I etch a sketched the Mona Lisa!

Sep 5, 2025 10:36 PM

pikajane

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Back in the day I used to chuck a song on a time lapse and call it a day but I've apparently made it my life's mission to tell a story with each video, which means I procrastinate on editing the video for 2 months before eventually publishing it!

My original script was going to go into the history of the Mona Lisa which is admittedly fascinating, and I was gonna try to shoehorn an anecdote about this selfie I took in Paris in 2014 (see below) but I decided I didn't want to add a buncha visuals that detracted from the timelapse itself.

Fun fact! My trip to Paris in 2014 was my first trip to another continent and was also a completely solo excursion. It was a rather last-minute work trip so I knew very little French. I bought a French guidebook and My French Coach for the Nintendo DS and managed to only get escorted out of a building by security once!

monalisa

art

etchasketch

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

You totally rock, Pikajane! I'm stoked to learn about your art and fun adventures.
I'll always be rooting for you!

1 year ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Leonardo would be proud.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

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1 year ago (deleted Dec 26, 2025 3:45 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

I'd love to revisit Paris someday! I visited again in 2017 and had the most magical time.

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Okay, so you gonna tell us the story??

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah talk about leaving us hangin'.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

There wasn't much more beyond the selfie story except that I didn't want to wait in that serpentine queue, but the security story involved me inadvertently walking out of an unauthorized exit at a convention hall and scouting a third person to translate between me and a very irate frenchman. As he escorted me to where I was trying to go, he asked, "Why you no speak French?". I replied, "I'd gladly explain but you have no idea what I'm saying."

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Last time I was in paris I got spit on for being a tourist, teargased in my sleep (don't sleep with your window open) and lit a cigarette with a burning car. Pretty fun, though I would recommend Montpellier if you want a city that smells a bit less like piss.

1 year ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

That's weird. Montpellier is French for "Piss City." They must be shitting the bed.

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Looks like there is a smudge on the Mona Lisa in you picture

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Poor Mona Lisa caught a light reflection right to the cheek

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ah, I was concerned for a second

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This is Beautiful. A fantastic copy, and using an unforgiving (and unappreciated) art form. BTW, I spent summer, 1984, in Paris, backpacking alone. There were riots there. There was French distaste for a young America. But the museums, landmarks, ARTWORKS made it a trip of a lifetime. I hope you had a similar experience, OP.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Oh wow, the stories you must have! My Paris trip very much felt like a coming-of-age experience. I was a fresh college graduate and it felt like my whole life was a blank map ahead of me. The trip fell into my lap and I was trepidatious about the plunge but I am so glad I followed through!

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You were brave to go by yourself in this day and age. However (and you may not may not believe this) before she met me, my wife, who is Chinese, visited like 10 American cities and parks, travelling alone. I could barely believe it when she first told that to me. But she is a special kind of woman. Anyway, I'll follow your future posts, if'n you want.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

OMG! You're famous! Awesome! So talented! Wow thanks for taling the time to write me!

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

ahaha my pleasure! Your wife sounds awesome!!!

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0