Into the Forest discussion

Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or fairytale/folklore books where a character(s) has an Artists
Includes musicians, visual artists, writers, dancers, storytellers, etc.

The River Has Roots features musical magic, which I think fits the artist theme.

Upon a Frosted Star, inspired by The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake features a painter and a ballerina as main characters.

Mazen from The Stardust Thief and The Ashfire King is a storyteller, a sort of art.

A River Enchanted and A Fire Endless are about a bard and magical music.

Great recs!

Many of Charles de Lint’s books have artists and musicians in them.
Memory and Dream comes to mind. I mentioned it for academics because the lead character is a student when the story starts, but most of the story is about her life as a painter.

There is the Grimms tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses" (also "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes" or "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces" and several adaptations. To my mind comes The Girls at the Kingfisher Club

Although it's science fiction, Tanith Lee's The Silver Metal Lover should be added to this list. Silver is a musician, and Lee's prose is so lush it has a folkloric element to it.

Erin wrote: "The River Has Roots features musical magic, which I think fits the artist theme.

Upon a Frosted Star, inspired by The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake features a painter and a ballerina as main characte..."

Thank you! I’ve added Upon a Frosted Star to my reading list!

Erin wrote: "The River Has Roots features musical magic, which I think fits the artist theme.

Upon a Frosted Star, inspired by The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake features a painter and a ballerina as main characte..."

Ah, thank you! I cannot wait to read The Ashfire King!

If my mind doesn't play trick on me, a lot of Patricia McKillip's book would fit this prompt.

Two recommendations with musician protagonists:
Seraphina
Light from Uncommon Stars

Oh yes! I love love love Seraphina! Excellent idea for this one!

I've just thought of Elizabeth Lim's A Forgery of Fate about a girl with magic powers to paint the future.