Later, when Watterson was creating names for the characters in his comic strip, he decided on Calvin (after the Protestant reformer John Calvin) and Hobbes (after the social philosopher Thomas Hobbes), allegedly as a 'tip of the hat' to Kenyon's political science department. He also contributed cartoons to the college newspaper, some of which included the original 'Spaceman Spiff' cartoons. At college, he continued to develop his art skills during his sophomore year, he painted Michelangelo's Creation of Adam on the ceiling of his dorm room. He had already decided on a career in cartooning, but he felt his studies would help him move into editorial cartooning. : 20–3įrom 1976 to 1980, Watterson attended Kenyon College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Watterson found avenues for his cartooning talents throughout primary and secondary school, creating high school-themed super hero comics with his friends and contributing cartoons and art to the school newspaper and yearbook. Later, they recalled him as a 'conservative child' - imaginative, but 'not in a fantasy way', and certainly nothing like the character of Calvin that he later created. His parents encouraged him in his artistic pursuits.

This made a big impression on him at the time. On one occasion when he was in fourth grade, he wrote a letter to Charles Schulz, who responded, much to Watterson's surprise. This continued through his school years, during which time he discovered comic strips such as Pogo, Krazy Kat, and Charles Schulz' Peanuts which subsequently inspired and influenced his desire to become a professional cartoonist. Watterson drew his first cartoon at age eight, and spent much time in childhood alone, drawing and cartooning. The family relocated to Chagrin Falls, Ohio in 1965 when Watterson was six. Watterson was born in Washington, D.C., where his father worked as a patent attorney. 2.4 Changing the format of the Sunday strip.2.3 Fight against merchandising his characters.2.2 Calvin and Hobbes and rise to success.

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