Whether you refer to them as the Peanuts or Charlie Brown and Snoopy, there is no denying the very special place that Charles Schulz' wonderful cartoon characters occupy in millions of hearts around the world.

As an Authorized Art Gallery for art featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang, we have assisted thousands of customers in making decisions about their Snoopy animation art purchases. As new artwork has not been released since Charles Schulz' death in 2000, the choices are relatively limited. There are some beautiful and heartwarming pieces of Snoopy art available, but the choice is made easier by the fact that there are not as many different types of Peanuts art as there are, for example, Disney art.


First, the various types of Charlie Brown and Snoopy animation art available:


1. Hand-Painted Limited Edition Cells: When Snoopy and friends made their television debut in the 1964 Emmy and Peabody winning "A Charlie Brown Christmas", Bill Melendez was the producer. Melendez went on to produce numerous other Peanuts television specials and was instrumental in bringing Charlie Brown and Snoopy into the hearts of millions in a way Schulz' comic strips never could.

There are a number of beautiful hand-painted limited edition cells that have been signed by Bill Melendez. Each is hand-painted using the same techniques and materials as was used in animating the Peanuts television specials. Classic scenes such as Lucy dispensing psychiatric advice, Snoopy as Joe Cool, Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, and the whole Peanuts gang playing baseball are available.

Individually hand-painted in small editions (typically 500 pieces worldwide), these cells are some of the most beautiful and widely collected pieces of Charlie Brown and Snoopy animation art.

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2. Limited Edition Serigraph Cells: Very similar in appearance to hand-painted limited editions, serigraph cells (or "sericels") are considerably less expensive for several reasons. Firstly, they are silk-screened rather than hand-painted. While this is still a very high quality and time consuming process (each color is screened one at a time), it is not as difficult or expensive as hand painting. Secondly, serigraph cells are produced in larger edition sizes (typically between 1000 and 5000 pieces worldwide). Still a small number when you consider how many Snoopy and Charlie Brown fans there are in the world!


Unfortunately, at this time there is only one Peanuts serigraph cell available. Entitled "It's an Honor, Charlie Brown", it features Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown in one of the most memorable scenes from the Peanuts. It is a very popular piece!


3. Hand-Painted Etchings: The introductory price point art featuring the Peanuts is hand-painted etchings. Many great characters and scenes are available… Snoopy and Woodstock in "Small Talk", Schroeder and Lucy in "Concerto for Two", Linus and Snoopy in "Dog Tired", and Charlie Brown and Snoopy in "Heartfelt" are some of the most popular. Their small size (13.5" x 13.5" framed) and very affordable price ($85 US framing included) makes them very popular gifts and pieces for people new to collecting Peanuts animation art.


Done under exclusive contract by the studios of artists Sowa and Reiser, the outline is hand etched into a copper plate, inked and pressed into hand-made paper. Once the black outline has dried, they are hand-painted with watercolors. Each is numbered in a limited edition of 500 and bears the United Feature Syndicate (the Peanuts) copyright on the front and comes with a certificate of authenticity.


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4. Lithographs: Several very nice mid-priced pieces are available featuring scenes from memorable Peanuts comic strips. Done as a lithograph on high-quality archival paper, they have a soft, pastel look quite different from the sharper colors of the animation cells. Most feature Snoopy and Charlie Brown and have a sports theme... golf, football or baseball.


5. Peanuts Art by Tom Everhart: In addition to Charles Schulz and Bill Melendez, the other important name in Snoopy and Charlie Brown artwork is Tom Everhart. Tom Everhart's association with Charles Schulz and The Peanuts began in 1980 when the two first worked together on a commercial project. Schulz was so impressed with Everhart's style of painting that he gave him permission to create interpretations of Schulz' beloved Peanuts characters. Tom Everhart is the only artist Schulz ever granted such permission (as opposed to Bill Melendez and Sowa and Reiser who do exact Schulz reproductions).

Tom Everhart's Snoopy and Charlie Brown paintings have been exhibited at major art shows around the world, including the Louvre in Paris and in museums in Los Angeles, Rome, Venice, Tokyo and New York City. The powerful impact and vitality of Everhart's work have made him a favorite of art lovers and collectors in many countries.

While original Tom Everhart Charlie Brown and Snoopy paintings sell for many tens of thousands of dollars, we focus on his spectacular lithographs. They are big, bold, and absolutely beautiful. Each is signed by Tom Everhart.


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Okay, now we've covered the technical side of Charlie Brown and Snoopy animation art, let's have some fun!

While we always recommend that you understand what you're spending your hard earned money on, at the end of the day you've got to purchase animation art that you love to look at. Whether a piece is large or small, on cell or paper, a Schulz-style image or a bold re-interpretation by Tom Everhart, it has got to speak to you.

What do you love most about the Peanuts cartoons? Are you a Snoopy fan above all? Perhaps you identify more with Charlie Brown or Lucy? Do you love the whole Peanuts gang equally? Do you want one or more small and rather subtle pieces, or do you want the big impact of a bold Tom Everhart piece (a guaranteed conversation starter in any home!) Are you buying as a gift or for yourself? If it's a gift, is the recipient an adult or a child? All of these issues are going to play a role in making your decisions. For what its worth, some of the most popular pieces are the Charlie Brown and Lucy serigraph cel "It's an Honor, Charlie Brown", the "Heartfelt" and "Small Talk" etchings featuring Snoopy, and Tom Everhart's signed lithographs.

If you are considering the etchings, a set of three, four, or six framed to match looks amazing. If you've got the wall space (and the budget), you can't beat a Tom Everhart Snoopy! We're always here to answer questions and help, but in the end, you've got to make the choice that's right for you.

Steve Watt
Owner and General Manager
Animation Connection - The best choice for Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and other animation art featuring the Peanuts
800-700-1173

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