Animalia author sells the lion’s share of his menagerie

 Daily Review -Mar 12, 2014 • 185

Children’s book author and illustrator Graeme Base, whose  books include Animalia, The Eleventh Hour and Uno’s Garden, is having a bit of a clear out as he prepares to move house. The original hand drawn and painted artworks that have been hanging on the walls and hiding in the cupboards of his Melbourne home go on show at MARS Gallery in Port Melbourne from today until April 13. 

Base is Australia’s most successful picture book editor, (Animalia sold more than five million copies), and he’s about to become even more successful if all the works sell. The 40 works for sale range in price from $2000 to $200,000 each and total more than $1.75 million. Base explains why he is selling, what motivates his work, and how his work has changed over the past 30 years.

Why are you selling these works?
I am moving into a new house with lots of glass and steel, but precious little wall space. My wife Robyn is also an artist – her works deserve to be hung – and hers are bigger than mine! Also, there comes a time when you realise you need/want to move on – letting go of things is important – and actually cathartic – especially as an artist. The kids are growing up and moving out; time to let go of my other babies as well…

Were all of them really hanging in your house?
Yup – well not all of them – too many – but lots. The others were in cupboards, back-to-back in the glass – seemed wrong – rather they were out being enjoyed (albeit by someone else).

Are any of your works held in other collections?
The State Library of Victoria has a good range – the complete set of works from The Waterhole plus various pieces from other books. My work is also in many private schools nationally, state libraries throughout Australia and many major private collections. I think there are around 80 various owners of my works – several have become serious collectors with multiple works.

Have you ever sold your work before?
Yep. My first experience was when Animalia first came out (1986). I put what I thought were really decent prices on the art and every single piece bar two I held back (Lazy Lions and Horrible Hairy Hogs) sold before opening night! (d’oh). I sold works though MARS about seven years ago.
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