Monday, June 25, 2012

Sketch of the Week: Behind the Scenes at an Arcade

I sketched at the arcade on Santa Monica Pier to prepare for the Game Over: Video Game Culture art exhibition. The place gained a weathered look from being by the beach for decades and still has classic arcade games from the 80s. (I played Centipede as part of "research"... I'm still not good at it but it's still a lot of fun.) A technician happened to be fixing a game, and he said the salt air is hard on the machines.

It was also fun because this was a first time I added more elements to a sketch to turn it directly into finished artwork.

If you live in Los Angeles, you can see the artwork in person at Giant Robot 2 Gallery until June 27, and it is also on sale online at their site.
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3 comments:

  1. Unknown1:25 PM

    I didn't realize you did research for this Giant Robot piece. I like seeing the research sketch and then the final piece! You added the perfect elements to the dancing game! I wish the video game danced along with you too! Heeeheeeheee! Great job. I've never been to that arcade on the pier. How fun to go to it.

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  2. Shiho Nakaza10:28 PM

    Thanks, Melissa! Yeah, we should go to the pier and sketch away!

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  3. Mari11:12 PM

    I love your work!!
    I just saw your sketch of the Santa Monica Pier. I've been there before. Pretty cool. =)
    I play DDR/ITG at a Boardwalk/Seaside arcade myself, and although I've never seen them do it, I'm told by the techs that they sometimes have to bust out the equipment and clean out the sand from inside the pads. (like your sketch) :)

    Marvelous work! I love your Robot DDR Machine. I'd love to see more of your work!

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