is carefully packaged for protection, and damaged shipments will be replaced.
FAQ
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Art inspired by the fairy tale world
Johanna Westerman grew up immersed in fairy tales. From fairies hidden in trees to bewitched animals to little goblins wearing crowns, these characters always find their way into every piece of art she creates. After publishing nine picture books and raising four children, she is entering a new chapter of her life that includes not only one of a kind fairy tale art, but the freedom to illustrate her own stories, create custom stationery, fabric and wallpaper, while always honoring the stories she grew up with.
Three Little Kittens