At this year’s Harvey Awards, six storied comic book creators were inducted in to the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame: John Byrne, Peter David, Patrick McDonnell, Wendy and Richard Pini, and Barbara Shermund. We’re pleased to present McDonnell‘s speech, in which he reflects on his own development as an artist and awareness of comic book history.
Thank you.
When I was a student at the School of Visual Arts I used to sneak into Harvey Kurtzman’s cartoon classes. What a great time that was. It is an honor to be selected into the Hall of Fame named after such a comic book genius, innovator, and legend.
And tolerant teacher, too.
I love comics. They resonate deeply inside me. That love for our unique art form has been a constant thread throughout my life. Comics helped shape me.
Starting as a two-year-old mesmerized by the art in my Mom‘s Pogo and Jules Feiffer paperbacks, to a young kid falling in love with the magic of Peanuts and later the wonder and power of Jack Kirby‘s amazing creativity. From a teen, discovering the poetic genius of Krazy Kat and Robert Crumb, to having the iconic Will Eisner as a teacher, to becoming a magazine illustrator and cartoonist, to finally fulfilling my boyhood dream to draw a daily newspaper comic strip.
You know, while having that childhood dream, I never once thought about the reality of the job and its crazy deadline of producing a new comic strip every single day of the year for ever. It’s probably good that I didn’t.
My main goal with MUTTS was to try to give back some of the joy and comfort that I received from so many great artists.
It’s amazing how these cartoonists’ pen and ink creations speak to us … and touch us so deeply. That’s the power of our art form.
And right here at Comic-Con we have proof. When you get a chance, stop and look at the thousands of happy faces roaming this convention. It may be the happiest they have been all year. That’s love. The magic of storytelling with words and pictures.
I feel blessed to be a small part of that and that I get to do what I love to do. To draw funny little characters and watch them come alive and then to share them.
For thirty-one years.
Creating MUTTS has been an interesting journey, one that opened incredible opportunities for me. I’ve had the honor and pleasure to meet and work with the most amazing souls who’ve dedicated their entire lives to helping others and being a force of good, true saints. Jane Goodall, Eckhart Tolle, the Dali Lama……Sparky Schulz.
And I’m just some kid from Jersey. Their work has been a major inspiration, and their kindness, positivity and hope help keep me sane.
I’d like to share a quote that is tacked in my studio next to my drawing table- “The meaning of work, whatever its form, is that it be used to heal the world. Love is the most powerful fuel in any endeavor. The most important question to ask about any work is “How does this serve the world?”
I feel this world needs the positive service of our art more than ever.
Okay. Now I’ll do my thank you list. I’d like to thank whoever was responsible for thinking I might be a suitable candidate for this great looking Hall of Fame Award, and to be a part of such a talented group of fellow Hall of Famers this year. And I’d like to thank the long line of cartoonists who’s hunched over shoulders we all stand on. A big thanks to my Mom and Dad for filling our home with art and love. To Jay Kennedy and King Features for giving me a chance. To all my terrific book publishers and editors (like the great Charlie Kochman). To all the Mutts readers who patiently waited for over twenty years for me to finally free Guard dog. For my real Jack Russell Terrier, Earl, who inspired it all. To Mooch for making it easy to write jokes. And, of course, to Karen. I can never thank her enough. For all her support, tireless work, wisdom, humor and love. She turns my daydreams into realities. It’s been a joy to share this journey with her.
I’d like to close with how Charles “Sparky” Schulz would end every phone conversation we had together: “Keep drawing those funny pictures.“
Thank you.