Jimmy

jimmy, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Jimmy sends in this photo which he wants to use on his Myspace music page. I'm always happy to support the independent internet artists of the world.

My To-Do pile is huge these days so there are gonna be a lot of these not-yet-famous types around here for a couple weeks. I'll try to mix in a few topical and/or timeless pieces when I can but if you keep asking yourself "who's that?" in the next few days the answer is probably always "some guy/girl who sent in a picture."

The Commercial

Gilbert Arenas, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

So they flew me all the way to New York from Los Angeles to draw crap Etch-A-Sketches for an ESPN promo. The gag was that Gilbert Arenas was etching o and Deron WIlliams from the Jazz and Dwight Howard from the Magic were on a winnebago while Mike Breen and Bill Walton do commentary. Deron and Dwight were supposed to be unimpressed with the results, so I understand why they rejected all my good sketches. I started with my usual style, moved on to a simple linear style, then went to a curvey, sketchy cubisty style and finally ended up with the stairs and boxes "etchasketch style" that you see here. When the producer asked me how long it would take to do half a dozen of these, I told him "six minutes." There was a stressful moment when they called me in to do a touch up for the insert and I had to go over all the lines while Gilbert, Deron and Dwight looked over my shoulder in a cramped RV. I accidentally gave Dwight a little neck tumor as I was trying to find my stylus, but nobody seemed to notice or mind. All the guys were as cool and as friendly as can be expected. Commercial sets are no fun. Boring yet stressful. Half the people are running around freaking out while the other half is sitting around bored and waiting for something. Gilbert and Dwight spent most of the day holed up in a tour bus playing Halo 3.

Out for a few

I'm in New York pretending to be a really bad Etch-a-Sketch artist for an ESPN promo. I'll be back with documentation on Thursday.

Master Chief

Master Chief, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Believe.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Photoshop

Photoshop, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Kanye West

Kanye West, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Lucy

Lucy, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Ah, the To-Do Pile. What would I do with out you? It's always there for me in a pinch when I can't come up something good to sketch. This one came from Lucy who sends in this strange pic of her looking like she can't wait to get frisked up against a wall of glass bricks. I'm assuming it was for school or something. If you've got a picture of yourself you've always wanted etch-a-sketched, send it in. Link's on the left over there.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

I know we're all supposed to "LEAVE HER ALOOOONE!!!!" and believe me, I resisted. But what can I say? Had to do it.

KRS-One

KRS-One, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Check out the dope stickers my boy Dave hooked me up with. I've got custom knobs now!

Omar & Butters

Omar & Butters, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Here's another fan submitted photo. Omar and Butters demonstrate proper chillaxin' technique. Looks like Flickr wants me to pay them to display more than 200 photos. I think that means some of the archives might start disappearing. Lame. There is a way for a kind and generous patron (Omar? Butters?) to buy me Pro Flickr account to avoid this awful situation. Otherwise, I'm fine with the realities of the digital marketplace virtually shaking my old sketches away. Just means I have to make some new ones.

World Trade Center

World Trade Center, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Superbad

superbad, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Vampire vs. Werewolf

Vampire vs. Werewolf, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Christina

eyes, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Ohio Artistry

A few days ago, a kind reader who saw that my old standard sized Etch had been busted sent me a replacement standard Etch in the mail. Thanks so much, very kind of you, really. I hate to have to say this, but that brand new Etch has now crapped out on me too. This time the up and down catches all the time and then you hear this springy sound and it jumps uncontrollably. I might use this as an opportunity to experiment in Etch-a-Sketch surgery to see if I can fix the thing without destroying, but, seriously, Ohio Arts, this should not be happening. I mean, c'mon, it's caveman technology we're talking about. It should not be hard to make an Etch-a-Sketch that's durable and works reliably and, you know, doesn't break. I admit, I'm a bit of a power user, but not really if you think about it. One picture a day is nothing compared to the abuse these things get in Kindergarten play areas and pediatrician waiting rooms. Right now, a standard Etch costs about $20. I would gladly pay $30 for a tricked out, redesigned, upgraded deluxe Etch that had more precise and reliable knob action, pullys that never break or go off track and a stylus that doesn't degrade over time. If this $30 dollar Etch-a-Sketch was black with gold knobs, that'd be even better. So come on Ohio Arts. It's time to step your game up. The thing's frustrating enough without breaking all the time.


Eh? Fresh, right?

Etch-a-Sketch Films