Movies tend to make the past look better than it was. History tells a different story about London in 1843. For the poor, life was a struggle — some children worked many hours a day, many were hungry, their homes were cold.
Scrooge saw none of that. He was a rich, stingy, mean bully. It isn’t until the ghosts show him the tragedy of his life that he experiences his first human emotion — he’s terrified.
I went to the library and studied the illustrations in every 19th century edition of “Christmas Carol.” Then I took pen to paper and began drawing. At home, I used watercolor, acrylic and oil paints, pens, markers and crayons to give texture and depth to these rough sketches. Some of the illustrations are dark and macabre, some are raw and simple. Then the light of awareness bursts forth, and the horror story ends in joy.
— Paige Peterson
Marley's head as a door knocker. His glasses ceremoniously often sat on his forehead. I used black pen and watercolor paint.
Scrooge at his most paranoid. I used a black pen and then very watery acrylic paint to show his distress.
When Scrooge was left alone for the holidays at boarding school, he wept at his desk. I used pen and ink.
This floating beautiful ghost shows Scrooge the way to the light. Markers, watercolor and acrylic paint.
An aristocratic gentleman appeals to Scrooge to donate to charity. Watercolor and acrylic paint.
The Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires has extraordinary sculptures. Many years ago I photographed the back of the statues on the mausoleums and graves. That memory inspired the Ghost of the future. Acrylic and oil paint.
Scrooge had dinner alone in a dull, badly lit restaurant. Pen, watercolor and ink.
"I’ll raise your salary, and I’ll help your struggling family." Ink, acrylic and watercolor.
He barely had time to pull up the covers before he sank into a heavy sleep. Crayons, ink, watercolor paint.
