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Sale Details of BARKS Paintings Unveiled
Friday, August 07, 2009
When Geppi's Entertainment Museum announced its Carl BARKS Retrospective, which began July 17, 2009, it also announced that the museum would be hosting Diamond International Galleries’ sale of various BARKS items. Precisely which items, though, was not defined. Until now. Ranging from BARKS’ pencil drawings to his most desirable oil-on-masonite masterpieces, at press time the sale is scheduled to begin at midnight EDT on Friday, August 7, 2009. Limited edition lithographs, mini-lithos and other pieces will be included, so there will be something for just about every price range up to mid-six figures. As with Retrospective itself, the Duck master’s work in multiple mediums is showcased. Why all this fuss over Carl BARKS? “For over twenty-five years, Disney artist Carl BARKS (1901-2000) created some of the most brilliant and funny stories in comic books. Gifted and prolific, he was the author of over five hundred tales in the most popular comic books of all time. Although he was never allowed to sign his name and worked in anonymity, BARKS's unique artistic style and storytelling were immediately evident to all his readers. BARKS created the town of Duckburg and a cast of characters that included Donald Duck's fabulously wealthy Uncle Scrooge, the lucky loafer Gladstone Gander, the daffy inventor Gyro Gearloose, the roguish crooks the Beagle Boys, and the Italian sorceress Magica de Spell,” wrote Thomas Andrae in Carl BARKS and the Disney Comic Book: Unmasking the Myth of Modernity, the first English language critical study of BARKS' work. Because his stories did not feature credits beyond Walt Disney’s famous signature, BARKS’ name was unknown – at least to most audiences – but his style certainly was not. Unknown, he still gained fame as “the Good Duck Artist” during this period. BARKS mostly retired in 1966, but only “mostly.” He was reportedly persuaded by editor Chase Craig to continue scripting stories for Western Publishing, and kept doing so through 1974 (his last regular comic book art came in a 1968 issue of Walt Disney Comics Digest). Early in his retirement, he started doing oil paintings, which he sold as local art shows at which he exhibited. The works covered a wide range of images. It was reportedly fan Glenn Bray who first asked BARKS if he could commission a painting of the ducks based on his cover to Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories #108, and the result was “A Tall Ship and a Star to Steer Her By.” It started small, but it was the birth of a phenomenon. The paintings proved quite popular. Their prices escalated and demand soared. By 1981, longtime fans Bruce Hamilton and Russ Cochran formed Another Rainbow to promote BARKS and his works. They produced a book of BARKS’ paintings to date and began issuing limited edition lithographs. This led to the formation of Gladstone, which would publish Disney comics for years and create the Carl BARKS Library, an oversized collection of all of his comic book work for Disney. The information these efforts provided, along with the artist’s own continuing prolific production, helped spread the word. Soon, literally millions of fans around the world knew who he was and what he had done, and they wanted to celebrate his career. Exhibits in Europe and the United States were stages. By the time BARKS passed away a few months shy of his 100th birthday (he had finally stopped painting just two years earlier), his paintings commanded six figure prices, they were featured in collections of the rich and famous as well as seasoned duck fans, and he was known the world over. For years, the market for BARKS’ work has moved slowly as the prime pieces rarely traded hands. With the offerings that are now available, though, that may well change. Among the entry level offerings are “Cheerleader Daisy,” c.1995, pencil sketch, $3,500, “Yesterday's Mansion,” 1969, landscape, oil $5,000, “Treasure Island,” 1972, preliminary pencil sketch drawing featuring Donald & Scrooge, $5,000, “Christmas Composition,” 1972, sketch of Scrooge walking down street with Money Bag, $7,500, and “Witches Of Salem,” 1979, watercolor, from the series “Famous Figures of History as They Might Have Looked Had Their Genes Gotten Mixed with Waterfowl,” $7,500. Going up a step, items for sale include “She was Spangled and Flashy,” 1975, preliminary pencil sketch, $10,000, “Porky of the Mounties,” 1976, pencil drawing, cover of Comic Book Price Guide #7 (1977-78 ), inspired by Four Color Series II #48 Porky of the Mounties, $10,000, and “Menace out of The Myth,” 1973, two preliminary paintings by BARKS (Rough Color Concept and Detailed color concept), $15,000. The pieces offered in the next range include “King Beowolf,” 1978, oil, $30,000, “Business Long Over Due,” 1975, oil, $40,000, “Old King Cole,” 1977, oil, $40,000, “Pied Piper,” 1978, oil, $40,000 , “A 1934 Belchfire Runabout,” c.1984, preliminary, $50,000, and “Holiday in Duckburg,” 1989, preliminary art, oil, $60,000. Approaching the top end of Carl BARKS collecting, there are pieces such as “Ancient Persia,” 1971, oil, inspired by the cover of Four Color Series II #275, $100,000, “The Stone That Turns All Metal To Gold,” 1991. oil, based on Uncle Scrooge #10 “The Fabulous “Philosopher’s Stone,”$150,000, “Surprise Party At Memory Pond,” 1994, oil, created to celebrate Donald's sixtieth birthday, $175,000, “A 1934 Belchfire Runabout,” c. 1984, oil, $225,000, “Sailing the Spanish Main,” 1982, oil, $225,000, “Return To Morgan's Island,” 1985, oil, $250,000, and “Rich Finds at Inventory Time,” 1993, oil, $500,000. While each of the BARKS originals is a rarity, few can touch the singular appeal of the two try-out pieces he submitted to Disney in 1935. The first features Mickey and Horace Horsecollar in a Stagecoach, and the second shows Mickey, Minnie, Horace and Clarabelle Cow being held up outside the stagecoach. They are priced at $100,000. Early next week this article will be updated to feature links to many of the pieces, which will range from traditional eBay auctions on the lithographs to “Buy It Now” style pricing on the higher end. Members may search “DIAMONDINTLGAL” for these pieces and others which may be added. For additional information, contact Diamond International Galleries at smark@diamondgalleries.com. |
