Pokemon is one of the most popular media franchises of all time, and many of its fans have taken to creating impressive pieces of art based on its myriad of unique creatures. Some of that art is more traditional, while other works take the cartoonish source material into different mediums, such as a realistic rendition of Vaporeon made in Blender by Chris Masna.
Chicago-based artist Jane Labowitch, who goes by the monikers Princess Etch and Pikajane on social media, took to Reddit Tuesday with a drawing of Generation 1 Pokemon Psyduck created using an Etch A Sketch. Anyone who has tried to use the mechanical drawing toy knows how difficult it can be to master its finicky controls, which makes it all the more impressive to see how easily she recreates the iconic Pokemon, complete with shading and a patterned background.
The Etch A Sketch was introduced to the world at the 1959 International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, according to the Toy Hall of Fame, but artists like Labowitch have taken to it decades later and really turned it into an art form. In fact, she said it took her just 20 minutes and 30 seconds to draw Psyduck in the comments on Reddit, making it just one brief representative sample of her art that has been featured by companies like Disney and Cartoon Network.
Psyduck is a particularly popular monster from the Kanto Region, given it was a main partner and comedic foil for Misty as she traveled with Ash Ketchum in the first few seasons of the Pokemon anime. The dopey Water-type with some latent psychic abilities also had a starring role alongside Kathryn Newton's character Lucy Stevens in the 2019 film Detective Pikachu, earning it a Build-a-Bear plush.
That plush toy is not the only one Psyduck has received over the years on account of its popularity. A $287 life-sized Psyduck plush was released by Pokemon Center Online earlier this year, for anyone that has room to house an 80cm, nine-pound toy.
More time lapsed Etch A Sketch drawings can be found on Labowitch's YouTube channel, featuring other Pokemon like Charizard and Mewtwo, more pop culture icons like Shrek and Ariel from The Little Mermaid, as well as general pieces such as roses and ice cream cones. Pokemon has featured its characters on skateboards and other marketable projects, but it's still cool to see a fan pull Pokemon into a different world, like that of Etch A Sketch art.
Sources: Princess Etch, YouTube, Toy Hall of Fame