Published: August 18, 2007 03:08 am      

Sketching from a different angle

Butt Sketch concept gains attention

Select freshmen moving into the Sam Houston Village dormitory at Sam Houston State University on Thursday had the opportunity to be sketched by guest artist Pamela “Pjae” Adams.

The catch: She drew them from behind.

Adams is part of a group of Original Butt Sketch artists, whose sketches have gained attention at colleges and trade shows around the country.

“Before you blink, I’ll be done,” she said. “These sketches usually only take about two and a half minutes each.”

By late morning, Adams said she had only done a handful of sketches, but the reactions had all been positive.

“When people first see this, they don’t expect it to be so cool,” she said. “But then, when they see the sketch finished, they’re like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s great.’”

The drawings are done in charcoal, which Adams said gives the drawings more depth.

“The charcoal gives you dimension,” she said. “It helps me capture the essence of a person quickly.”

Adams, who recently took the Original Butt Sketch World Tour, has traveled to campuses in Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Georgia, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Tennessee.

She has also sketched for audiences in Cabo San Lucas, Las Vegas, Miami and San Diego.

“That’s my favorite part of this job, meeting all of the people and going all over,” she said. “Not a lot of artists get to travel outside of the U.S. mainland.”

Adams was hired by Krandel Lee Newton, the creator of the Original Butt Sketch, in 2000.

“(Adams) has blossomed into one of our best artists,” he said. “She has become heavily requested by a lot of our clients.”

The Original Butt Sketch concept was developed in Dallas in 1987.

After the sketches grew in popularity, artists involved with the art form started to receive offers to be flown around the country and make special appearances at conventions, parties and private receptions.

For more information, visit http://www.buttsketch.com.