Jump Close

 An evolving illustration that started with a doodle and became something else.

This could be a first draft. It's a doodle becoming something. We might need to stare at it for awhile to determine what it wants to become. It could be done. It could be changing. I scanned this present state since once it is changed (if it is changed) the original will stop existing. 

"Do you like it?"

"I think so. Enough not to destroy it."

"Fair enough."

Jump Close - sketch by douglas brent smith, March, 2026

Not done yet...

I played with this a bit more. Let's call this one "Jump Closer" (3 April 2026) and watch it change.

When I was a child I remember a feature in the Sunday newspaper funnies -- it was either in the Philadelphia Bulletin or the Philadelphia Inquirer. If it was in the Bulletin, I read the whole paper at home because we subscribed. If it was in the Inquirer, I read it at Grandmom and Grandpop Smith's house. We went there every Sunday, without fail, after church and after our early dinner. 

I treasured those Sundays and still do.

Evolving this picture is a throwback to one specific memory from the funny pages -- a cartoon with two panels. The object was to spot all the differences in the two panels, which at first seemed remarkably similar, maybe even identical, but there were subtle differences. It was great fun. Have fun with this series of altered sketches. 

Same sketch with some color and additional shapes added. It's growing on me. Dots are a theme that have been popping up for years in my drawings -- and without being the first to do this it's still there. Dot dot dot. Different color dots. What will this drawing do next? Balance or motion, balance or motion? How many dimensions can you see?

Adding detail includes the risk of losing detail. This version (above) was added 27 July 2026. Is it finished? Is anything ever finished? I've saved each version on this page knowing full well that it may get away from me and become forever too cluttered. Has that happened? I still like it. I still like every version of it. Just as, Mr. Rogers might say, "I still like every version of you..."