Nick Parkis surely one of the very few reigning geniuses of stop-motion animation. He graciously donated a drawing of his superb Wallace and Gromit to the "Searle in America" benefit auction, and it sold quite well yesterday. Still it's a bargain compared with what these souvenir drawings fetch at high-powered auction houses like Christie's. But first things first. Here's the drawing from the benefit auction on eBay:
Sure, that's a lot of money, but it is dwarfed by activity on the London auction block. Each of the following sales results is from Christie's South Kensington:
For those who dearly love Wallace and Gromit but are a little overwhelmed by these auction prices, there is one relatively inexpensive, quick sketch still available on eBay. It's a signed drawing of just Gromit from a page in an autograph album. As you can see, it must be quite a challenge to remove these pages without tearing them.
Note: The eBay benefit auction in support of the "Searle in America" show continues. As you can see, there are some good deals to be had and they're all righthere.
The Searle in America blog is dedicated to this fall's exhibition as well as to the eBay fundraiser and it can be seen here.
Then there's Perpetua, the Ronald Searle tribute blog, recommended to everyone with an interest in Searle's art--that's you--and it's over here.
I have one previous post on Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit character models which you can see here.
And, as always, my Searle posts are right here.Don't tell me you have something better to do.
Animator Eric Goldberg conceived the Genie in Disney's "Aladdin" (1992) in the style of illustrator Al Hirschfeld. Hirschfeld's lines are typically flowing and smooth and this style blended well with Genie's many transformations. A few original drawings of the Genie by Supervising Animator Eric Goldberg are currently available on eBay. Two of them are left-facing profiles with different expressions. The first appears somewhat devious.
Eric Goldberg, Genie in Profile from Disney's "Aladdin"
Eric Goldberg is one of many animators who contributed work inspired by Searle to a fundraiser for the forthcoming "Searle in America" exhibition to be held later this year at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. How extraordinary, then, to discover this large pen-and-ink drawing of the Genie After "Aladdin..." executed in the style of Ronald Searle. Compared with the simple souvenir profiles of the Genie, it is a tour-de-force. Compared with the flowing lines of Hirschfeld, the lines are nervous and bold. So far, the price is quite reasonable. I don't know whether drawings of this caliber by Goldberg have appeared on the market in the past, but this is clearly a remarkable illustration of a sort not likely ever to be repeated.
It is a paradox that animators spend their days drawing, yet very little of their work comes to the market. The current eBay "Searle in America" sales offer the opportunity to bid on the finished work of dozens of today's foremost animators. It's my distinct impression that cartoonists inspired by Searle invariably create some of their best work.
Eric Goldberg,After "Aladdin..." in the Manner of Ronald Searle
Noted animator David Silverman created this expressive sketch of the character Mike Wazowski from "Monsters, Inc." It was sold on eBay last month for less than $100.
David Silverman, Sketch of Mike Wazowski from "Monsters, Inc."
Note:Be sure to check outmy previous postto see Mike Wazowski as drawn by "Monsters, Inc." directorPete Docter.
For a 2012 children's charity event, "Monsters, Inc." director Pete Docter made this lively marker sketch of the character Mike Wazowski. It is currently offered on eBay.
Pete Docter, Marker Sketch of Mike Wazowski from "Monsters, Inc.," 2012
"Monsters, Inc." director Pete Docter made this sketch of characters James P. "Sulley" Sullivan, Mike Wazowski, and Boo for a 2012 children's charity event. The prequel "Monsters University" is being released today.
Pete Doctor, Sketch of Characters from "Monsters, Inc.," 2012
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