In my submissions for the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center’s 2020 exhibition “Obsessed: The Art of Nerd-Dom”, I wanted to include a famous nerd from pop culture. My original list included Steve Urkel, Tina Belcher, Daria Morgendorffer, Velma Dinkley, Squidward Tentacles, and mononymous Peanuts character Marcie.

Then, a friend suggested Milhouse Van Houten from The Simpsons. Though my affinity for this character wasn’t as strong, everything clicked into place when I did some research and uncovered this quote from the season five episode “Burns’ Heir”:

“But my mom says I’m cool.”

With a quote selected, I set out to find a depiction of Milhouse that fit this sentiment. I doodled a few of my own renditions in a sketchpad, and when I finally got it right, I cut out the drawing with an X-Acto knife and traced the outline onto a piece of 9 x 12 watercolor paper.

From there, I copied the outline lightly in pencil, filled it in with layers of colored pencils, and blended until the surface of the paper was no longer showing underneath. I outlined the drawing with a black Micron Sakura ink pen, then sprayed it with a matte fixative to prevent smudging.

Once dry, I rotated the paper and repeated the phrase above until the page was fully covered. Because of the drawing’s bright colors, I took some liberties with varied lettering to provide a more dynamic, textured background.

It was then framed, and shipped off to be displayed at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center from January 11 to March 15, 2020.