Watterson/Pastis Auction Update!

Bill Watterson’s return to comics: Pearls Before Swine comic art auctioned for Parkinson’s research

The reclusive creator’s artwork from the recently finished three-day collaboration with Stephen Pastis on Pearls Before Swine will sell Aug. 8, 2014 at Heritage Auctions, proceeds to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

DALLAS – The original artwork for the recent three comic strip collaboration between Bill Watterson, the cartooning genius behind the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, and Pearls Before Swinecartoonist Stephen Pastis – taking place in a three day run in June 2014 in Pearls – will be sold at Heritage Auctions on Aug. 8, 2014, with proceeds from the sale benefitting The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

“Anytime original Bill Watterson comic art shows up for auction it’s a huge deal,” said Todd Hignite, Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “His collaboration with Stephan Pastis was an unexpected treat for his millions of fans. Now, thanks to this auction, fans will get to take the original art home while raising money for a great cause.”

The collaboration between the two artists came at the suggestion of Watterson and was immediately embraced by an overwhelmed Pastis, who, like some many modern cartoonists, was greatly influenced by Watterson and Calvin and Hobbes. The trajectory of the three strip arc follows Pastis’ comic strip alter-ego as he turns the drawing of the comic over to a precocious second-grader named Libby for three days. The results are both wickedly funny and uniquely Watterson, while remaining true to the sharp humor that defines the Pearls Before Swine strip.

At Watterson’s request, the artwork is being sold on behalf of Team Cul de Sac, a non-profit charity established by editor/designer Chris Sparks on behalf of  Cul de Sac cartoonist Richard Thompson, who is battling Parkinson’s Disease – a piece of artwork done by Watterson depicting one of Thompson’s Cul de Sac characters sold in 2012 as part of a charity auction to benefit Team Cul de Sac – and the profits from the sale of the original art (Heritage is waiving the seller’s fee on the artwork and will also contribute half of the Buyer’s Premium) will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world’s third largest, with annual sales of more than $900 million, and 850,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: HA.com/Twitter; Facebook: HA.com/Facebook. To view a complete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-2222.

Drink and Draw 2014 at HeroesCon

On Thursday I arrived at the Convention Center and Shelton Drum grabbed me and off to the local CBS station we went. 
Next thing I know we are on the air discussing the con, Drink and Draw and those beautiful Watterson/Pastis strips. 

The whole weekend was great and I had a blast catching up with old friends and making new friends but we can get into all of that fun stuff later.  Here is the BIG news!

Drink and draw Roundup!


So here we go, for the week of drink and draw, we made 7087.98, PLUS I sold a signed Calvin and Hobbes book and signed Stripped Movie poster for 3,000 during that week for a total of $10,087.98 and then we have the other donation. This puts us at:
Goal: $10,000.00 ( 2014)
Achieved: $10,442.98
We still have 3 strips by a pair of cartoonists to auction off in August.
Not bad huh?
A big thanks to everyone involved this past weekend! WOW!

I will share more soon!

Chris

From the less distant past: 2006 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson

I'm continuing through Cul de Sac tearsheets from the Post Magazine, and ran across notice of a 2006 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson that I had also forgotten. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? 

From the distant past: 2005 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson

I'm going through Cul de Sac tearsheets from the Post Magazine, and ran across notice of a 2005 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson that I had forgotten. It's still online. Return with us to the thrilling days of yesteryear....

HeroesCon Auction Artwork #6 Jim Horwitz

A big Thank You to Jim Horwitz for providing us with such a great auction item(s). Jim and I met at the NCS awards a few years ago and I just can't tell you how wonderful he is. So don't ask ok? Jim asked me a couple years ago if I ever needed anything to let him know.Well I did this time and he jumped in to help ASAP! Thank you so much Jim!

“WATSON” Retro-Pack for Team Cul de Sac:
Creating this collection of original “Watson” art for Team Cul de Sac was a great thrill.
As many of you know, Bill Watterson (“Calvin and Hobbes”) has been one of the great
supporters of Team Cul de Sac, which is amazing since his work has already inspired
so many. The work Richard and Bill are doing is an essential part of addressing the
challenges now facing families, friends, and loved ones affected by Parkinson’s. – I
seldom produce original “Watson” art for any reason, but jumped at the chance to support
Team Cul de Sac in any way I could. To be aligned with a cause as important as this one
is an absolute good and I’m honored to be a part of it.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

1) Ten 3.5-inch Retro Watson floppy disks, all hand-detailed with original “Watson” art.
2) An 8” x 11” original Watson drawing on acid-free archival quality paper.
3) A “Thank You” letter from Jim with his personal e-mail to unlock an amazing 3-hours
worth of personal cartooning advice (drawing tips, writing tips, starting a web-comic)
via telephone or video-chat to be used at any time (it never expires!) for you or a
loved one.

Auction Price: TBA!!!!

BIO: Jim Horwitz is the creator of the cult comic strip “Watson,” a nationally lauded
web-comic nominated for Best Online Strip by the National Cartoonists Society. Watson
has been appearing online since 2010 and is read weekly by fans (aka “Watsoneers”) all
over the world.

Last year's Team Cul de Sac auction

 I got this sweet drawing by Shannon Gallant - Miss Bliss as G.I. Joe's The Baroness. It's mine now, but Shannon's sent in a cover of G.I. Joe #200 to be in the 2014 auction... 

Mike

HeroesCon Auction Artwork #6 Steve Artley

Editorial cartoonist Steve Artley drew 2 cartoons for our Team Cul de Sac auction next weekend! He also drew some coasters too, while waiting for Stephan Pastis to start talking. Steve is in the Team Cul de Sac book also.

HeroesCon Auction Artwork #5 S L Gallant

Shannon helps us every year at the drink and draw. He always wants to do whatever he can to help raise awareness and funds for the Michael J Fox foundation. Richard and I not only consider him one of the founding members TCDS but also a wonderful friend.
This is the cover of G.I. JOE 200 and the recreation of the original sketch by Larry,
Hama. We also have comics sign by Larry also.

HeroesCon Auction Artwork #4 Matt Wuerker

Matt Wuerker is Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist who lives in the D.C. area. Matt always donates art to us and beyond this beautiful watercolor of Earth Day, we also have some cool coasters he scribbled on!
(Photos do not do this painting justice)

HeroesCon Auction Artwork #3

Art Spiegelman is a big fan of Richard Thompson. This is beyond rare. This is history.

HeroesCon Auction artwork #2: Teresa Roberts Logan, aka The Laughing Redhead

A DC-based greeting card cartoonist, Teresa Logan has given us two pieces of art to auction - 1 painting and the "framed piece is an original gouache and pen on paper".
These will be available next weekend at the HeroesCon auction.

Photos courtesy of Bruce Guthrie.

 

HeroesCon Auction artwork #1: Elyse Harrison

Elyse Harrison, an artist in Bethesda, MD, has donated a wall sculpture to Team Cul de Sac which will be available to bid on at HeroesCon. See more of her work at www.elyseharrison.com