Estimate on Calvin & Hobbes sketches

[ComicsAndCode]

Thank you all for your input and confirming my suspicions. You guys are several steps ahead of me with this stuff. Any suggestions how I should respond to this guy, if at all? I really don't want him getting away with selling these fakes to unsuspecting people.

 

[CollectingFool]

Is he a dealer? I'd say odds are either he knows they are fakes and doesn't care or is being willingly ignorant. Most dealers usually respond with "Well, I'm pretty sure they're real and I've been doing this a long time and yada yada yada". Unless it's a friend, don't bother yourself with it. Just say "that's not the kind of thing I'm looking for" and move on.

 

 

[justin]

there ia a great website about calvin and hobbes HERE .Shows a great collection of what is real and what is fake. This site also uses the image of my book that has Bill's autograph in it as a reference to the books that he used to sign before he found out all the books were going to ebay.

[Point Five]

The line is too thick and deliberate on all three. the 2nd one is especially bad. zero expressiveness in that one too.

 

That is the perfect description of what is wrong with those. There is a naturalness that you see in legitimate sketches that can be impossible for other artists to fake. It's that comfort level between artist and subject that can't be faked (or at least not easily). You can see this in almost everything the Gallery on Baum sells. Even if you aren't familiar with the artist being represented, you get a sense that there is something not quite right about the piece.

+1 to both comments. These are fakes and pretty poor ones. Watterson's art has a natural brush-stroke fluidity to the linework. These look like heavy-handed tracings, with no life at all.

[october]

the Gallery on Baum

 

I just took a look at their website, as I had never heard of them. Wow.

 

Check out the Watterson and Seuss "originals" on the front page. Seriously? I could do a better job. Hilariously obvious fakes, though maybe hilarious isn't the right word considering that they likely sell more of them than I care to imagine.

 

http://www.thegalleryonbaum.com/

[rob_react]

The line is too thick and deliberate on all three. the 2nd one is especially bad. zero expressiveness in that one too.

 

 

the second one screams fake. It looks like an entry in the art instruction schools art test. Instead of Draw the Pirate it's Draw Calvin & Hobbes

[comicartcom]

the Gallery on Baum

 

I just took a look at their website, as I had never heard of them. Wow.

 

Check out the Watterson and Seuss "originals" on the front page. Seriously? I could do a better job. Hilariously obvious fakes, though maybe hilarious isn't the right word considering that they likely sell more of them than I care to imagine.

 

http://www.thegalleryonbaum.com/

 

the "Bob Kane" shown is also a joke

[SignatureSelect]

As much as I love C&H, OA is too rich for my blood. So, I decided to get this instead:

 

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

 

 

FWIW, Mutts is just about as hard to find.

 

 

 

I find it hard to believe Mutts is just as hard to find He made a few convention appearances a few years ago and did some quick sketches. I guess maybe the published stuff is difficult to find. I would much rather have a Jim Davis or Berkeley Breathed strip.

[SignatureSelect]

I have never understood Mr. Watterson's position on signing autographs, doing sketches, or selling strips.

 

Most other creators even ones who dislike commercialism or their fans will still sign, do sketches and sell originals.

 

Other than Watterson or Ditko I can not think of many who will not sell their stuff.

[tth2]

I have never understood Mr. Watterson's position on signing autographs, doing sketches, or selling strips.

 

Most other creators even ones who dislike commercialism or their fans will still sign, do sketches and sell originals.

 

Other than Watterson or Ditko I can not think of many who will not sell their stuff.

Like J.D. Salinger, Watterson is an eccentric who was fortunate enough to achieve the kind of commercial success and financial security that allowed him to indulge his eccentricities.

 

[CollectingFool]

I have never understood Mr. Watterson's position on signing autographs, doing sketches, or selling strips.

 

From what I remember reading, Watterson has said Calvin and Hobbes are like his children. He loves them and the excessive marketing and (I think) even selling the originals is exploiting his children for money he doesn't really need.

 

Aside from that, some people aren't suited for fame and don't like interacting with strangers. Can't blame him for that.

 

I've read that many Japanese artists consider selling sketches and artwork disgraceful. That if you need to sell sketches and artwork to make money it's akin to prostituting your talents and that a real artist should be able to support themselves with the fees they get for publishing rights. I know some U.S. old-timers felt the same way about selling sketches. Alex Toth thought selling sketches to fans was insane. A full professional level commission is one thing but con sketches? No respectable artist should do that according to him as sketches for fans should be a token of appreciation from the artist to the fan. I think plenty of other 60's and 70's artists didn't want to sell their artwork as they were embarrassed to have to sell their art returns for income.

 

So, the point is lots of people have different views on selling artwork and doing sketches. When you have enough money and don't need to supplement your income, the desire to sell your artwork isn't enough to overcome your own ideas about what the artist/fan interaction should be. Add to that a personal idiosyncrasy about dealing with the public and Watterson's behavior is understandable.

 

[buyatari]

I have never understood Mr. Watterson's position on signing autographs, doing sketches, or selling strips.

 

Most other creators even ones who dislike commercialism or their fans will still sign, do sketches and sell originals.

 

Other than Watterson or Ditko I can not think of many who will not sell their stuff.

 

There is a local book store that used to carry signed Watterson books. The shop was a small mom and pop shop close to where Watterson lived. Watterson was said to frequent the spot often but he stopped the practice of signing the books after the attention in the local papers brought in the unwanted treasure seekers.

 

Still I would think an autograph is possible under the right circumstances or at least more likely than a sketch and far more likely than an original.

[Smokinghawk]

Watterson stopped autographing books when he learned they were being flipped on eBay for hundreds.

[buttock]

Where can I find an original sketch of Calvin peeing on something. Preferably a Chevy or Dodge insignia.

[pinupcartoonguy]

 

http://www.thegalleryonbaum.com/