Goodbye, Snoopy!

Bill Melendez, the man behind my beloved cartoon and comic strip character of all time, has gone to join Charles Schultz in heaven.

The man who gave life to Joe Cool, Flashbeagle and the Van Gogh owner himself, Melendez gave Charles Schultz's characters that animated linear motion as they walked along to jazz tunes.

Most importantly, it was Bill Melendez who was the official voice of Snoopy's unintelligible, garbled warbling sounds and the endearingly annoying, "hwahwahwah" with ears flapping and paws pounding as he rolled in laughter.

I grew up watching Snoopy on Betamax tapes and enjoyed its distinct color palletes. Whenever people ask me who is my inspiration for art they ask, "Are you inspired by Matisse? Or is it Van Gogh? Maybe it Chagall."

Lately, I have come to terms who my inspirations have always been:

1. Charles Schultz/Bill Melendez for Peanuts

2. Jim Henson for Sesame Street

3. Herge for Tintin

Peanuts' timeless sarcasm in the guise of authentic children's voices along with Linus' bible quotes, Woodstock's fluttering, Lucy's punches, Schroeders piano playing, Charlie Brown's sighing and Snoopy's kicking rage and wailing (when he gets his paws stuck in a binder clip) make it one very distinct formula for laughter.

Thanks for bringing Snoopy to life, Bill.

Cheers that one artist who made the world a bit more colorful and a happier place to be.