Mouse Guard - Kenzie by David Petersen
Artist: David Petersen (All)
13 Comments - 3,410 Views - 10 Likes
Additional Images:
Comicpalooza 2014
Heroescon 2014
Heroescon 2017
Heroescon 2018 (Saxon)
Art and Artist
Framed
Artwork Details
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DescriptionI like stories even embarrassing ones about me.In May of 2014, Comicpalooza had a lot of terrific artists at the show among them were: Don Rosa, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, and David Petersen of Mouse Guard fame. David is the focus of this story. Saturday night, CP holds a silent art auction to raise money for literacy. The artists contribute something and often draw on site. David created a lovely drawing of Saxon standing watch (see Additional Images). I really liked it, but my partner in crime, Kathy, was missing; she was at the Houston Pops. This was a problem. I’m uncomfortable spending our (as opposed to my) money on art; true even when I know she likes it. Though I sent her a photo of his auction piece and she approved, we hadn't set a limit. I bid on David's piece, David watched, my (not yet) friend Belinda bid, a few others put down bids. Belinda and I bid. We repeated our cycle. Eventually, Belinda dropped out with my bid as the highest. Then, a complete stranger walked up and bid. (!) But there was time to bid again. I wanted to bid again, but Kathy wasn’t there and she hadn’t given and I hadn’t asked for a top number. David said (basically), “It’s going cheap. You are going to regret it.” I thought about it and considered that I already had a B&W piece by him (bought with “my” money). I wasn’t sure if she really liked it (she said she did, but I couldn’t see her). I waffled and stopped bidding. David was right. I regretted it. ☹ That was okay though, we were headed to Heroescon 2014 and we’d have a second chance at a piece by David. I was sure we could get it. What we got was our backsides handed to us in the bidding. We bid probably 2/3rds of what the winning amount was. We weren’t prepared for how popular his watercolor work was. Drat! Time passes. It’s 2017. This time Kathy and I weren’t going to Heroescon, but I contacted the con and ask if we could proxy bid. We worked it out with the staff and sent our maximum bid. We did better, we were in the ballpark, but it went for a couple of increments above our max and our friends at Heroescon did what they should have done; they stopped. Curses! Foiled again (see the Additional Images). Now, it’s 2018. This time David has prepared twin pieces: one of Saxon and one of Kenzie. He announces that one will be placed at auction and one will be sold at his table to the first person that asks and is willing to pay the auction amount. Kathy and I like the Kenzie piece better and we are prepared to go to the mat to get it if it’s the one up for auction and I will try my best to be the first in line if it isn't. At the auction that night, David put up the Saxon piece. We tried for it until it is clear that the price would be too high for us to buy both. That’s okay. It’s the Kenzie that we wanted the most. It’s 7am on Sunday after the auction. I’m at the con by 9:15am. The 15 people in front of me don’t look like Mouse Guard readers willing to shell out the auction amount; I feel okay. Until we stand up to go in! I realize that the dealers have been there for an hour or more. Anthony Snyder, art dealer, had won the first piece. What if he or another dealer decided to go for this one? Argghhh… I suddenly realize that I could have called on Bedrock City Comic Company, my LCS to help. Richard, Michael, or Michelle would have stood for us at David’s table IF I’d thought to ask, but I didn’t. ☹ Crud! If I lose it because I failed to think about a dealer, I’m going to be so put out. We are let into the hall. I power walk to David’s table. I get close. I see someone at the table. Could he have sold it? No! Suddenly, the other man walks away empty handed. I step up to the table and David says, “You are the first person here!” Victory is ours and so is Kenzie! We settle up, take pictures and, when Kathy and Rebecca arrive, take more pictures. Michael kindly offers to bring the piece home for us. It’s too large for my portfolio and could easily be crushed on the plane; I’m really glad he was there with a gigantic portfolio. There’s one more piece to the tale. As I’m standing at the BCCC booth, Anthony Snyder comes over to look at my piece. He was puzzled because he’d thought it was his. He asked me what I thought of the price. I said I thought it was fair, but one could perhaps get more if one knew the right buyer. He said he had the right buyer in Europe for $2500. I’m sure he’d have bought Kenzie, too, but for once I had information that he did not. Information imbalance for the win! Read about the creation of this piece on David's blog here. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Ben H 
Member Since 2007
Posted on 6/19/2018
What a great piece and a fantastic story! It was a pleasure meeting you at Heroes this weekend!
John Espinoza
Member Since 2014
Posted on 6/19/2018
I love reading stories about how these piece are acquired and the more agony, the better XD That looks huge though. How big is it?
Dave Kopecki
Member Since 2008
Posted on 6/19/2018
Great story and a happy ending! All things for a reason! Congrats on a fantastic piece!
Vit Budin
Member Since 2016
Posted on 6/20/2018
Great story and fantastic piece. Congratulations, I love it :)
Rob Stolzer
Member Since 2004
Posted on 6/20/2018
How wonderful! A nice score, Alex and Kathy, and thanks to adding to it with the story.
kent mansley
Member Since 2015
Posted on 6/20/2018
Great story! Congrats on the win and beautiful piece of art!
Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005
Posted on 6/26/2018
A great piece, a great story and score one for the genuine fan as opposed to the wheeling & dealings of the "insider vendors ". I love a good David & Goliath tale, it's at the heart of Mouse Guard after all.....
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