02/14/2026
While reading through "The Essential Peanuts Collection" I came across this quote from Charles Schultz. It is very similar to something he told me when I talked with him on the phone in 1983.
At the time, my mom was working with a gentleman at Hewlett-Packard that was selling a drawing table. My mom gave me the information and I contacted him about his asking price. $25! SOLD! When I picked it up the table was in immaculate condition and just so happened to have been purchased in 1966. The year I was born. In talking with him I mentioned that I was currently developing comic strips to eventually submitt to various syndication outlets, hoping to become the next Far Side, Bloom County or Calvin and Hobbes. He asked me about my influences and like most budding cartoonists, "Peanuts" was the first one I mentioned. He smiled and said that he had been friends with "Sparky" (Charles Schultz) for years and asked me if I would be interested in talking him. There is still a bruise on the bottom of my chin from where my mouth hit the floor.
He gave me the phone number for Charles' secretary and told me to call her to set up a time. Two days later I received a phone call from the legend himself. We talked for about 10 minutes and honestly I was in such awe, I don't remember much of what was said in the beginning. I do recall talking about his drawing process, the environment he submersed himself in and the patience needed to allow an idea to "breathe" and "come together". When I asked for advice he told me something that I have embraced all of my life, "Draw for yourself, from your own beliefs and experiences. Draw what YOU think is funny. If you try to draw what you think others want, then your art will lose the authenticity and connectability of the idea".
One of the most influencial conversations for both my art and my life.
Side Note:
A few years ago I toured the Peanuts Museum in Santa Rosa, California. In it they have a special glassed in display of one of the ever evolving stages of Charles Schultz's drawing studios from over the years. The part that filled me with disbelief and pride is that the table I purchased in 1983, and am still using is the same style as the one that he had been using at one point as well.
