I play with an Etch A Sketch for a living!
My love for Etch A Sketch began when I was around 4. In my youth I'd spend countless hours turning the knobs to create crude, blocky art. Over time my scribbles developed into illustrations that became less and less rudimentary. One day on a whim, I brought an Etch A Sketch into my English class in 8th grade. It was at that moment that I realized: wow, I was the only kid who could confidently draw a cheeseburger, fries and a shake using this simple yet complicated toy.
In high school I began dedicating hours making detailed renditions on an Etch A Sketch. When I was 16, I began using it as a "serious" artistic medium. I moved to Chicago to attend art school and practiced Etch A Sketch outside of the classroom while pursuing a degree in illustration.
After graduating from college I stayed in Chicago and began pursuing a legitimate career in Etch A Sketch. You might be wondering, how can one make a living playing with an Etch A Sketch? Well...I wear a lot of hats! I create custom art and sell original renditions and print products. I teach workshops and etch portraits at events across the US. And every now and then, I get commissioned to create time lapse videos of me creating art.
The tool of my trade has opened doors for me that I would have never thought could have existed. I've had the fortune of being to travel all over the US, Canada, and even to Paris and India. I've received press from the likes of Buzzfeed, DailyMail, Reddit, CNN, The Huffington Post, Britney Spears, and even Pee-Wee Herman (a huge personal victory for me). I've created art for Disney, Netflix, MTV, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Callaway, Toys R Us, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and more.