Why the creator of Calvin and Hobbes chose a life of total privacy
In short: After ending his legendary comic strip in 1995, Bill Watterson didn't seek the spotlight. Instead, he retreated from the public eye, pursuing painting and music while avoiding the very fame his work generated. For nearly three decades, the artist remained a mystery, living a life far removed from the news.
Bill Watterson, the artist behind the wildly popular Calvin and Hobbes, has long been characterized by his reclusive nature. After the strip's ten-year run concluded in 1995, Watterson largely disappeared from the public eye, leading some to compare him to the famously private J.D. Salinger. His family has noted that he does not seek fame, with his father, Jim, stating in 1998 that Watterson simply enjoys what he does and would like it all to fade away. This preference for anonymity is a stark contrast to the massive popularity of his work. He has rarely granted interviews or released new artwork to the public.
During his decades of relative silence, Watterson focused on personal interests like painting landscapes of Ohio woods with his father. He studied masters ranging from the Italian Renaissance's Titian to the expressionist Willem de Kooning, though he has been hesitant to exhibit his work publicly. He once described his private creative efforts as "tiny fish" that aren't worth the trouble to clean and cook. His artistic studies included various styles and masters. He has consistently declined to show his paintings to the general public.
Despite his privacy, Watterson has occasionally emerged for specific causes or tributes. Following the death of his hero, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, in 2000, Watterson wrote a tribute for The Los Angeles Times. He has also contributed to charity, such as illustrating strips for Stephan Pastis's "Pearls Before Swine" to support Richard Thompson. In 2023, he released his first major project since the strip ended: a fable for grown-ups titled "The Mysteries," created in partnership with caricaturist John Kascht. His recent return to print marks his first major release in almost thirty years. This new work shares a sense of enchantment with his previous comic strip.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What Ever Happened to the Creator of Calvin and Hobbes?
- Also: Bill Watterson’s New Book Is Out. Here’s What He’s Done Since ’Calvin and Hobbes’
- Also: Life After “Calvin and Hobbes”
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